Interviewer(s): J. P. Theriot. Houston, TX

Affiliation: University of Houston/History International

Captain Bill Robb grew up near a seaport in Scotland. He went to sea as an apprentice at age 16. When World War II broke out, he was thrust into the Merchant Marine, transporting cargo from Europe to the Far East. He participated in the Allied Invasion of North Africa in November 1942; his ship was bombed by a German torpedo bomber and was never recovered. After the war, he became a captain continued to work at sea, until he came to the Port of Houston in 1949 as a superintendent for a stevedoring company. He retired as Vice President of Young & Company Stevedoring after 50 years in the business.