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A&M Fires Offshore Sailing Team Coach Save Email Print
Posted: 7:47 PM Jul 21, 2008
 Last Updated: 5:12 AM Jul 23, 2008
 Reporter: Joe Brown
Email Address: brown@kbtx.com
10 comments
A | A | A

The captain of the ill-fated Texas A&M sailboat has been fired. But Texas A&M System officials say the decision to terminate James Atchley Friday had nothing to do with the sinking of the Cynthia Woods.

Instead, they say it was because Atchley failed to report a prior criminal conviction on his job application. System officials say he was convicted in 1990 in connection with the savings and loans scandals of the late 80's.

Atchley had been employed as the A&M Galveston Marine Terminal Manager and coach of the A&M offshore sailing team. He was the captain of the Cynthia Woods June 6 when its keel broke. However, A&M officals say he was not on the boat at the time it went down. The boat capsized, killing crew member Roger Stone and stranding five others in the Gulf of Mexico for 26 hours.
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Posted by: Horn Location: Bryan on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:33 PM
I'm just curious as to how my comment meant I was talking about football... I simply stated it is ANOTHER black eye among many recently dealing with cover ups at A & M that have made the news. Makes me think there are more that just have not made the news YET.
Posted by: AandM employee Location: AandM on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Texas A&M didn't start doing criminal background checks on most folks until fairly recently. If you have been employed at the university in a typical staff position for several years, they didn't run a check when you were hired. Now they do. They are also running checks on employees, which is how this guy was caught. Now new hires have to sign their stuff again when they get an offer and if they are caught lying about anything they can be fired.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:12 PM
2 aggies to what? 7 or 8 t.u players?
Posted by: Anonymous Location: CS on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Hey Anonymous at 11:49 have you forgotten the two A&M players arrested last year for burglary and drugs. This story has nothing to do with the football teams as a few have made it. It has to do with false information and maybe the sinking of the Cynthia Woods that cost a man his life. If people want to critize A&M it should be for this not the sports teams. No University can hardly claim all their players or coaches are innocent as the past shows
Posted by: Mary Conway Location: Galveston, TX on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I see you recieved my email stating the errors in yesterdays article you wrote.It seems you are still unclear about where Jim Atchleys physical self was on the night the boat capsized. Your article seems to imply that he was indeed on the Cynthia Woods. Again, please check your facts, and present them in the honest, correct way. I am concerned about your lack of professionalism in not only checking your facts before you print them, but the way your articles present what you believe to be facts. This is hard enough for all of us who were part of the horrific experience. Please do not add to it again with articles that are so clearly in error.It confuses the public, and requires an amount of relating the exact experience more times than is necessary, adding to the burden already placed upon the crew and families. Your articles have been beneficial to none. Mary Conway
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Another Black eye for a&m? I guess you horns have to look for something on someone else to take away from the thugs Mac has been recruiting in Austin. Look forward to see how many of them can end up in jail this year!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:46 AM
FYI Anonymous at 9:03 -- all TAMU employees have background checks run on them. I'm just not sure how this one slipped through the cracks...
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:03 AM
"Instead, they say it was because Atchley failed to report a prior criminal conviction on his job application." Has the A&M system ever heard of this little thing called a BACKGROUND CHECK???? The guy could have been a serial rapist/child molester for Petes sake.
Posted by: Horn Location: Bryan on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Ah yet another black eye for A&M.
Posted by: EJ Location: Bryan on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:00 PM
"But Texas A&M System officials say the decision to terminate James Atchley Friday had nothing to do with the sinking of the Cynthia Woods." This reminds me of the scene in The Wizard Of Oz; "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"
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