Palmer Johnson Chairman Emeritus Mike Kelsey, Sr., Dies
The people of Palmer Johnson Yachts and family, friends and colleagues from around the world are mourning the loss of Chairman Emeritus Mike Kelsey, Sr., who died Sunday, July 21. Mike Kelsey, Sr., was large responsible for building the company into one of the world’s leading custom yacht brands, as a yacht builder and also a provider of yacht refit/repair services, brokerage, chandlery and related support services. Kelsey’s son, Mike Kelsey, Jr., who is now worldwide director of sales for the company, said “I am so lucky to have had him for a dad and teacher. He taught so many people about our business. Phil Friedman, current president and CEO of Palmer Johnson, said that Mike Kelsey represented the true spirit of Palmer Johnson. “We’re all very saddened,” he said.
Palmer Johnson Introduces Sport Yacht Series
Palmer Johnson, luxury yacht builder, has a new president and is introducing a new line of sport yachts. Mike Kelsey, Jr. was elected president of the Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. yacht builder in June 2004. Kelsey's grandfather, Patrick Haggerty, founder of Texas Instruments, purchased the yard in 1961. Kelsey's father Mike Kelsey, Sr. immediately went to work for Haggerty and passed the knowledge of fine yacht building down to his son. While there have been tough financial times at Palmer Johnson during recent years, the younger Kelsey believes the company's new line of sport yachts is a winner. At last year's Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, Palmer Johnson introduced Cover Drive, a very sleek 120-ft. sport yacht.
Essex Demonstrates Sustained Mission Readiness
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corey Truax, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) successfully completed a three-day evaluation, Unit Level Training Assessment-Sustainment (ULTRA-S) July 22, while returning from the U.S and Australian-led Exercise Talisman Saber 2007. A team of inspectors from the Afloat Training Group Western Pacific (ATGWP) arrived, via helicopter from Guam, to evaluate 16 mission areas including engineering, damage control, seamanship, combat systems, amphibious warfare, medical, aviation and force protection/anti-terrorism. ATGWP also reviewed Essex's Maintenance Material Management (3M) program to ensure that material readiness standards and maintenance practices continued to meet standards.
