Following college, on June 10, 1968 he was hired as a Third Mate by Humble Oil and Refining Company, which later became Exxon Shipping Company.
10 июля 1968 года, по окончанию колледжа, он поступил на работу третьим помощником в Humble Oil and Refining Company, впоследствии ставшей Exxon Shipping Company.