HOLDEN ALLEN EVANS

HOLDEN ALLEN EVANS, president of The Baltimore Dry Docks and Ship Building Company, was born in Greenville, Alabama, December 6, 1871, the son of Holden and Martha Anderson (Van Allen) Evans. In both paternal and maternal lines he is descended from old Colonial families prominent in the Southern Colonies and States. He was educated at the Alabama High School, Tuskegee, Ala., and later entered the United States Naval Academy, from which he was graduated in 1882.

Following graduation he served as midshipman and ensign, and was selected by the Navy Department to specialize in naval construction, a position for which only officers of the highest aptitude for scientific specialization are chosen.

In 1895 the United States Government sent him to Scotland, where he pursued a two years' post graduate course in naval architecture and engineering at the University of Glasgow, taking the highest class prizes both years; he also received certificates of merit with "great distinction." In May, 1897, he was appointed Assistant Naval Constructor of

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the U.S. Navy and was assigned to duty at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, and continued on duty there until the outbreak of the war with Spain, when he was assigned to take charge of repairs to the blockading fleet, with headquarters at Key West, Florida. After the war he served as Superintendent of Construction at various plants and as Senior Assistant to the Naval Constructor at the Norfolk Navy Yard. From 1904 to 1909 he served as naval constructor and manager of the navy yaru at Mare Island, Cal., during which time this yard was brought up from a low standard to a very high state of efficiency, and was considered by all naval authorities as the most efficient navy yard in the country. While at the Mare Island Navy Yard he submitted to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry a scheme for reorganizing the navy yard, which met with Mr. Newberry's approval and was adopted by him.

He resigned from the Navy in 1911 to become vice-president of the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company, Seattle, Wash. In May, 1914, he was chosen vice, president and general manager of the Skinner Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company, Baltimore, Md., which concern later became The Baltimore Dry Docks & Ship Building Company. The following year he was elected to the presidency.

Within three years the plant was completely reorganized, very large additions made to the plant equipment, and from a force of less than 100 it has grown until there are now 10,000 men employed.

Mr. Evans is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Bankers' Club, India House and Whitehall Club of New York; the Army and Navy Club of Washington; the Baltimore Country Club, and Maryland Club of Baltimore and the Seaview Golf Club of Absecon, N.J.

His experience and mastery of the shipbuilding industry and great executive talents have guided his company to prosperity.