J. Ray Mcdermott Executive James J. Wildasin Dies At 61
Times Picayune 09-17-1996

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James Jones Wildasin, president of Europe and subsea development for J. Ray
McDermott, died Sept. 3 of a heart attack in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was 61.

Mr. Wildasin's recent service with the company began in 1989, when he was
named president of McDermott-ETPM, a joint venture of McDermott International
and the French company ETPM. In 1990, he was named vice president and general
manager of McDermott's London engineering division. In 1991, he became vice
president and group executive for the company's marine construction operations
in the North Sea, Middle East and West Africa.

Mr. Wildasin was president and chief operating officer of McDermott Marine
Construction from 1993 until January 1995, when he was named president and
chief operating officer of J. Ray McDermott. He also was named to the
company's board of directors. In September 1995, when the company's operations
were realigned, he was given his most recent responsibilities.

He previously worked for McDermott from 1972 until 1977, when he managed
operations in Brazil, the Bahamas and Belgium.

During his career in offshore construction, he and his family also lived in
Australia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Houston and New Orleans.

Mr. Wildasin was born in Glade Spring, Va., and formerly lived in New Orleans
for several years. He received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
from Georgia Tech and a master's in engineering management from Vanderbilt
University.

Survivors include his wife, Arden Ferguson Wildasin; three sons, James Mason
Wildasin of Greenwich, Conn., Mark Hayes Wildasin of Mill Valley, Calif., and
Keith Hunter Wildasin of New York City; and three grandchildren.

A funeral was held Friday at Glade Spring Presbyterian Church in Old Glade,
Va. Burial was in the church cemetery. Williams Funeral Home in Chilhowie,
Va., handled arrangements.