George L. Flower, Chief of the Nautical Chart Section, retired May 31, 1938, after nearly 43 years of active service in the Bureau. Born in Detroit, Michigan, May 13, 1868, Captain Flower entered the Bureau's service October 4, 1895, as confidential clerk to the superintendent and was made an assistant on July 22, 1896. Between the latter date and 1899, he performed field duty in Alaska and on the east and gulf coasts of the United States. He commanded the Schooner MATCHLESS from 1900 to 1904, executing surveys of Chesapeake Bay and of the south and west coasts of Puerto Rico. He was then put in charge of the section now called the Nautical Chart Section.

During his tenure of this office, a radical change took place in the character of the charts, the old artistic style having minute detail yielding to the more legible and practical charts of today. Reproduction processes also were radically changed during this period. Dr. Flower's broad knowledge of charts, together with a practical and realistic view of the problems involved, enabled him to bear a prominent part in this transition. His retirement from duty is a distinct loss to the Survey, and his absence will be keenly felt by his many friends in the service.

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ESSA Corps Bulletin, 51/31/1938