| John
J. McMullen, maritime industry icon, former owner of the New Jersey
Devils and the Houston Astros, died September 16, 2005 at the age
of 87.
McMullen
founded John J. McMullen and Associates (JJMA) in 1957, a naval
architectural and engineering firm that once occupied the 30th floor
of One World Trade Center in Manhattan. At first the firm concentrated
on ship containerization and bulk transportation, but it soon became
noted for naval engineering and ship design. The company's current
emphasis on defense contracts came later. JJMA is the lead naval
architect of the winning design for the US Navy's DDX program. Though
the firm was purchased in 1998 and formed an Employee Stock Ownership
Plan (ESOP) Trust, John J. McMullen’s influence and prosperity
remained.
Dr.
McMullen has made numerous innovations in ship design and construction,
including systems installed in hundreds of merchant, passenger and
naval ships. He attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated
in 1940 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering
before serving aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and the USS Stack
(DD-406) during World War II. After the Korean War and 14 years
of service, he left the Navy and founded John J. McMullen Associates.
McMullen
held a master of science degree in naval architecture and marine
engineering from MIT, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering
from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. He began
building his fortune through McMullen Associates and, eventually,
the steamship shipping agency Norton Lilly International. McMullen’s
speech focused on “Characteristics and Problems of Bunker
C. Fuel Oil.”
On
top of his shipping accomplishments, he became widely known with
his involvement in pro sports.
McMullen is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jacqueline; son, Peter,
and his wife, Cheryl; daughter Catherine; son John Jr.; and five
grandchildren.
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