Topic starter
18/11/2006 8:22 pm
Today is a day to remember and honor Mrs. Letha Greene, a steamboat lady of the first order. When word went throughout the DELTA QUEEN that "Mrs. Greene's aboard", the effect was like lightening. Everyone was suddenly at their very best wanting to make everything on board perfect for the "boss-lady", as she was sometimes called, down on deck, but always out of earshot of the First Lady of the DELTA QUEEN. After many years on the river, one of my proudest boasts remains: I worked for Mrs. Letha Greene.
18/11/2006 10:18 pm
Sam, Thanks for remembering Mrs. Greene to us. I am sorry to say I never met the lady, but from everything I have heard, she was what you said and more. When there was a contest to name Hull #2999, I submitted the name LETHA C. GREENE, which I thought was perfectly in keeping with the Greene Line tradition. Unfortuanately, this was around the time of the corporate name change to Delta Queen Steamboat Co. (a name I never cared much for, anyway), and the powers that wuz seemed not the least bit interested in my suggestion. To them, it didn't "say" anything or "tell" people anything. Oh, well.
You are justifiably proud to say you worked for Mrs. Greene, and I am just as proud to count myself among those who worked for Capt. Wagner and, yes, Betty Blake. Let's raise a toast to all those who kept the Old Gal going when things looked pretty bleak, and kept her around so that we can talk about a piece of living history, still going strong, in 2006. Here, here!!! Jim Burns told Fred Way in California that the DQ would "last Capt.Greene his lifetime and someone after him". Wouldn't he be surprised?!?
18/11/2006 10:37 pm
And to quote Roddy sometime in the Summer of 1968 '...and a tattered carbon to Mrs. Greene...' (in reference to her position within the management of the day).