Denison Family History 1948 [Industry Perspective]

Every year, History Fort Lauderdale (formerly the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society) honors individuals and companies making an impact on the city’s growth. This year, it’s celebrated the well-known Denison family, who received the History Makers Pioneer Family Award for being Broward County yachting-industry forerunners. Bob Denison, president of Denison Yachting, accepted the History Makers award for the family. The Denison family got their start in the yachting business after Frank and Gertrude Denison (pictured, Bob Denison’s grandparents) bought a boatyard in the city during their honeymoon in 1948. During its history, the shipyard, Broward Marine, became the county’s largest employer and the state’s largest defense contractor. Indeed, it initially built minesweepers. It went on to construct motor yachts in the 1950s and pioneered the country kitchen. The Denison’s company, Broward Marine, and its workforce were largely responsible for much of the marine industry that developed over the course of their 50 years of yacht construction that started on the south fork of the New River in Fort Lauderdale. More information on Broward Marine and Denison Yachting: https://hubs.ly/Q013snVb0 0:00 Introduction to Yachting in Fort Lauderdale 1:00 The Story of Frank + Gertrude Denison 2:00 Bob Denison 2:36 Minesweeper Program + Ken Denison 3:40 Transition to Yacht Building 4:05 Dick Lazzara - Lazzara Yachts 4:15 Billy Smith - Trinity Yachts 4:31 Phil Purcell - MIASF / Westport Shipyard 4:46 Robb Maass - Alley, Maass, Rogers, & Lindsay, P.A. 5:12 Richard Hein - The A Group / Oceanco 5:38 Bob Saxon - Westport Yacht Sales 6:03 Mike Busacca - Fraser Yachts 6:15 Innovations in Yachting 6:31 Herb Chambers - The Herb Chambers Companies 6:44 Mark Cavendish - Heesen Shipyard 6:58 Felix Sabates Jr. - Trinity Yachts 7:13 Michael Joyce - Hargrave Yachts 7:31 Andrew Winch - Winch Design 7:49 Dickie Bannenberg - Bannenberg Rowell Design 8:04 Breaking the Mold - Broward Marine