On Monday, August 4, the recipients of the annual Door County Mariner Awards and Coast Guard Person of the Year Award were announced at the Door County Mariner Honors dinner at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. Chief Petty Officer Emily Hand, Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay, received the Coast Guard Person of the Year Award. David Hunt was recognized with the Mariner Award, while Edward T. “Shuff” Willman received a Posthumous Mariner Award.
The Coast Guard Person of the Year Award recognizes a local Coast Guard member who exemplifies the Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty. The award is sponsored by the Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard Committee and the Door County Maritime Museum. The winner is selected from nominees submitted by the USCGC Mobile Bay (WTGB 103), USCG Marine Safety Unit Sturgeon Bay and USCG Station Sturgeon Bay.
- CGPOY: Chief Petty Officer Emily Hand, Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay
- Chief Hand, a native of Hermann, MO reported to Station Sturgeon Bay in July 2023, As the Executive Petty Officer and second in command, she flawlessly runs the station’s day-to-day operations. Exhibiting superb leadership and judgement, she managed 45 active duty and 12 reservists through an unprecedented recruiting shortage and resulting force realignment. She expertly balanced personnel and operational challenges ensuring no degradation of service to the mariners of northern Lake Michigan, despite losing 40% of the crew and two operational facilitiesShe was acting Officer in Charge on numerous occasions, juggling normal administrative duties with added operational and command responsibilities. She was the senior Coast Guard representative leading a multi-day search for a missing family and their sailboat. She liaised between Sector Command Center, two different aircrews and seven different response agencies across two states, a search that covered more than 1400 square miles over 40+ hours. While the outcome did not result in lives saved, the search results did provide the family with much needed closure.In addition to her work at the station, she has devoted countless hours to cofounding the non-profit Safe Waters, an organization dedicated to supporting military survivors of sexual assault. In just the first quarter, this organization already assisted more than 30 active duty service members and veterans by providing counseling, resources, and legal assistance. Chief Hand has long been active in the Big Brother and Big Sisters organization and has spent more than 600 hours mentoring a little sister in Green Bay.
- Presented by the Door County Maritime Museum and the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the Mariner Award recognizes individuals who have had a significant, positive, lasting impact on the Door County maritime community. The Mariner Award is given to one living recipient and also posthumously to historical Door County maritime figures.
- Mariner Award: David Hunt
- Born in Sturgeon Bay, Dave’s connection to the region runs deep. He began his maritime journey with the Roen Steamship Fleet in 1966 and later joined the Inland Steel Fleet the following spring.Through hard work and determination, Dave steadily climbed the ranks, earning his 3rd Engineer USCG License in 1971. His hawsepipe journey, starting from the bottom and progressing to become Chief Engineer of the steamer WILFRED SYKES in 1985, exemplifies his dedication and commitment to excellence.Dave’s contributions to the maritime community extend well beyond his seafaring career. After retiring as Chief Engineer, he joined the American Bureau of Shipping as a Senior Surveyor in 1996, where he continued to make significant contributions to the industry until his retirement in 2013.In addition to his professional achievements, Dave has actively engaged in community service within Door County. He dedicated his time to the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, progressing through the ranks from Rear Commodore to Vice Commodore, and ultimately serving as Commodore.Furthermore, Dave’s assistance with the video tour of the steamer JOSEPH RYERSON for the Maritime Museum’s promotion demonstrates his passion for preserving maritime history and sharing it with the public.
- Posthumous Mariner Award: Edward T. “Shuff” Willman
- First introduced to sailing at a young age, by fourteen Shuff earned the reputation of being one of the finest sailors on the Great Lakes. At age 15 or 16, Shuff sailed the first of his more than 40 Chicago-Mackinac Races.
- Although he was suffering from the effects of cancer and its treatments, he participated in his last Chicago-Mac race in 1988 on a boat he co-owned with Bill Schoendorf, the Nelson-Marek 41 Manitou.
- Shuff’s leadership traits led him to a position in Palmer Johnson Inc., where he was Vice-President of Marketing and co-owner with Mike Kelsey, Jr. and Bill Parson from 1961 until his untimely death in 1989.
- Due to his extensive boating and racing experience, Shuff was instrumental in contributing to the design and construction of multi-million dollar racing sailboats and yachts built at Palmer Johnson and sold around the world.
- Shuff helped put the ship building capability of Sturgeon Bay on the world stage.
- Shuff also gave back to the community as an active member of the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, serving as board member and Vice-Commodore.