Obituary: James W. Harvey

James W. “Jim” or “Red” Harvey, 88, died October 12 in Sumner, Iowa. He was born December 25, 1932, in Vicksburg, Miss. At the age of 14, he walked down to the riverfront to try for a job on a riverboat to help his family out. He succeeded at this, beginning a lifelong career on or near the Mississippi River and its towboats. He retired as a captain for Alter Company at the age of 79.  He served successively as deckhand, engineer, pilot, captain and port captain for a variety of barge companies over the years. Among his many, many friends in the industry were notables Jesse Brent, Bilbo Williamson and Steve Golding.