Esso Huntington Launched Esso Huntington nears her outfitting berth. Insert shows Mrs. Leo D. Welch christening the tanker. THE Esso Huntington was successfully christened by Mrs. Leo D. Welch at exactly 12:00 M. on August 18, 1953. Mrs. Welch is the wife of Leo D. Welch, the Treasurer and a director of the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey). Mrs. Katherine M. Purviance, the mother of Mrs. Welch, was the Matron of Honor. The launching took place from Shipway Eight and as usual for Esso launchings, the weather was clear with a pleasant cooling breeze from the northeast. Fans, which had been installed on the launching stand, were not put into operation. The Sponsor and her party arrived by plane from New York at Patrick Henry Airport. After the luncheon at the James River Country Club, they returned to New York in the same manner. The Esso Huntington is the fifth in the current series of six tankers that we are building for the Esso Shipping Company. She is the thirty-second tanker constructed in our Yard for the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) or its subsidiaries over a period of almost forty years. The First, the John D. Archbold (Hull 170), was delivered on March 17, 1914. Mrs. Leo D. Welch, Sponsor of the Esso Huntington, with J.B. Woodward, Jr., President of the Yard. There is a direct relation between the name of the Esso Huntington and our Yard. She is named for Huntington, West Virginia, which in turn was named to honor Collis P. Huntington, who was the Founder of our Company. There were two ships named Huntington, side by side, as our tug Huntington aided in towing the newly launched tanker to the outfitting pier. Included in the list of distinguished guests for the launching were the following: Leo D. Welch, New York, New York; Mrs. David W. Smyser, Chevy Chase, Maryland; Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Sterling, Miss Judith Sterling, and Miss Patricia l\/IcGann of Chevy Chase, Maryland; Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hope, New York, New York; Mr. and Mrs. Donald  Hardenbrook, New York, New York; Mrs. Carolyn Cochrane, Williamsburg, Virginia; Mrs. W. S. Cochrane, Cedarhurst, L.I., New York; Mr. and Mrs. l\/Iilo Perkins, Washington, D. C.; Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Coleman, Cedarhurst, L.I., New York; M. G. Gamble, New York, New York; E. L. Stewart, Scarsdale, New York; W. Z. Gardner, Port Washington, L.I., New York; and A. Warner Melvin, Brooklyn, New York. The contract for the Esso Huntington was received on May 17, I951. Her keel was laid on March 2, 1953, and she is scheduled for delivery in the fall. The Esso Huntington sliding down Shipway Eight on August 18, 1953. Shown on the Sponsor’s stand for the launching of the Esso Hun!ington are from left to right — Mrs.  J. B. Woodward, Jr., Mr. Woodward, Mrs Leo D. Welch, the Sponsor, M. G. Gamble, President of Esso Shipping Company, Mrs. Katherine M. Purviance, Matron of Honor, and Leo D. Welch, Treasurer and Member of the Board of Directors of Standard Oil Company (New Jersey). Source : NEWPORT NEWS SHIPYARD BULLETIN, September, 1953. ( Thanks to S. Dale Hargrave )