Captain Clarke C. "Doc" Hawley (1935-2022), one of the founders of the National Rivers Hall of Fame, was the first master of the excursion steamer Natchez in New Orleans. During the course of his long river career, Captain Hawley not only served as master of three of the four remaining Mississippi River System steamboats, but did much to promote river history. He served as a modern day steamboating public relations man and goodwill ambassador.
Captain Hawley spent his entire career working with passengers and crew on excursion and tourist steamboats. His steamboating days began on the tramping excursion boat Avalon, first as a calliopist and then as a captain. He moved to the Delta Queen, then to the excursion boat Belle of Louisville, and finally to the steamer Natchez.
Captain Hawley's generosity in sharing steamboat artifacts and knowledge with his river friends was boundless. He has hosted US presidents, government officials, royalty, entertainment and sports stars, river buffs, and countless media people. He graciously gave his time to answer historical queries and to relate some of his many legendary river tales.
Captain Hawley was co-author with Capt. Alan Bates, a National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award winner, of “Moonlight at 8:30-The Excursion Boat Story.” His skill at the calliope keyboard earned him the title “Pied Piper of the French Quarter,” and is among the memories most hold dear to him.
It has been said that the real mark of a riverman is the number of people he has trained to carry on his work. During his lifetime, Captain Hawley has trained over 20 people who now hold captain's licenses on the rivers and continue to carry on the steamboat tradition.