Huntsville Power Squadron History

In 1963, a Mr. Lynn Bennett conceived the thought of forming a landlocked Squadron on the Tennessee River for United States Power Squadron members who lived in and around Huntsville, Alabama.  Mr. Bennett was the promoter of the Annual Boat Show at The Mall and, strangely enough, he was not a member, never became a member, but knew of the USPS and the organization’s work.   A notice was placed in The Huntsville Times and the first organizational meeting was held in the home of Mr. Bernard Jacobsen.  Seven USPS members and Mr. Bennett were in attendance. 

To qualify for a USPS Squadron Charter, it was necessary to affiliate with a sponsoring Squadron, prove the ability to conduct classes, and recruit a minimum membership. Oak Ridge Power Squadron, the nearest Squadron, graciously agreed to Sponsor the Huntsville candidate Squadron. The Naval Reserve Training Center permitted the Huntsville Squadron to use their classroom number four (60-person capacity).  This became the site for the initial public classes and the Squadron’s meetings. The first class taught was Piloting, the public class at that time.  Three months later, Seamanship was taught for our members. Mr. Jacobsen was awarded Seamanship but transferred almost immediately to Alaska.  Transfers from Huntsville were frequent for members as many of our early members were scientists and engineers associated with Redstone Arsenal, the Army Ballistic Missile Command, and NASA.  As a result of Mr. Jacobsen’s and other’s departures,   only three members were able to devote the time necessary to birth the new Squadron.

After completing the fall Piloting Class in 1964,  the Huntsville candidate had grown to thirty-one members and applied for its charter.   The charter was approved 23 January 1965.  

Members of the Charter Bridge included:
Olaf A. Fromm, AP, Commander
James Parker, AP, Executive Officer
Edward Hines, AP, Education Officer
Charles W. Saffell, S, Administration Officer
Giles P. Wetherill, S, Secretary
Daniel J. Brennan, Treasurer

Our original charter was laminated in order to preserve it.  The charter traditionally remains with the Squadron Commander for safekeeping.

In March of 1965, Huntsville Mayor Glenn Hearn proclaimed 21 through 27 March as “Huntsville Power Squadron Safe Boating Week.”  This was the first in a long subsequent history of support for the Squadron by the Mayor’s office.  Even today, the mayor takes time from a busy schedule to issue a proclamation for the National Safe Boating Week.  Members of HPS, the Alabama State Marine Police, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are invited to City Hall to participate in this ceremony.  Later in 1965, HPS invited District 17 to hold its Fall Conference in Huntsville.  The Conference was held in the Russel Erskine Hotel’s Rocket Room.  Dr. Wernher von Braun was awarded Honorary Membership in the Huntsville Power Squadron at that conference. 

The HPS Pennant was designed by the wife of our first Education Officer.  It consists of a blue background with a red rocket ascending to a yellow moon.  This was in keeping with the roles Huntsville, Dr. von Braun,, NASA and the Marshall Space Flight Center played in space exploration.  The pennant was approved in March, 1965.  Mrs. Beth Hines was recognized for her masterful job and presented with a special certificate of appreciation in 1983.  

Squadron members continued to work with great enthusiasm.  In 1965, the Squadron was given the Edwin Robinson award for the highest percentage of advanced grades completed in District 17.  Later we were awarded the Prince Henry statue by the Embassy of Portugal for having achieved the highest percentage of Piloting graduates in the District. 

Our newsletter “The Scuttlebutt” made its appearance in 1967.  It has received National USPS recognition several times and remains an important communication for the Squadron. 

1967-68, HPS sponsored Birmingham’s Vulcan Power Squadron as it became a chartered Squadron.   We are still very close to Vulcan.   For years, HPS and Vulcan annually participated in a practice lock-through during which members of on-going classes were invited to join us.  We remain friendly rivals in the annual Predicted Log Contest as we compete for the Janis Cotch Memorial Trophy.  The trophy is named for the daughter of P/C Donald Cotch and is awarded to the winner each year. 

By 1968 the classroom at the Naval Reserve Center had become too small for our boating course so we moved to the Vocational Training Center on Drake Avenue.   By then we were teaching as many as 140 students per class.  We held classes in the spring and in the fall and for several years we had to conduct two classes simultaneously – on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Soon we had over 150 members.   Unfortunately the national squabble over female full membership had its impact and we lost some members.   Additionally, the reduction in the level of effort in the US space role resulted in a number of our members leaving Huntsville.  In 1985 we experienced increasing membership and we welcomed a number of women as active members in the Squadron.  They continue to participate actively and we should have our first female commander in 2001. 

In 1984 Huntsville Power Squadron’s own, P/C David Montgomery assumed command of District 17. 

By 1986 we had 50 members. We held two public classes, one in Huntsville and the other in Muscle Shoals.   It was always thought that Muscle Shoals would be an excellent candidate for a new squadron.   In 1999,   efforts were renewed to investigate the possibility of sponsoring a new squadron there. 

In 1992, Huntsville Power Squadron hosted the District 17 Fall Conference at the Research Park Holiday Inn.   Councilman Richard Showers represented the Mayor at the conference. 

1993 and 1994 HPS sponsored the Music City (Nashville) Squadron as it moved from candidate to chartered status in 1995.  Our combined membership grew to 135 until Music City was chartered with 35 of those members. 

In 1996, Huntsville Power Squadron hosted the District 17 Spring Conference and District Command Change of Watch as  our own P/C Steve Leishman assumed command of District 17. 

Our members primarily boat on the Tennessee River.  Our members berth their boats as far east as Scottsboro on beautiful Lake Guntersville and as far west as Florence/Muscle Shoals on Wilson Lake.  We are proud to have active members all over North Alabama.

United States Power Squadrons, USPS, the USPS Ensign (flag design), "Wheel-and-Flag" Design, the Officer Trident Design,
"The Ensign", "the Squadron" with flag graphic, "Boat Smart", and "Jet Smart" are all Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons, Inc.