This Week in the History of the Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding December 29, 2019
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This Week in the History of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding December 29, 2019 Date Event 12/29/1933 The new Apprentice Athletic building was opened to the public for inspection. In 1926, Homer Ferguson said, “Anyone who neglects the athletic side of training boys neglects about fifty percent of the whole proposition . they learn to play a clean, fair game.” Accordingly, a new Apprentice Athletic Building and Athletic Field, located on Washington Avenue just south of the Main Gate, were opened. When Company funds for its completion ran out, Apprentices and their instructors completed the interior of the building after hours. Showers and locker rooms for Apprentices, alumni, and associate members were located in the basement. Over these, on the first floor, were exercise rooms on the south side and a lecture room. A gymnasium was in the center, and another lecture room was on the north side The Athletic Building’s lobby, beautifully finished and furnished, ran across the front of the building. Fine-grained, exotic wood, surplus from the construction of passenger ships, was used to create richly paneled walls in the lobby. The business offices were located at the south end, with a library behind. A ladies’ room was located on the north end, with a small gymnasium beyond. Mrs. Edel M. Pullen was called “The Mother of the Apprentices.” The secretary-hostess of the School from 1932 to 1955, she mothered her self-described “sons.” In fact, three of her own sons were Apprentices. 12/31/2001 Donna Jo Blankenship (Non-Destructive Tester, Class of 2001) was the first and only woman graduate of The Apprentice School to date to earn the prestigious Homer L. Ferguson Award, recognizing her as the top graduate of her class. She is a second generation apprentice school graduate. Her father, Harvey Gold Mashburn class of 1954 graduated as an X42 pipefitter. Upon graduation, she took a position in the Quality Inspection Department (now Nuclear Quality) as a Nuclear Mechanical Inspector. She was promoted to a Quality Analyst position within QID’s audit section in May 2002. In February 2003 she returned to the NDT department as a Test Inspection Supervisor of the Ultrasonic Testing team. Donna remained in that position until promotion to E37 Welding and NDT Engineering as the Test Inspection Manager of the Radiographic Testing, Ultrasonic Testing, and Eddy Current Testing programs in January 2018. Donna started her apprenticeship on September 8, 1997. 12/31/2019 As our centennial year closes out the ceremonies end for now. The mission continues to train men and women to be the best shipbuilders in the world. This is what was begun with the first apprentice graduate Norwood Jones, and continued by G. Guy Via and others as the school was founded on July 1, 1919. The future will bring new challenges, but The Apprentice School will continue to serve Newport News Shipbuilding and the community by teaching leadership through the time honored method of learning a trade. This Week in the History of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding December 22, 2019 Date Event 12/22/1977 Facility renovations were completed to the Apprentice School Educational Building 14. This included drop ceilings, florescent lighting, and a new roof. 12/24/1952 G. Guy Via died. He had been associated with the Apprentice School prior to its inception. He retired in 1950 after 31 years of leading the school and setting it on a firm foundation. 12/25/1941 The first apprentices began moving into the new Apprentice Dormitory. 12/26/1934 An article in The Christian Science Monitor recognized Homer L. Ferguson and his apprentice organization as leaders in the apprenticeship movement. This Week in the History of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding December 15, 2019 Date Event 12/15/2014 A completions ceremony, hosted by The Apprentice School, celebrated the 23 apprentices who formed the inaugural cohort of Frontline FAST (Foreman Accelerated Skills Training), the School's premier leadership development program. Opportunities to serve as make-up foreman and work on special projects are part of the 16-months program. Lead Apprentice Craft Instructor Ron Liles (Electrician, Class of 1976) spearheaded the program, which was developed by Mark Costa and Jason Kinney (Sheet Metal Worker, 2006). 