Page 51 - Rukert - 100th Anniversary

PART I THE RUKERT STORY
Norman Sr. called his sister Dorothy Nixon about the possibility of hiring her youngest son, George (Bud) Nixon Jr. who had graduated from the University of Baltimore and had experience in sales. Dorothy, who was now on the Board of Directors
of Rukert Terminals, said it was an excellent idea. Bud was hired on April 1, 1973, in time to be trained in administrative and financial duties by Bill Fleischmann, who retired in December of that year after 30 years of service.
Richard L. (Rick) Wolfe, who had worked five summers at Pier 5, was hired on June 20, 1973, soon after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College. He was assigned to Norm to learn the stevedoring and warehousing operations. On January 21, 1973, William J. (Bill) Bienert Jr. was hired as an Account Executive, after 12 years with the Maryland State Police. The team of Norm, Bud, Rick and Bill was now complete.
But an era was ending. Captain W.G.N. Rukert died on February 4, 1974, at the age of 87, after serving 66 years on the Baltimore waterfront. Loyal to his native city, he was a champion of the port, a man of unflagging energy who devoted his entire
life to bringing business to Baltimore. Writing about the port in 1948, Cap referred to his “many years of endeavors to become part of its shoreline.” He more than succeeded. Cap’s obituary in The Baltimore Sun credited him with developing a two-man business
into the largest privately-owned marine terminal in
the Port of Baltimore. Helen Delich Bentley, who was Chairperson of the Federal Maritime Commission at the time of Cap’s death, added that Cap contributed “more to the growth and development of maritime Baltimore than any other single person in its history. His sincere devotion and determination to put over new projects, despite all obstacles, will be sorely missed. He was truly a great pioneer. I will miss him as a dear and personal friend.”
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