Dana Stone was named president and CEO of Cutler-Magner, which owns a salt processing plant in Duluth and (as CLM) a lime production plant in Superior. He succeeds Clarence LaLiberte, who recently retired after more than 50 years of local service with Cutler-Magner.

Barry Pigeon was named manager of Lafarge North America, which operates cement terminals in both Duluth and Superior. He succeeds John Taivaloja, who retired as manager of both facilities in March.

American Steamship Company's self-unloader George A. Stinson was renamed American Spirit in March while in the graving dock at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay for her five-year survey and inspection. The 1,004-foot vessel was built in 1978 at American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio.

The American Association of Port Authorities, the organization representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere, named Senator Patty Murray (W-WA) Port Person of the Year at its spring conference in March. The Port of Seattle, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Tacoma nomi nated Senator Murray for her representation of ports, both large and small, and her commitment to maritime causes. The award is AAPA's most prestigious, and last year was presented to Minnesota's Eighth District Congressman James L. Oberstar.

The American Association of Port Authorities in April named Port of New Orleans Executive Director Gary LaGrange chairman for 2004-05. Mr. LeGrange served as port director at the ports of Gulfport, Miss., South Louisiana and West St. Mary before taking over the reins at the Port of New Orleans in 2001. His 30 years in the maritime industry have given him much experience dealing with policy and legislative matters.

An item in the May 10 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine caught the eye of some careful readers in the Twin Ports. Mentioned in the article was none other than Alastair Guthrie of Duluth. He was part of a feature story about New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

The article — headlined "Mister Softie?" — tells about how Mr. Steinbrenner sometimes felt he had disappointed his father, Cleveland shipowner Henry Steinbrenner, and how George eventually bought the shipping business and then, in 1973, brought together a group of investors to buy the Yankees.

"Four years later," the story says, "Steinbrenner invited his father to throw out the first ball of a spring training game in Fort Lauderdale. A family friend who was there, Allister [sic] Guthrie of Duluth, used to always tell Henry, `Don't be so hard on George. He'll be OK.' "

Alastair (correct spelling) Guthrie was the namesake of Alastair Guthrie, Inc., a vessel agency and grain forwarding firm he established in Duluth in the 1930s. The name of the firm was changed to Guthrie-Hubner, Inc., in the 1970s and continues under that name today.

Mr. Guthrie continued as president of the company until his death in 1979.