Andrew Floyd Fountain, Jr.

Fifth generation Fountain from D’Iberville/St. Martin area of Biloxi, Andy Fountain was born to Andrew and Melba Fountain in 1959. The Fountain family produced several boat builders including Martin Fountain, Sr., Martin Fountain, Jr., and Gussie Fountain.

Andy began his boatbuilding apprenticeship with his uncle, Bill Holland, working after school and during summer breaks. During his senior year of high school, he joined the Navy serving aboard the Yard Oiler 129, then aboard the destroyer USS Spruance DD-963, the Navy’s first gas turbine ship to be built at Ingall’s Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. After his service in the Navy, Fountain returned home to Biloxi and worked full-time with Bill Holland building boats. It was during this time that Andy was fortunate to meet notable boatbuilders such as Tony Jack Covacevich, Nick Misko, Homer Fayard and Gussie Fountain.

In 1984, Andy began a 32-year career with Mississippi Powe Company. Working the swing shift allowed him time to continue his work with his uncle building boats, one of which was the “Glenn L. Swetman”, a 65-foot, two masted, gaff-rigged, Biloxi oyster schooner, owned by the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum. He was also able to build the boat “Bout Time” and rebuild his own boat, the “Shrimp Queen” originally built by Tony Jack Covacevich, renaming her “Ma Cherie”. This beautiful boat is now owned by Robbie Carter and named “Lilly Faith”.

After retiring from Mississippi Power Company, Fountain formed a partnership with Bill Martin and opened Classic Boatworks, LLC. The duo specialized in repairing and rebuilding wooden boats.

Andy has since begun a new partnership with his grandson, Cannon, who had expressed an interest in learning the boatbuilding craft. They are now operating as Back Bay Boatworks, LLC., and are presently working at Kennedy’s Boatyard in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Andy Fountain and his wife, Debbie Clark Fountain, have resided in Vancleave for over 30 years. He has one daughter, Lauren Fleming and two grandsons, Cannon and Saylor.

For his mastery in wooden boat building and his efforts in teaching the craft to future generations, Andrew Floyd Fountain, Jr. is now inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame of the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, an institution for which he is a lifetime member and now serves on the board.