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.
Nach seinem College-Abschluss trat er am 10. Juni 1968 ins Berufsleben als dritter Maat bei der Humble Oil and Refining Company (die spätere Exxon Shipping Company) ein.