Margaret McMillan (UL 1940) Praised for Offshore Safety Work

[NewsCopy]

She's 1st woman to be inducted into hall of fame

LOUISIANA La. -- Margaret McMillan's October induction into the Offshore Energy Center Hall of Fame in Houston as a "technology pioneer" marked the first time a woman has been accorded the organization's top honor.

Cited for her contributions to the offshore industry in "Offshore Safety and Survival Training," the Lafayette native is in renowned company.

Previous honorees include oil industry legends such as firefighter Paul N. "Red" Adair and Billy Pugh, inventor of the helicopter rescue safety net.

Whether offshore, or in the classroom, McMillan is at home wherever there is water.

"I started teaching swimming when I was eleven at a pool in Gramercy," said the St. James Parish native. "That was 74 years ago."

In 1937, as a member of the Lutcher High School girls' swim team, McMillan held 11 Southern AAU records for the 100-meter breaststroke. She has been challenging records ever since.

McMillan and her brother, the late Dr. John Henry McMillan Jr. of Baton Rouge, had little choice but to take swimming lessons. Their father insisted upon their participation in aquatics as well as other athletic endeavors.

At age 15, McMillan attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana, and later earned a degree in 1940 in physical education.

McMillan also earned a master's degrees from the University of Texas in psychology, and health and physical education.

She joined the American Red Cross when World War II erupted.

She then returned to SLI as a professor and the assistant dean of women, tasked with the development and oversight of the "Marine Survival Training Center."

McMillan is also credited with being a founding member of the "Red Jackets," a women's organization developed to support the school's athletic programs.

It has been almost three decades since Lafayette honored her by proclaiming "Margaret McMillan Day" on Dec. 6, 1977.

City officials, ULL faculty, former students, family and friends gathered that day to highlight her commitment to ULL and the community.

Dropping her name into conversations around Acadiana today still elicits enthusiasm.

McMillan took an early retirement in the 1970s to enter the world of the offshore industry.

The rest of the story

By MADELAINE LANDRY
Special to The Advocate

[Turbine]

Margaret McMillan, an original member of the 1937 Red Jackets

Margaret McMillan with her brother when they were both Cheerleaders for different schools

Margaret McMillin visiting with Jay Hebert, and SLI President Fletcher

[KimoSC]

Thanks for the links! Excellent read. Ms. Marg is one great lady, a great asset to the UL community and an outstanding role model. Her accomplishements as an industry pioneer and entrepreneur were remarkale, and rare at the time for a woman. She's received many accolades over the years, both locally and nationally, but it's great to see her still earning the well-desreved recognition. And I bet some of you learned how to swim in her back yard!

She's also one of the nicest and most generous people you'd ever meet. An old and dear friend of my family (not to mention my sister's namesake and godmother!)

[NewsCopy]

The developer of a ground-breaking program for in-water survival was awarded the International Achievement Award on Thursday. Margaret McMillan, founder and former owner of McMillan Offshore Survival Technology, is the first woman to receive the award and is well known in the oil and gas community. The award is given by the International Trade Development Group and the International Center of Lafayette. McMillan traveled around the world to learn the real needs for those who work over the water. She noticed a trend: Workers had been taught practically backward. The rest of the story Bob Moser bmoser@theadvertiser.com