By RAY QUIRGA
Publisher
publisher@sbnewspaper.com
Longtime Port Isabel/San Benito Navigation District (PISBND) Port Director Bob Cornelison is shown speaking recently at a San Benito Rotary Club meeting inside the San Benito Municipal Building. Cornelison spoke with the News on his retirement and the early days he spent as the port director. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
It’s almost too hard for retired San Benito businessman Lionel Betancourt to fathom. But it has been over 30 years since he first approached Bob Cornelison with the proposition to take the helm of a financially-despondent Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District (PISBND).
During a recent Rotary Club meeting in San Benito, Cornelison was the invited speaker for a club packed with local leaders including Betancourt and Bill Weekly, who have served with the director on the navigation district board.
The always charismatic director recalled, with humor and fondness the early going of his tenure as port director, a tenure which is about to come to an end upon his retirement.
Speaking to club members, but nodding toward Betancourt, Cornelison said, “Literally Lionel, we had to start from the ground up, didn’t we?” To which Betancourt responded, “There was nothing but a bunch of boats and a dock.” Cornelison was in agreement. “That’s it, that’s it,” the director replied.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Jan. 23 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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