Seamen's Church Honors Industry Leaders At Annual Awards Dinner

More than 400 guests gathered at The Seamen's Church Institute's 16th Annual Awards Dinner to honor David A. Olsen, chairman and CEO of Johnson & Higgins, a large privately-held insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, and others for their contributions to maritime safety.

The Awards Dinner raised $65,000 for the Institute's 1994 Annual fund.

Mr. Olsen received the Silver Bell Award, which is presented annually by the Institute to an individual in recognition of his or her outstanding leadership in the maritime community.

The bell was chosen as an award because of its historical significance in religious ceremonies from early times and its use on board ships in ancient times.

Sharing in the honors of the evening were several people who through personal or professional endeavors have also contributed to maritime safety. The Institute gave Lifesaving Awards to the following people: Sandy Hook Pilot Apprentices Tom Walsh, Kevin McNamara, Paul Klein and New York City Police (Scuba Unit) OfficersDaniel Sharkey and John Dalton for carrying out a heroic effort to rescue a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crashed near Ambrose Light last fall as Hurricane Emily approached New York Harbor, and U.S. Coast Guard Group New York whose icebreakers assisted 367 vessels in the 1994 ice season.

The Institute gave Distinguished Service Awards to VAdm. Paul A. Welling upon his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard, and Charles L. Black, Jr., a scholar and the coauthor of The Law of Admiralty.

This year, the Institute also introduced the Seamanship Award, which recognizes the accomplishments made by recreational boaters to the maritime community. Ted Seymour, the first African-American to sail around the world was the first recipient of this award.

For more information on The Seamen's Church Circle 9 on Reader Service Card