Ratigan, William

(1910 1984) Six generations of WilliamRatigan's family have lived in Michigan, a fact thathas inspired his novels and biographies of the Great Lakesregion. His father went on the Lakes at age twelve andworked up to steamboat engineer, with fresh- and salt-waterlicenses. The author himself once acted as dockmaster for aseason at his home port of Charlevoix.