In memory of Robert ‘Bob’ McMillen

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Transportation industry leader Robert B. “Bob” McMillen died Oct. 12, 2002, at his Bellevue, Wash., home following an extended illness. Family and friends celebrated his life Oct. 24 at Bellevue’s First Presbyterian Church. Colleagues Mike Garvey and Stan Barer, and close friend Seahawks Coach Emeritus Chuck Knox, offered remembrances of Bob’s life. Barer told the gathering Bob was “an eloquent man; maybe not in speeches and such, but if you watched what he did, you didn’t care what he said.”

Born and reared in Bridgeville, Pa., Bob McMillen worked in his father’s pharmacy and, after graduating from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and military service, began his career in the transportation industry. In 1977 he became President and CEO of a startup company, Totem Ocean Trailer Express in Puget Sound, which later became Totem Ocean Services, then SaltChuk Resources. He managed TOTE’s holding company and its subsidiaries until his death.

Bob was well known and respected by both labor and management within the industry. Although his commendations were many, he particularly cherished an action by the Seafarers International Union, which named a Maryland building after him, an honor bestowed on an industry executive only once before. He was named Puget Sound Maritime Man of the Year 1986, Transportation Club of Tacoma Man of the Year 1985, and Merle Adlum Labor-Management Maritime Man of the Year 1991. In 2000 he won the Washington Athletic Club’s Torchy Award.

His many civic activities included serving on the Seattle Chamber’s Alaska Committee, the University of Washington Foundation, the Tyee Board of the University of Washington, and Alaska Pacific University’s board in Anchorage. He also served on the boards of Swedish Medical Center Foundation and the Leukemia Society’s Washington State Chapter.

McMillen is survived by his son Michael, Michael’s wife Erin, and granddaughter Jasmine. Other survivors include his beloved friend, Joan E. Thurman, and niece Virginia Kerr, nephew Howard Morrison and their families. Remembrances may be made to the Northwest Kidney Center Foundation, Box 3035, Seattle WA 98114, or Harborview Medical Center, McMillen Memorial Fund, NW Lipid Research Clinic, Box 359950, Seattle WA 98104.