Captain Rodney Magwood
Captain Magwood, better known around the port as “ROCK, “FIVE-IRON” and “SMOOTH OPERATOR”, was born in Savannah on January 31, 1957.
Rodney graduated from Windsor Forest High School in Savannah, where he played high school baseball. Several years after graduation, on 5/25/1979, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Nathaniel, and worked for Atlantic Towing, now Moran Savannah. He remained through all of our companies’ transitions, from Atlantic Towing to Turecamo, and in more recent years to Moran.
While working the crazy hours that comes with tug life, he raised three children and added to his family’s history and future on the Savannah River. As mentioned, his father Nathaniel was a tug captain with Atlantic Towing, his son Reginald is presently a Savannah River Pilot and his son Rodney Jr works as a long shore-man. Rodney also has a daughter, Rhonda, who is employed with the Savannah Morning News.
Throughout the years, Rodney worked his way up the ranks from Deckhand to Captain. Rodney could operate any of the tugs in the Moran Savannah Fleet and when Moran Savannah got their first tractor tug, the Tug Diane Moran, Rodney was one of the first to learn the new technology. He always shared his knowledge with anyone who wished to learn and is responsible for teaching and mentoring many of the local tug operators that we employ today.
But he didn’t stop there. He continued working hard and building his life’s story. He rose to the top of the ranks when he gained his Pilot’s License and became the first Afro-American Docking Pilot in the Port of Savannah.
Rodney was a special guy. He was large in stature, standing at 6’ 3” and weighing 325 lbs. He had a deep but soft voice and a vivacious, infectious, and devilish laugh. He was a slow mover. But this was to never be confused with not having a gusto for life.
He was so well-liked by everyone. Your day was just more fun when you got to see ROCK. Even when Rodney was off duty and a fellow pilot would board a ship, the ship captain would always ask, “How is Rodney? When is he working again?”
In the old days as we call them - before pagers and cell phones - we used to have to call our employees in advance and give them at least an hour's notice of upcoming work. If you called Rodney at just the right time of day, you would find him in his recliner waiting on your call. You would ask him, “Rodney what are you up to?” and he would respond, “I’m watching the Beverly Hillbillies”. This never got old. It was always a good laugh.
In his personal time, he loved fishing and playing golf, and could drive a ball 300 yards. His softer side crept in when he talked about riding his dogs, Pebbles and Bam Bam, around in his golf cart. He would leave the dock and say, “I’m going home to see my babies.” Thinking of this leaves quite the mental picture for those of us who knew him.
In all the years of working with Rodney, you never heard him direct anger towards anyone. He always just laughed it off and made things easier.
- Eve Hunter in our Savannah office for Moran Towing, wrote this beautiful tribute.
Here’s to Captain Magwood for paving the way for the next generation.
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