Capt. John B. "Jack" Niday, Jr. Maritime Scholarship

Jack Niday was born and raised in the East End of Houston and graduated from Milby High School in 1949. He immediately went to work on the Houston Ship Channel where his father was Superintendent for a Towing Company. Jack became a tugboat Captain at the age of 19. In 1959, he entered the Houston Pilot Association as their youngest deputy and became a full pilot in 1960. Capt. Niday served as Presiding Officer of the Houston Pilots for 7 years and as President of the Texas Pilot Association for 4 years.

He retired from the Pilots in 1985 so that his son could take his place and he could pursue his other business interests. Capt. Niday’s grandsons are currently working on the ship channel, making it four generations of service to the Maritime Industry. Additionally, he was active in the business community as a real estate developer, business owner and serving on various bank boards and the Board of the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce.

This scholarship was endowed not only to honor Capt. Niday’s legacy but to encourage San Jacinto College Students to take advantage of the many wonderful opportunities the Houston Ship Channel and the Maritime industry have to offer.