12/16/2016 Danny Brookman (Machinist, Class of 1976) was promoted to position of administrator, Craft Training, replacing the retiring Russell Cook (Machinist, Class of 1948). Graduating in the Class of 1976, Danny’s career progressed well as he moved from craft instructor to general foreman in the main machine shop to training administrator under Hugh Davis in the newly centralized, Training and Development Division. The remainder of his years with Newport News Shipbuilding were with The Apprentice School, during which time he made significant contributions in craft training, admissions and student services. Some highlights: (1) The 75th Anniversary Celebration in 1994; (2) Competency-based system for craft skills training with standardized evaluations and grading that became a model that other apprenticeship programs admired and adopted; (3) Expansion of the School’s internet presence and development of an online application; (4) New Apprentice School building – his leadership and coordination earned him a well-deserved President’s Model of Excellence Award in 2014; (5) President of the American Apprenticeship Round Table; and (6) Gubernatorial appointment to a three-year term on the Virginia Apprenticeship Council. Danny's retirement dinner was held on December 16, 2016. This Week in the History of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding December 8, 2019 Date Event 12/9/1995 The Lady Builders won their very first home game on December 9, 1995 by 47 to 34. They continued to play well over their first few years and became the first Apprentice School team invited to a national tournament since the men's basketball team in 1937. 12/10/1980 A significant departure in apprenticeship training was implemented on December 10, 1980, with the discontinuation of transfer of waterfront apprentices into five-year design apprenticeships. This decision followed labor disagreements in the late 1970's involving the engineering design workforce, which included many apprentice graduates. Prior to this discontinuation, James E. Wallace, Jr. (Marine Designer, Class of 1977) was the last apprentice to complete a design apprenticeship. The Advanced Technical Education Curriculum (ATEC) continued much of the academic coursework that was provided to design apprentices, and became the core of academic courses for design apprentices when the design apprenticeships were reestablished in 1994. Much credit goes to Frank Satchell (Atomic Designer, Class of 1967), apprentice academic instructor, who managed and maintained the ATEC courses during those intervening years. 12/11/1953 In addition to working and playing hard, the Apprentices have always engaged in community service. A longtime tradition is the Christmas Party, where underprivileged children are treated to a party, gifts, and a visit with Santa. This tradition of Apprentices giving back to the community continues today. This Week in the History of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding December 1, 2019 Date Event 12/1/1950 The Apprentice Alumni Association inducted Gordon E. "Pop" Lamkin, Assistant to the Director of Education, and long-time coach of several sports teams of The Apprentice School, into the Association as an Honorary Alumnus. No star in Apprentice athletics has ever shone brighter than legendary Coach Gordon E. "Pop" Lamkin. Born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, on December 21, 1894, he started in the Shipyard at age 14, then joined the Army reserves in 1914 and served during World War I. In the Army he gained fame as "the K. O. Kid," becoming its Heavyweight Champion. After the war he returned to the Shipyard and became Captain of the Watch (Security). After work he would coach football, basketball, baseball, and track. He organized and ran the many intramural or "House League" programs. The apprentices paid him a special tribute in the 1947 Binnacle and dedicated the 1970 edition to him. He was tall and trim, with a small moustache and a pleasing personality. The apprentices called him "Pop" and he called them all "son." He often said, "there are no bad apprentices, some are just better than others." The beloved coach retired as Assistant Director of Education in 1961. Sadly, the once-vigorous Pop Lamkin died in 1972 after a long illness, during which he received numerous get-well cards, illustrated by Dick Poythress (Painter Decorator, Class of 1937). In 1991, Head Football Coach Paul Hoffman initiated the Coach's Award in honor of "Pop" Lamkin, recognizing the player whose attitude, support for team members, attendance, and communications with coaches and fellow players was exemplary. 12/1/2018 On December 1, 2018 the Apprentice School Football Team competed in its first ever national championship game and came away successful with an impressive win over Oakland University, of Rochester, Michigan, defeating the Grizzlies 56-14. The National Club Football Association Championship game was played at West Liberty University, Wheeling, West Virginia. 12/6/2013 Ceremonies were held for the grand opening of the new 92,000 square foot Apprentice School. Everett Jordan, director of education, unveiled the bronze sculpture of the "A" and "S" upon an anchor that stands in front of the building. The artist was David Turner of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Dignitaries included: Mike Petters, president and CEO, Huntington Ingalls Industries; Danny Hunley, vice president, Operations for NNS; U. S. Representative Bobby Scott; Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell; Newport News Mayor McKinley Price; Virginia Delegate Chris Jones; Lou Haddad, president and CEO, Armada Hoffler Holding Company; and, Matt Mulherin, president of Newsport News Shipbuilding.