| Christened: |
|
April 1977 |
| Built by: |
|
Jeffboat Inc.
Jeffersonville, IN |
| Cost: |
|
$5 million |
| Length: |
|
265 feet |
| Width: |
|
66 feet |
| Capacity: |
|
70 vehicles
500 passengers |
| Power Plant: |
|
Two GM Electro-Motive Diesel engines rated at 1500
horsepower each |
Gibb Gilchrist, P.E., graduated from The
University of Texas at Austin in 1909 with a
degree in civil engineering. His early
careers included work on the Santa Fe
Railroad and the Army Corps of Engineers
during World War I. At the war's end, Mr.
Gilchrist went to work for the fledgling
Texas Highway Department. By 1924, he was
the State Highway Engineer. After less than
a year in this position, he resigned due to
political differences with Governor
Ferguson.
For the next two years, Mr. Gilchrist worked for a private engineering firm
in Dallas. After the election of Governor Dan Moody in 1927, Mr. Gilchrist
returned to Austin as the State Highway Engineer. He remained in that position
until September 30, 1937.
After his retirement from the department, Mr. Gilchrist became the Dean of
the School of Engineering at Texas A&M. He later became President of the college
and the first Chancellor of the Texas A&M System. |
