Capt. Jayson Grimes. Jayson Grimes was 19 back in 1990 when he went to work aboard towboats. He credits a few friends of his who’d already started out… Read More
Captain Profiles
Capt. Chad Fielder. When asked what he likes about being a towboat captain, Capt. Chad Fielder’s answer is “everything.” “I’ve met a lot of people,” he said. Read More
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… Read More
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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… Read More
