Containerization & Intermodal Institute honors Norton Lilly's Thurber with 2013 Connie Award

The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) has announced it will present the 2013 Connie Award to H. Winchester "Win" Thurber III, chairman and chief executive officer of Norton Lilly International, at a ceremony to be held Dec. 9 at the Newark Club in Newark, N.J.

The award recognizes his leadership in containerization's earlier years, and his revitalization of the shipping agency concept and Norton Lilly, CII officials said in a press release. The Connie Award honors individuals who significantly influence containerization in world trade and transportation, and display innovation during their careers.

Thurber worked in retail trade for several years before beginning his intermodal career in the late 1960s with Sea-Land Services. He held various positions for both Sea-Land and SeaTrain in the Northeast, Southeast, Gulf and western Europe regions.

He established the Thurber Agency in 1980 and later joined Southern Steamship Agency. During that time, Thurber introduced the concept of backroom services in the United States for many major ocean carriers, a concept that "was quite successful in the liner side of the agency business and has been used as a model for liner agency companies around the world," CII officials said.

In 1990, Thurber sold the two companies to Inchcape Shipping Services, where he held several senior management positions. In 1999, he formed a partnership with J. Schley Rutherford and purchased Strachan Shipping Agency, which in 2002 purchased Norton Lilly International.

"Early on, Win Thurber was able to change the shippers' mindset from breakbulk transport to containerization," said CII President Michael DiVirgilio. "[He] is the quintessential entrepreneur, who has restored Norton Lilly and over the years created jobs for those in the industry."

CII also will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Joseph Curto, the retired president of New York Shipping Association, to honor his four-decade career in the New York-New Jersey port industry, including more than 37 years with Maher Terminals.