Brief USPS History

In 1912, when gasoline-powered boats were beginning to appear, Roger Upton, Rear Commodore of the Boston Yacht Club, formed a Power Squadron within the club.  Its purpose were to provide instruction in power boat handling and to foster camaraderie among power boat members.  The Power Squadron was immediately successful.  In 1914, representatives from 70 East Coast yacht clubs and boating associations met at the New York Yacht Club and formed the United States Power Squadrons.  As the years passed, USPS® expanded it geographical reach and the scope of its activities.

Carquinez Squadron Formation

In the Fall of 1958 the first United States Power Squadron Public Piloting Class in the North Bay was held at the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California. San Francisco Power Squadron members Harold Betts, Robert Montgomery, Kenneth Haworth and Cdr. E Bateson Birkett were some of the lecturers.

There were 30 local boating enthusiast enrolled. After completion of the class San Francisco Power Squadron invited all successful students to a dinner at the San Francisco Yacht Club. Six attended, three of the members from this class joined various Squadrons and later became Charter Members of Carquinez Power Squadron. They were Hubert J Keenan, H. Paul Smiley and Ronald R. Stahlecker. Hubert Keenan’s son Terrance Keenan also completed this course and later joined.

In the Spring and Fall of 1959, Diablo Power Squadron conducted the classes at Vallejo Night School. Dr. Kenneth W. Haworth was the Chairman of these classes. He later became a Charter Member of Carquinez. Jack M. Hough was a member of the Spring Class and joined Diablo Squadron and proctored the Fall class.

In 1960 Jack M Hough became chairman of Vallejo, classes under the sponsorship of Diablo Squadron. To say chairman is not quiet right as he gave all the lectures as well as keeping all records and grading papers. Several graduates joined Diablo Squadron.

In the Spring of 1960 San Francisco Squadron held a Seamanship Class at the Marina Jr. High, San Francisco. Paul Smiley attended this class conducted by Ferris Henderson.

The first Annual Spring Conference of the "new" District 25 was held at the Whitcomb Hotel in San Francisco, in March 1960. At the afternoon business session of the Conference Ferris Henderson introduced Paul Smiley and stated that he had volunteered to form a Squadron in the Vallejo area.

Paul Smiley contacted Jack Hough of Vallejo and the began to lay the ground work for a new Squadron. In the Fall of 1960 they had 10 prospective members, but National had decided that a new Squadron should have 25 members to assure success.

Diablo Squadron, as one of the sponsoring Squadrons also suggested that we conduct a Piloting Class on our own as proof of dedication.

Jack Hough and Paul Smiley continued to hold Piloting Classes while contacting all members living with in the areas of Vallejo, Napa and Fairfield and with the help of Del Proctor of Diablo Squadron the ground work for a new Squadron was laid.

In the early Spring of 1961 a meeting was held at which time it was decided that a new Squadron would be formed. The name would be "Carquinez Power Squadron". The membership consisted of fourteen from Diablo Squadron, five from Marin Squadron, two from San Francisco Squadron, one from Yoko Hama and three new members.

At this meeting the new Bridge was elected, they were Jack Hough Commander, David Strathdee Executive Officer, Kenneth Haworth Administrative Officer, Edwin W Flohr SEO, Alfred Lange Treasure and Paul Smiley Secretary. At this meeting the transfers were completed and the main paper work was done. By May of 1961 most of the paper work was completed. A few details were needed to be completed.

In June of 1961 there remained one signature to complete. The papers were hand carried to Robert Evans Commander of Marin Squadron, for his signature as the sponsoring squadron.

This was 30 minutes before he departed for the USPS® National Governing Board Meeting. The application was presented to the Governing Board the next morning by Collis Hutsell, District 25 Commander.

The application was officially approved and a temporary Charter was forwarded to District 25 in July 1961.

The Charter Presentation Dinner was held at Terry’s Restaurant in Vallejo on September 16, 1961.

Carquinez Squadron Charter Bridge Officers - 1961

Carquinez became the seventh Squadron in District 25. D/C Collins Hutsell presented our charter. The high-light of the evening was when Commander Jack Hough introduced each of the fifty-three members and guests by name

A roster of the new Squadron was given out and the Bridge was in uniform.

In the Spring of 1962 Carquinez held three Piloting Classes, (now known as the Public Boating Course) and a Seamanship Class for its members.

Cdr. Jack Hough was re-elected with the same Bridge for the 1962/1963 year. The new Bridge selected Carquinez Currents as our official publication. 

Carquinez Squadron Burgee

They also appointed a Burgee Committee that defined the Burgee. The artist was Earl A. Johnson. The original Burgee was sent to National Headquarters, was made by Lu Smiley.  National requested a background history and the following was complied by Cdr. Jack Hough.

Squadron Burgee background; in 1810 several California missionaries left Mission San Jose on foot to travel North to Point Reyes. Headed by Captain Morgan, the party traveled over hills and Arroyas until they reached the Rio Grand de San Francisco (San Francisco/San Pablo Bays). This small band traveled easterly and made camp at a spot on the south side of Carquinez Straits. Soon they were joined by a band of local Indians, bringing food of roots, fruit and many small crabs, obtained along the local shore. These Indians were of the Karkin Tribe and the missionaries associated and later recorded the enjoyable dinner of small crabs and the narrow part of the Rio Grande with the name of Karquinez. Later the spelling was changed to Carquinez.

Our Burgee was designed to show the high cliff with vertical blue strip on the hoist side. The swift tidal current flowing through the Carquinez Straits is indicated by the horizontal blue strip with waves on top. The red design in the mid part against a white background symbolizes the small crab found along the shores in early day and could be taken for the "C" in Carquinez".