Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 77F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph..
Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 77F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: May 21, 2025 @ 9:01 pm
May 21, 2025
Victor Pierson
Michael E. Fossum
Victor Pierson
Michael E. Fossum
GALVESTON
The Port of Galveston’s bicentennial celebration kicks off today with a local recognition of National Maritime Day and the festivities will continue for much of the year. But the importance of the milestone will live on for years to come through a scholarship endowment made possible by the events’ fundraising.
The port was established as a provisional port and customs entry by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on Oct. 17, 1825, when what is now Texas belonged to Mexico.
To further mark the bicentennial, the port has scheduled an Oct. 17 Party on the Pier with a drone show, live music, food trucks at Pier 21 and an Oct. 18 gala dinner and dancing at the Galveston Island Convention Center.
The port also will release a port history book, which is being assembled by Dwayne Jones, executive director and CEO of the Galveston Historical Foundation.
The fund the celebrations the port reached out to its partners for sponsorships and raised about $900,000 for the events and the book, but the price tag for those efforts is $600,000. The remaining funds are being used to set up a scholarship endowment for Texas A&M University at Galveston maritime industry scholarships.
Rodger Rees, port director and CEO, made a point to say no port of city funds were spent on the celebrations and that he was proud the effort generated enough additional money to establish the endowment.
“To me that’s the most important part of the whole thing,” Rees said. “The maritime industry is in dire need of employees.”
There is a national shortage of maritime professionals, Texas A&M Maritime Academy officials told The Daily News in March.
A 2021 report from the Baltic and International Maritime Council and the International Chamber of Shipping described a shortage of about 26,000 officers certified to work on ships in international waters and predicted it would triple by 2026.
Victor Pierson, chairman of the port’s board, told the council that starting salary for Texas A&M’s maritime graduates are the highest in the state for students with bachelor’s degrees.
Retired Col. Michael E. Fossum, vice president of Texas A&M, chief operating officer of the Galveston Campus and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, said the port has been key to the success of its maritime programs.
“The Port of Galveston is a significant partner in our mission to lead the blue economy through marine and maritime education, research, innovation and training,” Fossum said. “Their support has helped us broaden our students’ skills through experiential learning opportunities, mentoring, internships and career opportunities with the port.
“They were established long before the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, even before the state, and their work in establishing a major maritime hub here on the island is the reason our campus calls Galveston home. Thanks to the foundation they’ve built, our campus is now able to provide the state, region and nation with the training and support needed to support the blue economy.”
Jeff Robinson: 409-683-5226: jeff.robinson@galvnews.com
Victor Pierson
Michael E. Fossum
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