[Keith Norrington]

A long and two shorts of the whistle today in tribute to the natal day observance of JUDY PATSCH, also known as the "Steamboat Cookie Lady" of the Upper Mississippi River - and sometimes as "Miss Streckfus".

Hooked by the call of the calliope on the Str. AVALON during her UMR visits in the 1950's, Judy became a steamboat buffette extraordinaire, maintains a fabulous collection of 'steamboat stuff', has served many years as a crew member aboard the Str. NATCHEZ and is well known to grateful steamboat crews for providing taxi/ambulance/courier service for those in need during stops in the Quad Cities - and at other points along the big river. Only God knows the actual number of chocolate chip cookies that have been handed over the rail at Lock & Dam 15 (and elsewhere!) to appreciative crew members of the DELTA QUEEN, MISSISSIPPI QUEEN and AMERICAN QUEEN, as well as several other vessels. With the return to the river of the AQ next year, you can bet that Judy will be 'waiting on the waterfront' to resume her cookie distribution and courtesy cab! Currently the president of the Midwest Riverboat Buffs, Judy is not only an authority on the history of the Streckfus Steamboat Line, but also a LIFE member of the Howard Steamboat Museum and always ready to pitch in and help with our events -- even after making the seven hour drive to Jeffersonville -- of course, bringing a cargo of cookies! She is truly dedicated to the cause!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a great river lady who is 'happy to give' and a good friend who has done much to promote and preserve river & steamboat history! Long may she keep rollin' on the river!