For inland towboat captains, probably the most basic difference in working conditions is between long-haul and harbor captains. Capt. Tom Hanes, long-time harbor captain for Upper River Services, has no… Read More
Captain Profiles
As a 19-year-old, Bretford Wildrick took a job right out of high school as a welder at Iowa Marine & Repair in Keokuk, Iowa. Wildrick, a native of Hamilton, Ill.,… Read More
Capt. Bo Tucker has worked aboard tugs—primarily in Mobile, Ala.—for the better part of 30 years. Tucker said he actually started out in construction, but he had some uncles and… Read More
Capt. Vince Bradford, captain of the mv. Frank T. Stegbauer, made his way into a career on the inland waterways almost by accident. He was raised in Los Angeles, Calif.,… Read More
Growing up on the banks of the Ohio River in Cloverport, Ky., Harold Newby was around boats, but he didn’t always see them as a career path. “My father always… Read More
From the time he was 8 years old, Capt. Michael “Mike” Coyle knew he wanted to be a riverman. He was going to school in Oakville, Mo., which is just… Read More
Bryan Bishop’s dad was a captain when Bryan was born in Fairhope, Ala.—and is currently a captain on fishing vessels in the waters of the Bering Sea for the company… Read More
Unlike many who choose a river career, Capt. Chris Snouffer had no family members on the rivers. In fact, he had no intention of working on the rivers at all… Read More
An avid golfer, Capt. Bryon Given applies the same work ethic to his job on the river as he does to his time on the golf course. His employer calls… Read More
(Click on image for full photo) “If you’re man enough to quit school, then you’re man enough to go to work.” Spoken by this father, these are the words Terry… Read More
