This Sunday August 1 will mark the 75th birthday of Clarke Campbell Hawley. He will be celebrating it in his customary fashion by having dinner at Galatoire's, washing the French cuisine down with a Sazerac or two. Of course his day will include something he's done for 59 years now: playing a calliope concert. He plays the 10:45AM gig on Sundays as Debbie is a church organist. So while Doc doesn't use a computer, I'm sure his ears will be burning with posted wishes from his river friends. As much as he hates to hear it, he basically IS Old Man River now, but just as the river rolls on, so does Doc, and with a vitality many of us younger can't match. While parsimonious might be the way he describes his relationship with his wallet, he has certainly enriched so many of us with his sheer presence, his knowledge and wit, his steamboating experiences, and his generous sharing of his river artifacts. Who would have thought that back on that summer day in 1951 when I was listening to the AVALON's calliope concert, that 59 years later I'd be sending that young player 75th birthday greetings?
HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY DOC!
1) the Master of the new NATCHEZ IX April 1975
2) on DQ wingbridge May 1997 race - last trip as Master
3) May 1993 in Dubuque after he received the National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award
HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY DOC!
1) the Master of the new NATCHEZ IX April 1975
2) on DQ wingbridge May 1997 race - last trip as Master
3) May 1993 in Dubuque after he received the National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award
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