Capt. "Doc" Hawley

New Orleans, LA (December 23, 2013) – The original Master of the Steamboat NATCHEZ, Captain Clarke C. (Doc) Hawley, was awarded the River Legend Award as part of the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) 2013 River Bell Awards. The award presented on December 12, celebrated Captain Hawley as the “Pied Piper” of the French Quarter.

 During the course of his long river career, Captain Hawley has served as master of three out of five remaining Mississippi River steamboats, including the Steamboat NATCHEZ - the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River. Although Captain Hawley retired in 1995, he continues to serve the Steamboat NATCHEZ as a substitute calliope player.

 “On behalf of the entire Steamboat NATCHEZ team, we’d like to congratulate Captain Hawley on this great honor,” said Adrienne Thomas, director of marketing and public relations for the Steamboat NATCHEZ and Gray Line Tours of New Orleans. “Captain Hawley has spent a lifetime promoting river history. He is very deserving of the River Legend Award and we are proud to have had him as our original Master.”

 SCI hosts the River Bell Awards with the goal of uncovering the industry’s yearly successes and recognizing some of its most influential figures. According to SCI, Captain Hawley’s passion has helped preserve the memory of the important developments in the marine transportation system from the days of steam-powered vessels.