Frank Butler receives 2010 Mel Barr Award
GURNEE, Ill. — The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) recently presented the Mel Barr Award to Frank Butler, president of Catalina Yachts.
Named in the memory of marine rep Mel Barr, one of the founders of NMRA and its first president, the award recognizes an individual who has contributed to the improvement of the industry.
Kathy Johnson, national sales manager of Boating Industry magazine, and NMRA president Rick Silverlake made the presentation. Pat Black with W.M. Black and Company, the NMRA member rep who nominated Butler, accepted the award on his behalf.
“At the age of 82, when most people are enjoying their retirement, Frank Butler is still building boats, contributing to the marine industry and loving every second of it,” Johnson said in a release. “Over his career, Frank has probably manufactured over 75,000 boats.”
In the ’60s, Butler started Coronado Yachts. By 1967, Coronado was a lucrative business, which Frank sold to the Whittaker Corporation. He stayed on as a consultant for one year before founding Catalina Yachts in 1969. Today, Catalina is a major production sailboat builder, offering a broad range of family-oriented sailboats from 8′ to 47′.
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