Between the Levees

Newly-Retired Captain Gilbert Lamas joins me on the show to discuss a 59-year career that began in south Texas in the mid-60s. We discuss his roots growing up as a migrant worker, dropping out of school in the 8th grade and going to work on a dredge, his familial maritime and farming roots that were established two generations back in the late 1800s, a journey from deck to wheelhouse, Pilots Agree, and the training, safety, systems, and steersmen of today. He shares too a few of the more memorable things he's seen throughout his time at the sticks.

In this candid look at his personal life and professional experiences, for his second appearance on the show, Captain Mike "Beaver" Burkhart shares more stories about his family and early upbringing, his early career on the river battling with substances and bad company at home, a few more sea stories from the decades of life he's spent on the water, and more about his personal and professional outreach and advocacy efforts for the inland rivers maritime industry, and especially for those in his community incarcerated and staggering down a path from which he, himself, by the grace of God, had escaped nearly 35 years ago.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2n9bKn55kGflz9kVq6UkOw?si=60cff34db7474028

Joining me from the wheelhouse of the M/V MARK STAAB on the lower end of Memphis, Captain David Raines shares stories about life on a boat, his 33-year career, family, training, Mother Nature, and Old Man River. As night falls on the boat, we discuss his transitions to new companies over the years, the positive change of culture he's seen over the last seven, and the importance of morale and good food out there.

Growing up in New Orleans and chasing a career in car stereo sales and installation, Matt Lagarde found himself aboard a yacht as a deckhand on the Tombigbee River. That first step into the industry gave his life an order he hadn't known before. We hear about his ascent to the wheelhouse, running the New Orleans Harbor, and eventually coming shoreside where a whole new world of opportunity opened up to him. We touch on his experience with Compass, Memco, AEP, ACBL, and Ingram Barge, the countless industry organizations he's been involved in, and a number of stories from his time between the levees. A handful of previous guests are mentioned, and maybe a couple of future visits can now be arranged.

Growing up in East Texas and chasing a dream of professional baseball, Clark Todd met another student athlete at UT Austin who just so happened to be a blonde girl from New Orleans whose father owned a little company called Blessey Marine. Retiring early from professional baseball after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs, Clark rose through the ranks at Blessey after training in every aspect of the business - from the deck to purchasing to VP and CEO. We chronicle his 22 years with the company, his time with AWO, and an appreciation for this quaint and quiet little industry tucked away between the levees.

Born in industrial Pittsburgh, Del Wilkins grew up to join the ranks of Dravo Corporation as a 3rd-generation employee. We discuss the origins of his family connection to Dravo with his grandfather and great uncle in the late 1800s, his journey against the odds from deck to wheelhouse, and a jump to shoreside roles that led him to executive teams of some well-known barge lines, his involvement overseas in South America, Europe, China, and Africa bringing the American way abroad, and a passion for industry that carries on 43 years into an extraordinary career.

I sit down with Retired Captain Hank Pouliot to chat through the usual questions and hear more about a 40 year career on the water.

Captain Kory Cafaro joins me on the show to chat about his upbringing in Mississippi and on the West Coast, his introduction to the industry and his journey to the wheelhouse, experiences with Kenny Brown and the Maritime Throwdown, and his appreciation for the opportunities the river provided him.

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Noel Anderson, Fleeting Director for Zito's Mile 95 (Algiers) and 105 (Huey P) fleets, joins me on the show to share a bunch of stories about his life on the river and beyond. From the mid-80s to today, he's been on deck, in shipyards, dispatch, and fleet management, and through hurricanes, rescues, and salvage jobs in the Greater New Orleans area, and we close the episode discussing his brief career in local music. It's well worth the listen. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.