Captain Wagner Remembered

Thirty years.....how time flies. You are absolutely 100% correct, Sam, when you say very rarely does someone like that come along. To me this is proof that there is a God, because that man, in that place at that time was exactly what was needed for him and for the rest of us and for the "Delty Queen", as Cappy Louden would say.

For those who did not have the privelege of knowing this great man, you simply cannot imagine the true measure of the man. For Sam, Doc, Gabe, Jim Blum and many others, he taught us things we still use today.

When faced with a difficult management decision, I usually ask myself, "How would Capt. Wagner have handled this?" When I do that and apply what I think he would have done, things turn out right.

Right you are, Bob. I can't remember how many times I asked myself the same question. Funny thing.... last night I dreamed you and I were on an excursion boat and Cap was the Skipper, though he didn't appear personally, but it seems we were both laid off from another steamboat, and I said to you something like, "Captain Wagner always takes us in if we need a job."

Make that thirty-three years....

I was always in total AWE of Capt. Wagner from the time I first met him in 1966 when I was 12 years old! All of us who were privileged to know him are the richer for the experience.

*Remembering Capt. Wagner*
I agree with Keith mentioning "being in AWE of Capt. Wagner." Many of us met him being older--but the same feeling. Wagner would also have made one great ranking U.S. Navy admiral or even an Army general. Yet, when he knew you were seriously interested in the DQ and the river, he was kind opening up doors. Mrs. Letha Greene once said, "On the river you never know who or what you are getting in a captain. Capt. Wagner was true blue and a fine man." Times even when Wagner had to sort of reign in Betty Blake when she got too far out on some of her PR bright ideas. I know Wagner had off the cuff nick names for many on the boat, but who can recall the nick name applied to him? Thanks for the memories and Shipyard's fine photo. CHEERS!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Ernie, JR.

Ernie, Jr. used to ride with us often along with Billy Muster. Cap'n Wagner always told me how concerned he was about who would take care of Ernie, Jr. after he was gone. Anyone know?

*RE: Ernie Lee*
Hi, Mariam:
Just clicked and read your question. Right now I can't mentally nail down the date, but Ernie Lee passed away not too long ago. Another 'senior' moment. Shipyard and others on this web may remember with more certainty. I received word much later following his death. Capt. Wagner certainly took good care of Ernie Lee bringing him on the boat many times. He was a pleasant kid, teen and older grown man. I've some Black/White photos here buried away showing Ernie Lee on the old GREENE LINE wharfboat bidding his day goodby.

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Ernie Lee Memories

It was good to see the mentions about Ernie Lee Wagner. Ernie Lee often rode on the shorter-length cruises of the DQ out of Cincinnati. He was a fun kid who was always looking for something funny to laugh about. I imagine there would be cruise lines who would frown upon having someone like Ernie Lee on so many cruises, due to his limitations. But to me, that was part of the charm of the Greene Line. It was like "family".

Attached are some memories of him.

Denny Hamilton

Thanks to you both for remembering Ernie, Jr. I am glad to hear that he did OK after Cap'n Wagner was gone. That was a big worry for him. And yes, he was part of our very close family back then.

Denny,

The third photo of Ernie is my favorite. The ultimate steamboat salute.

Wesley

Ernie Lee passed away in Florida on March 7, 2008. Capt. Wagner's wife, Rosa Lee, passed away just this year, on May 23rd, at Melbourne, Florida. She was 95.

Denny, thanks so much for those great pictures -- just the way I remember Ernie Lee on the DQ!

*RE: Ernie Lee and Rosa Lee Wagner*
Steamboating collelagues:
Thanks to Keith for nailing down the dates of Ernie Lee's and Rosa Lee's passing. I was digging, fumbling around here and couldn't find the papers. Remember, Capt. Wagner had been married twice. Ernie Lee was one fine kid and in today's open world would have been a fully functioning individual in the mainstream. The Wagner home in New Richmond, OH is still there with the memorial to Capt. Wagner just across the street at 'the top o' the hill.'

There's still the big SNICKERS BAR 1st prize for whomever can recall Capt. Wagner's nick name. He sure had plenty of names for his crew--and some passengers. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

I did not realize Capt. Wagner had been married twice. Learn something new everyday.

As far as nicknaems are concerned, the only one I knew was "The Big E".

*RE: Capt. Wagner/His given boat nick name*
Hi, Capt. Bob,
Indeed, Capt. Wagner had been married before Rosa Lee. Some of his children by that marriage still in/around the Cincinnati and New Richmond, OH area.

The big SNICKERS BAR 1st prize still awaits the poster who remembers Wagner's given 'boat' nick name. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Times Moves On.

Thanks for the photos, Denny, but they made me very sad to see pictures of Ernie Lee and know that he is gone. When he was a toddler, I was a 17-year-old deckhand on the AVALON and he was often aboard with Mrs. Wagner. Ernie Lee was about the same age as my youngest brother, Jeffrey, and I "took to" little Ernie and spent many hours walking him, by the hand, 'round and 'round the dance floor of the boat while we were 'dead-heading' without passengers. It saddened me that he had his "limitations" and never matured into the sort of man his dad was. He was like a little brother to me as was my own Jeffrey. Mrs. Wagner was always kind to me, and she allowed me into her family circle. Her daughter, Sandy, was a beauty, and we sometimes went ashore for a soda or a walk. I wonder what became of her...?

Sad to hear of Mrs. W's passing... she disappeared from the river scene after Big Cap died. I heard she did not want to continue contact with the river people from the past, and so I never tried to contact her.

Time marches on...

L'il Ernie

As Ernie Lee grew up, it became apparent that he was not going to mature, and he had his "limitations", as you say, but like a child within one's own family, L'il Ernie's limits were taken in stride and, though saddened that he was not to become the man his father was, his condition was accepted that as he grew older and assumed a man's body he was always to remain a little boy forever thrilled to sit astride a fire truck wearing the Chief's cap and twisting the steering wheel from side to side as the engine rushed to a fire seen only by him.

As I watched that very scene, I overheard the two firemen who brought the fire engine down to the landing as part of the general river festivities that happened whenever the DELTA QUEEN was in a town talking to one another, and I recall them saying cruel things about the little boy in a man's form sitting on their truck having the time of his life. Their mean words still hurt as I remember their unkindness to someone who was very close and dear to me. Their rude words made me realize how hard and cold the world really was away from the protective cocoon that enclosed our secluded world aboard the steamboat... and things were never really the same after that.

"Big Gravy".................