In 1846, Arthur Savage’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Captain James McKay Sr., pioneered commercial shipping on the west coast of Florida by sailing into Tampa Bay. He and his son developed regular commercial shipping into and out of Tampa Bay for two generations.

Later, their cousins, the Lykes family, took over the ship-owning side of the business and built one of the world’s largest ship-owning companies.

In 1929, Arthur Russell Savage was transferred to Tampa by The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to become the Superintendent of Port Tampa.

During World War II, he joined the US Army Transportation Corps and eventually became a Lieutenant Colonel and the Port Commander of Antwerp.

After returning from the war, he left the railroad and started his firm, the A. R. Savage Company, establishing a legacy that was carried on by his son, W.O. “Bill” Savage. After Bill died in 1982, his wife, Shirley Savage, took over the company as President. Shirley sold the tugboat company and a bag company to concentrate on the basic functions of the agency and added the containerized cargo business.

She also served as the Honorary Consul for Denmark and Norway and was knighted by both countries for Outstanding Service.

In 1986, Shirley was recognized by the Propeller Club Port of Tampa as Maritime Person of the Year for her contributions to the industry, becoming the first woman in Florida to receive this honor.

She retired as president in 1998 and passed away in 2014. Today, Arthur R. Savage, Bill and Shirley’s son and Arthur Russell Savage’s grandson, leads the largest ship agency, ocean freight forwarding, and maritime advisory services company on Florida’s west coast.

The Savage family’s tradition of excellence and commitment to superior customer service will continue.

Its History & Development

Discover the captivating story of Tampa Bay’s waterfront in the first comprehensive book by Arthur R. Savage and Rodney Kite-Powell. Learn about its transformation from the Ice Age to the present day, including future uses. The beautifully designed book features rare maps, photos, and images from private and public collections, presenting a never-before-seen history of the bay, the surrounding counties, and their tributaries.

Due to the high demand, we are currently sold out. Reprints will be available soon for purchase.