OCEAN SPRINGS, MS—Ira Edwin Allison, a legendary menhaden fish boat captain and company manager, died in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on June 21, 2024, at the age of 101 years.
“Captain Ed” was born in the seaside village of Fairport on May 10, 1923. Like many of his neighbors, he turned to the sea for employment. As World War II approached, he volunteered for the United States Navy and was involved in the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy, France. Although only 21 years old, he was made captain of a landing craft that brought troops ashore three times under intense enemy fire. Once discharged from his naval service, “Capt. Ed” returned to Virginia and began a lifelong career in the menhaden fishing industry. He was employed by Zapata Haynie Corp. of Reedville where in 1972 he obtained his captain’s license for operation of a menhaden fishing steamer. As captain, he became widely known for his skills in landing fish in the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Zapata Haynie Corp. at that time had a major plant in Moss Point, Mississippi, for operations in the Gulf of Mexico. He was asked to command one of the major fishing vessels assigned to that port. Eventually he was placed in charge of all of the vessels in the Moss Point fleet and supervised their reconditioning and management. Finally, he was made plant manager of the Moss Point operations. He retired on May 20, 1988, having completed 33 years of service to the company, now known as Omega Protein.
Captain Allison was the oldest son of Olie Lee Allison and Gladys Lelia Lewis Allison. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Ann Balderson Allison in 1993. They had no children. In 2000 he found friendship with Bobbie J. Taylor, with whom he remained until his death. His siblings, Genie Allison, Vernon “Bunky” Allison, Ruby Lee Allison Hall and Madeline Mahoney also predeceased him. However, he is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock. The family received visitors from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, July 8, at the funeral home.
