George C. Nickum (1910-1990), internationally recognized naval architect and longtime Northwest resident, headed the naval architectural firms of W.C. Nickum & Sons, and later Nickum & Spaulding Associates, before his retirement in 1986. Nickum apprenticed in the practice of naval architecture with his father, W.C. Nickum, during the Depression years. His father had designed early Seattle fireboats, including the fireboat Alki in 1927. In 1936, Nickum and one of his brothers joined his father in establishing W.C. Nickum & Sons. Nickum was responsible for the design of several of the state ferries, including the Hyak and Evergreen class superferries, that cross Puget Sound. His firms also designed tankers, bulk carriers, freighters, barges, towboats, research ships, and other commercial and military vessels. Nickum was also considered an authority on ship stability, and was the US delegate to the biannual international conferences on the subject between 1964 and 1977.

Interview conducted by Rick Hendon on September 20 and 26, 1985. This interview is part of the Donald Schmechel Oral History Collection. Don Schmechel, who was a member of the Seattle Public Library Foundation board, began this project with Seattle Public Library in 1984, with the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) brought on board as a partner in early 1985. Schmechel himself worked to raise the funding for the project, and volunteered his time to manage the project, and to conduct interviews along with a crew of volunteers. Originally titled the Videotaping Historic Figures (VHF) Program, the project interviewed 91 people, and MOHAI holds the interviews for 32 of these individuals.