1960 EFFORTS TO SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN

It was around 1958, when lightning struck the Draw Bridge at Bridgeport, Alabama. I was just a teenager. I was at a gas station one morning, and this man drove up in a Station Wagon, looking for directions to the Delta Queen.  I gave him the directions to get there, but told him he was wasting his time, because they would not let anyone on board. He handed me a card, which read,  Andrew J. Lodder, Vice President, GREENE LINE STEAMERS, and invited me down to the boat the next morning for breakfast.  I showed up. They were expecting me, and I went aboard and was treated like royalty. The Station Wagon I saw the day before, was sitting on board the boat as well, with Ohio tags. There I met, the most wonderful person I had ever met, and still hold those sentiments, Mrs. Letha C. Greene, the owner of the Delta Queen.

I visited the boat every time if would come to Chattanooga, and Mrs. Greene was always on board, as Chattanooga was her favorite trip I later learned. In 1963, after knowing her a few years, she sent me a letter asking me if I would like to work on the Delta Queen. I quickly accepted the offer. I worked on the Delta Queen in 1964 in the Pursers Office.  I fell in love with the Delta Queen when I was about 16 years old, and have retained that great compassion all my life.

After leaving the Delta Queen, I had a job traveling and selling. My job took me along the Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers. I would get a brochure every year with the itinerary for that year. I would stop by and visit on occasions. Captain Wagner would invite me to travel a few days on the Queen as a guest. My 1964 Ford probably ended up with as many River miles as road miles. I would load my car aboard and stay sometimes a week, and other times a night.