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September 25, 2006

Warren shipbuilder Luther Blount dies at 90

WARREN -- Luther Blount, the founder of a small ship cruise line in Warren and philanthropist who donated one of his cruise ships to three colleges in Rhode Island, died Sunday at Rhode Island Hospital. He was 90.

Blount had been battling cancer, but cruise company spokeswoman Betty Galligan said he died of an unrelated illness.

Blount founded American Canadian Caribbean Line in 1966. The family-owned business offers no-frills cruises to offbeat places and caters to a niche market of travelers who want a casual, down-to-earth real-life experience of the regions they visit.

Blount, an avid sailor with a shipbuilding background, also designed and built most of his ships. Galligan said he was a pioneer in designing a vessel with a retractable pilothouse that lowers into the second deck and allows ships to pass through shallow waters and low-lying bridges.

In April, Blount donated one of his cruise ships, called the Niagara Prince, to Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University and Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Blount graduated from Wentworth in 1937 with a degree in mechanical design. He also received honorary doctorates from five colleges, including Wentworth, Rhode Island College and Roger Williams University.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 12:43 PM | Permalink

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