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Personal Sketches of Marine Men William H. aha ack. Elected President of American Ship Building Co. By E. G. Powers Blank-Stoller Inc. RMINLY 39 years of age, William H. Gerhauser, Wil elected president of the American Ship Building Co. at a meeting of the board of directors in Cleveland on June 27, is one of the youngest men in the country to become head of an organiza- tion of such great significance and strength as this larg- est shipbuilding company on the Great Lakes. The American Ship Building Co. which Mr. Gerhauser has served in various executive capacities since 1917, maintains six subsidiary operating companies including facilities in Cleveland, Lorain, O., Buffalo, South Chicago, Ill., Detroit, Superior, Wis., and Milwaukee. With assets of more than 25 million dollars this company has, during the period of its existence, done more in the way of iron ore vessel construction than any other yard. Mr. Gerhauser who succeeds the company’s late presi- dent Alfred G. Smith, one of the most outstanding figures in Lakes shipbuilding circles in recent years, was born in Detroit, Jan. 7, 1889. His elementary training was received in the public schools of Detroit and con- tinued later at the Detroit University school, where his studies prepared him for entrance to the University of Michigan. Specializing throughout his course in technical and scientific subjects he was graduated in 1911 a bachelor of chemical engineering. He became active in executive positions very soon after graduation, the first position being that of as- sistant secretary of the Detroit board of commerce. Following this, he became associated with the Williams Bros. Co., Detroit, remaining there until 1916 mean- while serving as assistant and finally as superintendent. Leaving Williams Bros. Co., in 1916 he organized W. H. Gerhauser & Co., acting as president until 1917 when ILLIAM H. GERHAUSER has been elected to fill the office of chief executive of the largest ship- building company on the Great Lakes after the comparatively brief period of eleven years’ service. IS advance has been consistently steady since he first became asso- ciated with the company due to the fact that he could be depended upon to get any situation thoroughly in hand without delay. O CHOICE could have been met with so universal and hearty ap- proval on the part of his co-workers. To a man they respect him for his ability and like him for his straight forward fairness. his association with the American Ship Building Co. began with his appointment as assistant to M. E. Farr, his father-in-law, who was then president. These were active days for all shipyards. Never before had yards on the lakes been called upon for such tremendous efforts. Literally thousands of ships had to be built to meet the needs of the war, and in this program the American Ship Building Co. did its full share. During 1917 it is said that 20 per cent of the ships delivered to the United States shipping board were constructed in the yards of the American Ship Building Co. Within the year 1918, the company was building vessels for the government at the rate of 15 a month or an average of one every other day, intending to increase the number to 20 a month subject to the continuation of the war. It was in 1918, during the company’s intensive wartime shipbuilding program that Mr. Gerhauser was made vice president. In 1925 at the time of Mr. Smith’s election to the presidency Mr. Gerhauser was in addition to being vice president called upon to serve as secretary. Mr. Gerhauser enters upon the duties of his office well qualified for its requirements. Though young in years he is old in terms of service in executive positions being a fortunate combination of the driving power of youth and the sobering touch of experience. Throughout the many weeks of Mr. Smith’s illness Mr. Gerhauser man- aged the company, performing the duties of the chief executive. Mr. Smith’s abilities both as an executive and shipbuilder were equal to the combined capacities of two specialized individuals. It is this position which Mr. Gerhauser has been chosen to fill. He is a member of Hermit and Pepper Pike Country clubs and lives in Orange village, near Cleveland. 50 , MARINE REVIEW—August, 1928