A.R. Savage & Son

Arthur Savage, the CEO of A.R. Savage & Son, is the grandson of the company’s founder, Arthur Russell Savage. The business was established in 1945, but the family’s history in the maritime community goes back even further.

In 1846, Arthur Savage’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Captain James McKay Sr., pioneered commercial shipping on the west coast of Florida by sailing into Tampa Bay. He and his son developed regular commercial shipping into and out of Tampa Bay for two generations.

Later, their cousins, the Lykes family, took over the ship-owning side of the business and built one of the world’s largest ship-owning companies.

In 1929, Arthur Russell Savage was transferred to Tampa by The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to become the Superintendent of Port Tampa.

During World War II, he joined the US Army Transportation Corps and eventually became a Lieutenant Colonel and the Port Commander of Antwerp.

After returning from the war, he left the railroad and started his firm, the A. R. Savage Company, establishing a legacy that was carried on by his son, W.O. “Bill” Savage. After Bill died in 1982, his wife, Shirley Savage, took over the company as President. Shirley sold the tugboat company and a bag company to concentrate on the basic functions of the agency and added the containerized cargo business.

She also served as the Honorary Consul for Denmark and Norway and was knighted by both countries for Outstanding Service.

In 1986, Shirley was recognized by the Propeller Club Port of Tampa as Maritime Person of the Year for her contributions to the industry, becoming