Obituary: Nolan Joseph Leblanc

Nolan Joseph Leblanc, 94, of Galliano, La., died March 22, 2023. He joined the Navy at 17, shortly after World War II, and was stationed in the coastal jungles of Panama until 1950. He began his nautical career working on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and the Gulf Coast waterways for various companies, including Canal Barge, Oil Transport and Harvey Towing. He worked his way from deckhand to captain. In 1970, he established Bayou Towing, having built the mvs. Bayou King and Bayou Queen. In 1976, he sold the company and retired to become an avid fisherman in south Louisiana, but unretired to continue working part-time for Crosby Towing later in life as an expert of the Mississippi. Capt. Nolan was the ultimate man of the water. He was full of life (and stories!), and he never met a stranger.