William Henry "Bill" McDonald's Obituary
William Henry "Bill" McDonald passed away peacefully on Thursday, January
12, 2017 at his home in Mandeville, LA. The beloved husband of Debby
Ferguson McDonald, he is survived by his daughter - Jennifer McDonald
Ditson; one son - Jordan Ferguson McDonald; and one sister-in-law - Sheila
Ferguson Leatherwood. His parents, Margaret Davidson and Robert McDonald
both of Northern Ireland, precede him in death.
Mr. McDonald joined E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc. in September, 1996 as Vice President (Marketing and Sales). With more than 100 years of service on the Lower Mississippi River, E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc. has a long history of leadership providing ship
assist, harbor tug, offshore towing, and heavy lift derrick services.
In March 2004, Mr. McDonald was promoted to Executive Vice President. In that
capacity, he performed all work necessary for promoting the value of the
company to a global shipping community, with particular attention to
attracting and maintaining relationships with European, Asian, and South
American ship owners and charterers. In July 2011, E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc.'s
Board of Directors appointed Mr. McDonald as President of the company.
Prior to joining E.N. Bisso & Son, Mr. McDonald held the position of Vice
President/General Manager of Bay-Houston Towing Company in Houston, where
his knowledge of the worldwide shipping industry began. Born in Belfast,
Northern Ireland and schooled in Toronto, Canada, Mr. McDonald entered Her
Majesty's service in the Household Cavalry Regiment, known as the Royal
Horse Guards. Mr. McDonald served as a Director of the New Orleans Board of
Trade and as a member of the New Orleans Port Safety Council. Bill was also
a member of the Connecticut Maritime Association, New York Athletic Club,
and the World Trade Club. When not promoting the benefits of calling on the Lower Mississippi River, Bill enjoyed spending time as an avid outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, and playing golf. Bill was especially proud of his son, Jordan's graduation from Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston, TX and their shared love of the maritime industry.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend memorial services at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 16, 2017 at St. Timothy United Methodist Church, 335 Asbury Dr. Mandeville, LA 70448.
Visitation at the Church on Monday will begin at 10:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Shriner's Hospital For Children, www.shrinershospitals.org or by calling 855-401-4897.
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