Obituary: Capt. Joseph “Joe Mac” Hamilton

Capt. Joseph McCager “Joe Mac” Hamilton, 71, of Battletown, Ky., died August 10.

He graduated from Meade County High School in 1967 and attended Western Kentucky University. His river career began with a summer job as a deckhand for American Commercial Barge Line starting in June 1968. Moving up the ranks, he entered the steersman program in 1973, at the age of 24, and was promoted to captain on a tug in Cairo Harbor. Hamilton held a Master of Towing Vessels License for the Great Lakes, Gulf Intracoastal Waters and Western Rivers, where he piloted numerous vessels ranging from 800 to 10,000 hp.

Hamilton retired after 43 years with American Commercial Barge Line, and then he continued his career with Hunter Marine until February 2014.

On May 31, 2006, American Commercial Barge Line recognized his service and reputation by christening a towboat in his honor, the mv. Joseph M. Hamilton. It still runs on the Mississippi River today.

Hamilton was a member of the Harrison Masonic Lodge #122 F&AM, a 32nd degree Scottish Mason and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also inducted into the Meade County High School Alumni Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievements.

Hamilton and his wife, Kay, were married 51 years. He loved his family, especially the kids, and enjoyed the outdoors. He spent his time hunting, fishing and working his food plots on his farm in Battletown.