A brief history of the Potomac River Power Squadron, a unit of United States Power Squadrons, presented at the 97th Change of Watch and Founder's Day Luncheon, 10 March 2012, Washington, DC.

1. Founder’s Day
Potomac River Power Squadron
10 March 2012

2. A Squadron on the River
1914: Dr. Adolphus B. Bennett, Jr., Fleet Captain of the Corinthian
Yacht Club, Washington DC, learns of the Power Squadron
movement, an effort led by Roger Upton of Boston to support the
boating and navigation skills of motor boat owners.
Dr. Bennett asks to take the examination to join the movement. He is
advised instead to recruit at least 10 interested persons who might
sit for the examination and become the nucleus for the movement in
Washington, D.C
Members of Bennett’s Corinthian Yacht Club support the idea.
Members of the Capital Yacht Club resist out of concern that such a
movement could lead to government regulations requiring all
yachtsmen to be certified in navigation and safety. However, They
eventually agree to the movement.

3. A Squadron Is born
Members of the United States Power
Squadrons Committee on Instruction and
Examination visit Washington in May
1915 to examine potential members.
Twenty-two men sat for the oral exam.
Nineteen passed and a great squadron
was born.
F Street, NW, Washington, DC, 1915
The Governing Board
chartered Potomac River as
Squadron No. 14 under
General Order 12 on May
25, 1915.

4. October 17, 1915, Cdr. Bennett led a
flotilla of nine Potomac River
Squadron vessels in drills and
maneuvers “at the forks of the
Georgetown Channel and
Washington Channel” near the War
College.
Today, DC area civilians
simply call the War College
“Ft. McNair.”

5. WAR
During the Great War, Power Squadron members and other yachtsmen were offered
commissions in the U.S. Navy Reserve Forces (USNRF) to use their boats for Volunteer
Torpedo Patrol duty to guard against the U-boat menace.
vs.
Boating is fun. We’ll show you how.
After the war, returning service men wanted little to do with boats
and drills. Power Squadron membership fell. In 1919, the chief
commander recommended all operations cease.
That’s when A.B. Bennett went to work.

6. Dr. Bennett’s Lasting Influence
V/C Bennett’s Strategic Plan, 1919:
Repeal the requirement that members must first be
members of yacht clubs.
Cease drilling as the Power Squadrons only
activity.
Make United States Power Squadrons the primary
member relationship for individuals
Make education the primary purpose of the Power
Squadrons.
Bennett was elected Chief Commander in 1920 and
served four terms in office (1920 – 1924). Potomac River
member J. Edwin Lawton succeeded Bennett as Chief
Commander.
Bennett and Lawton were the only two men to serve as
Chief Commander and Squadron Commander
simultaneously.

7. Original list of Potomac River Squadron Boat names and Owners
Vessel Owner Vessel Owner Vessel Owner
Aragon A.B. Bennett Nokomis Dr. John R. Sharp Spunky Harrington Barker
Nevil Monroe Hopkins
Oolootsa Wm. J. Bacon Nemara James T. Sunbeam II Robert B. Roosevelt
Breshnaham
Sewanee A.C. Clephane Helen D. Evarton B. Powell Elizabeth Emil C. Kaiser
L.P. Clephane
Owen Col. W. O. Owen Juel W.J. Ingram Catawba Roscoe H. Shaw
J.S. Randall
Sabot W.D. Grosbeck Emeline C.W. Sherrier Elsie Ede C. Merrill
Charles F. Haden Harvey H. Haun
Norma II Herbert Bose Edna E.O. Reed Florence R. John H. Aue
E. M. Eastwood John G. Rizzo
A. B. C. Dr. R. S. Clinton Ecola Frank N. Moore Bill William M. Wagner
F.E. Symanoskie
Ke pa goin Charles H. Kerper

8. Dr. Bennett was the face of Potomac River for over 50 years…
The Washington Evening Star took note in 1964.

9. …as Potomac River Squadron thrived.

10. In June 1968, P/C/C Bennett crossed the bar.

11. Past Chief Commanders of United States Power Squadrons from
Potomac River Squadron
 Theodore I Coe, JN, 1916-1917
 A.B. Bennett, JN, 1920-1923
 J. Edwin Lawton, JN, 1929
 Arthur Middleton, N, 1938-1940
What do the letters mean?
The Power Squadrons offers a series of courses above basic boating safety for the
recreational captain. Power Squadrons members who complete an Advanced Grade course,
they are entitled to use the suffix for that Grade after their name and an insignia on their
uniform. The grades are:
• Seaman, S
• Pilot, P
• Advanced Pilot, AP
• Junior Navigation, JN
• Navigation, N
A senior navigator (SN) is a member who has completed all Advanced Grade
and elective courses.

12. Potomac River – Father of Squadrons
List of squadrons formed from Potomac River Squadron:
Annapolis, 1941
Patuxent River, 1953
Northern Virginia, 1967 Mid-Potomac, 2000
Prince Georges, 1970 - 2002
Rockville, 1972
In 1968, Potomac River claimed the honor the largest
membership of all the Power Squadrons.

13. At mid-century, society redefined the notion of “who belonged.”
United States Power Squadrons dropped the word “men”
from membership requirements in 1982.
Edna Winterhak was the first woman elected squadron
commander in 1985.
Ted Hagins was the first African-American admitted to
squadron membership.
Bonnie Gaskins was the first African American elected
squadron commander in 2003.
Howard Gasaway, Sr. is the first person to serve three
terms as squadron commander since 1929.

14. Potomac River is the oldest Power Squadron in continuous existence.
Our Centennial Year:
May 25, 2014 – May 24, 2015
We will be here… and we will be looking for you.
To be continued….

15. This presentation prepared by P/C Anthony Brown, P, Potomac River Squadron
With grateful acknowledgement to P/C Harry Seeback, SN, and P/C Tom Dillon, AP, as long time custodians
of squadron records and oral tradition.
Newspaper images used with permission.
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