Comments: Hi I was searching for the tug boat that was named after my brother Lou Draper I found it this was his pride and joy sure wish I had a picture of it. He worked for a boat yard in Alton ILL when this was done. Louie as we called him passed away in Dec of 2006 his family has that tug boat one his head stone with the St,Louis river front in the back ground very impressive. Thank you his sister Nancy
Added: April 27, 2015 - 01:13 PM
Submitted by Name: Tom Graf From: Longview Beach Indiana E-mail: tgraf@twc.com
Comments: My wife and I live on the Ohio river 12 miles upriver from Louisville Ky. We love to watch the towboats go by and this site will help us get to know the boats better.We have many many river stories, but one that always stands out is seeing an ACBL towboat go by pushing 40 empties. Tom
Added: April 25, 2015 - 01:10 PM
Submitted by Name: Christopher Parent From: Little Rock, AR E-mail: houseboat109@yahoo.com
Comments: Great web site of tow boats. I am looking for information on old Exxon tow boats. I was a deck hand on Exxon Tennessee and West Virginia. Any old hands out there from these boats.
Comments: The Journey was built by my grandfather, E.C. Coughenour! It was amazing to see one of his boats. Originally named Sharon after another granddaughter. To my knowledge he had three boats he used for his business. Awesome find!!!!!
Added: April 05, 2015 - 03:53 PM
Submitted by Name: Bernard & Joann Marek From: Wallis, Texas E-mail: Jkmarek@twlt.net
Comments: Worked out of Cocodrie on our commercial shrimp trawler Capt. Joann in the 80's. Was in the area for 7 years.
Comments: Love the pic of M/V ANNILOU. It's called something else now. Wefner Marine owns it now. My father, Capt. Grover Welch, ran the Annilou from the time I was about 5 yrs old till my late 20's. The companies name back then was Waterways Marine. They were a harbor fleet service, owned by Mr. Tarver. Buddy Wornick managed the fleet. All of the names of the boats in the fleet were M/V ANNILOU, (named after his wife or daughter, I forget), at one time, there was one called the M/V JEFF T, (after his son), I want to say it was renamed the M/V MARLIN, M/V DRAKE, (named after his black lab that he gave to us when I was young, & last but definitely not least was the M/V CAPT. BUDDY, the grocery n crew boat. I thank you for having all these pictures and information on the boats . The Mississippi River has been apart of my life as long as I can remember. Not only my dad is a captain, but my ex husband, several uncles & cousins are now pilots & captains. Almost everyone of them got their start on the river at Waterways Marine. I'm pretty sure they all operated each boat at one time or another. Thank you for allowing me to post. When I find some of my pictures of the boats, I will email to you!!!!!! Ty again, Tamatha Welch Whitaker. Also known as A river rat... Lol.
Added: March 29, 2015 - 12:09 PM
Submitted by Name: Erin Erck From: California, Ky E-mail: Erinerck@yahoo.com
Comments: I think it was your tug with barges that just spent 4 days stranded on the Ohio by our house. Our daughter loved having you here everday when we went outside! 😂 She was disappinted as we watched you fixed and pull away today. I have pics and video of you leaving but didnt know where to send them. Hopefully you all got back home safely!!
Added: March 25, 2015 - 08:58 PM
Submitted by Name: Everett Thompson Jr. From: Lawrenceville, IL. E-mail: elthom62@yahoo.com
Comments: M/V Cumberland Hunter This was the last boat I really enjoyed working on. I ran 1st Mate for Capt. Johnny Counce who passed away 1 MAR 2009. Rest in peace Johnny. I'll always remember the good times on the boat and at your house in Dover, TN. I think of you often.
Added: February 16, 2015 - 02:45 PM
Submitted by Name: Everett Thompson Jr. From: Lawrenceville, IL. E-mail: elthom62@yahoo.com
Comments: M/V Blaze Walker First boat I ever worked on back in 1988. I was the only 'Yankee' on the boat. I'll never forget those nice Coon@@s folks I worked with. Think of them every time I watch Swamp People and Mississippi Men. I ended my river career back in 2000. The towboat cooks I rode with are whom I miss the most.
Name: Nancy Greenwalt
From: Potosi,Mo 63664
E-mail: nancy_greenwalt@yahoo.com
Hi I was searching for the tug boat that was named after my brother Lou Draper I found it this was his pride and joy sure wish I had a picture of it. He worked for a boat yard in Alton ILL when this was done. Louie as we called him passed away in Dec of 2006 his family has that tug boat one his head stone with the St,Louis river front in the back ground very impressive. Thank you his sister Nancy