Topic starter
28/09/2007 3:26 pm
Happy Birthday to Larry Walker, a Cincinnati steamboat buff of the highest order and former treasurer for many years of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen. Larry is also known for his "Acorn Factory" and has turned out some beautiful wooden acorns for the Str. NATCHEZ and other boats. Today Larry observes his "four score and ten" years on this earth and many of us on this board are privileged to know him for many years.
Frequent travelers on the DELTA QUEEN from the early Greene Line days, Larry, his wife Ethel (now deceased) and the late Dorothea Frye also made MANY fall trips to New Orleans from the late 1960's through the early 1990's. They always found all kinds of interesting and unique things to do during their two week sojourn in the south, which ran the gamut from going to yard sales to visiting opulent plantations.
A long and loud whistle salute to Larry on this milestone birthday!!!!
Topic starter
01/10/2007 11:57 am
Here are several photos I ran across over the weekend. The first shows Larry at the steering levers of the Str. NATCHEZ in 1993. The second image was taken at the Howard Steamboat Museum in April, 1994 on the occasion of the book signing party for "Moonlite at 8:30" by Capts. Alan Bates and Clarke Hawley. Left to right are Larry, Capt. C.W. Stoll and Dorothea Frye. Both photos were taken by Judy Patsch. The third picture was also taken at the museum book signing event and features Ethel Walker and Dorothea Frye seated. Left to right standing are yours truly, Judy and Larry.
01/10/2007 1:15 pm
And here's one taken on the NATCHEZ in the early '90s as Larry is presenting Doc with a new acorn... the one it replaced is proudly on display here. Larry made all the acorns for the NATCHEZ from the beginning until the mid '90s. I'm not sure if any of the current ones are still his creation or not. That's Dorothea sitting in the background with Ethel.
01/10/2007 2:49 pm
Steamboating colleagues:
WOW! Thanks to Keith and Judy for 'reminding' us of Larry Walker's big 90th B-day. The pictures posted are wonderful. Brought back lots of memories seeing Larry, Ethel, Dorothea and Doc. Larry served admirably as the Treasurer of Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen more years than I can recall. Larry also worked many years here for the 'Union Central Life Insurance Co.' Larry's S&D financial reports were clear, concise and on the penny. Have a great B-day, Larry; there's many more to come.
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick