Hall of Fame Award

The Hall of Fame was established in 1988 to recognize and honor individuals whose names and deeds are synonymous with the pursuit of quality, innovation, and perfection within the sphere of their expertise; and those who have made or continue to make substantial and lasting contributions toward the advancement of the marine industry. Excellence in the areas of product development, competitive activities, environmental protection, legislative support, and arts & entertainment can be considered for the award. It is NMMA’s most prestigious recognition.

Paul Kuck

With a precious nest egg of $60,000 and $20,000 each from two business associates, energetic entrepreneur Paul Kuck (affectionately known as “PK”) founded Regal Marine in Orlando, Florida, in 1969.

In the early years, the former steel marketer and his wife, Carol, pressed on despite a looming energy crisis. Regal struggled for survival in the early 1970s as petroleum prices soared and orders began to fade. Bankruptcy was averted as PK put the company’s future “in God’s hands,” and soon thereafter Regal began to flourish.

Appropriately, Regal’s mission statement begins with PK’s deep conviction, “With God’s help…” Today, Regal is one of the world’s largest privately-held boat manufacturers, posting $160 million in sales annually, with over 150 dealers and distributors in 40 countries. With worldwide headquarters based in Orlando and a second manufacturing plant in Valdosta, Georgia, Regal builds boats from 19 to 53 feet, under 850,000 square feet of manufacturing space with 675 dedicated team members. Since Paul and Carol committed their life savings (and the contributions from co-founders Gene Kandel and Clark Prudhon) to Regal, the company has sold boats to over 50,000 customers and received numerous awards for taking excellent care of them — including five J.D. Power and Associates awards and 19 CSI awards from the NMMA. Appropriately, the Regal mission statement ends with PK’s commitment, “… to provide exceptional customer satisfaction.”

During his tenure as Regal’s patriarch, Paul Kuck was also instrumental in the growth and leadership of the marine industry at large. He served as Chairman of the NMMA and was a member of its Board of Directors (1988–1990), as well as actively involved in the formulation of the American Boatbuilders Association (ABA).

To share his belief in faith and integrity with others in the marine industry, PK established “Leading with Vision and Values,” which has become a staple of the Miami International Boat Show. Kuck was a master at strategizing and planning in his head, but he led with his heart, even at work. His legendary conviction to “do the right thing” took precedence over the cost-effective, or the convenient.

Yet PK’s life was about much more than boating. He and Carol were passionate in many arenas of Christian ministry, such as Prison Fellowship International, Bill Glass Prison Outreach, the Orange Country Jail ministry, Frontline Outreach, and CareNet. He also served faithfully at his home church, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, where he attended for more than 35 years. The ministry nearest to his heart was Nathaniel’s Hope, dedicated to helping special needs children and their families, inspired by his grandson, Nathaniel.

Although PK earned many awards and accolades in his 76 years, his passion for his wife and family shined most brightly. His life served as a beacon for so many, but especially for his three children, Duane, Tim and Pam and 17 grandchildren. Together, they shouldered the challenges of work and the joys of family, mentored by a loving and dedicated man who exemplified a life dedicated to serving God and practically applying the path of integrity in business and at home.

In 2006, Paul Kuck relocated to his heavenly home, but his leadership, generosity, kindness and faith continue to live on in the lives he touched at home, in the marine industry and in his community. His life was a reflection of the values of honesty, integrity, generosity and thankfulness — a life given away by serving others and by serving God.

Richard Bertram

It is clear that Richard Bertram was a man of passion, a passion that was relayed into all of the things that surrounded him, including his family, his friends, his career and even to his competitors. His constant drive, dynamic personality and fervent dedication to boating is unparalleled and has distinguished Richard Bertram and his renowned innovations as a pioneer in the industry since Bertram Yacht first began. He was a man that many now refer to as a legend in the sport fishing industry, whose legend lives on in the company that he founded nearly 50 years ago and all of those that continue their commitment to the core principles that Dick Bertram stood behind, continue to lead the Bertram brand into a bright future.

There is a long, involved history regarding how the Bertram brand began. There is clear proof that Richard Bertram’s passion for boats strongly guided him throughout his life and his career. He began racing sailboats as an adolescent and by the time he graduated college, he was already sailing on the America’s Cup yachts and winning the first offshore powerboat races. In fact, it was during a qualifying race for the America’s Cup that Dick Bertram came across his biggest opportunity for a future in the boating industry where a 23-foot powerboat running through the heavy seas caught his eye. Soon after the race was over, he sought after the owner of this impressive small craft, who was a respected marine architect named C. Raymond Hunt that had developed a novel deep-V hull that eventually became a signature of a classic Bertram design.

Bertram was already the owner of the world’s largest yacht brokerage, but was driven to produce a sturdy workboat to help around the marina. He built a 31 foot powerboat made entirely from fiberglass called Moppie and finally decided to race the boat in the upcoming Miami-Nassau powerboat race. Moppie ended up sweeping the competition and set a new world record in the time it took from the start of the race to the finish line in rough weather. As soon as the marine world got wind of the news, Richard Bertram and his Moppie became a legend.

Soon thereafter, they won almost every major offshore race in the world. A tamer version of the Moppie was introduced to consumers in 1961 at the New York Boat Show. Bertrams then stood for speed, competition and glamour.

Bertram newly formed Bertram Yacht Company, a distinct entity from the existing yacht brokerage and eventually opened a 25-acre plant in 1962 on the Tamiami Canal in Miami, where it still stands today, across the street from the yacht brokerage company. Soon, Bertram was producing boats at an incredible speed, producing almost a boat a day. Bertram was at the forefront of a nautical design and introduced a series of new breakthrough designs in 1962, which introduced a new breed of sportfishing vessels that combined cruising facilities and capabilities with traditional sportfishing equipment and seaworthy hull. These vessels set a new industry standard in yacht design for years to come.

Richard Bertram left the manufacturing company to a team of experts and new management who led the company into success and continued to build it as a trademark for sportfishing. Today, the company is still committed to honor the principles of the man that built the legend by seeking the best quality in craftsmanship, design, technology, ride and performance, thereby expanding a product line that now features eight different models. Bertram Yacht was acquired by the Ferretti Group in 1998, bringing the boats to a higher class of interior design and luxury. The Ferretti Group strives to remain the best in the industry with a team of over 100 specialized engineers, 2,800 employees and a global presence in 95 countries making progress for Bertram’s future.

All of those who now contribute to Bertram’s future, are committed to honor the man who built the legend and strive to attain the passion and excellence behind Richard Bertram’s love for boat building.