Anonymous Donor Benefits GNOBFA Fund 

The Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association (GNOBFA) has donated several hundred thousand dollars to universities in the name of many deserving young individuals over the last 30 years. This difficult year was no  different; however, there was a new twist.

A very generous donation from an anonymous donor was made to GNOBFA in memory of Larry L. Howell (October 17,1944–December 12, 2019), who passed away at his home at Denham Springs, La., at the age of 75. Howell was the founder and owner of River City Towing Services, a chemical and petroleum barge company in Denham Springs. He was a graduate of Desha Central High School in Rohwer, Ark., and attended the University of Arkansas in Monticello. He started his marine industry career as a young man and stayed in the industry for more than 50 years.

His survivors include his wife of 51 years, Kay, and his two sons, Kevin and Scott, and their families.

Scholarship Essay Competition

In honor of Howell, GNOBFA utilized the entire donation for a scholarship essay competition for the college students of members of GNOBFA. They were required to  submit an essay on how each saw opportunities in today’s environment. The funds were shared among the top four applicants for their college tuitions.

“The industry will and has already missed Mr. Howell, who never met a stranger and left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him,” said Alan Savoie, a past president of GNOBFA. “He was an asset to the marine industry for all those years.”