Eckstein Honored with National Rivers Hall of Fame National Achievement Award
The National Rivers Hall of Fame is proud to announce John Eckstein as a recipient of a 2025 National Achievement Award, one of the highest honors in American river history and heritage. Over the past 35 years, he has led Marquette Transportation Co. to become a premier provider of towing services, operating more than 135 towboats and tugboats across its river, Gulf inland, and offshore divisions.
The Hall of Fame was founded on the belief that rivers and their advocates are major catalysts for the economic and cultural development of America. Established in 1985, the organization joined the Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) to be the permanent home for its collections, stories, and exhibits on these impactful individuals. With the opening of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in 2003, the National Rivers Hall of Fame found a home in the Diamond Jo National River Center. The National Rivers Hall of Fame identifies stories and people of interest to induct into the Hall of Fame and presents annual National Achievement Awards to those continuing to make an impact on elevating river history and industry growth.
Raised on the banks of the Upper Mississippi in Cassville, Wis., Eckstein developed his passion for the river at a young age. The youngest of Ray and Kay Eckstein’s eight children, tow boating was an integral part of his upbringing through his family’s ownership of Wisconsin Barge Line and the initial founding of Marquette when he was a teenager in 1978.
Eckstein spent his summers working as a deckhand while he attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management and economics. Following his graduation from Coe, he completed a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance at Vanderbilt University.
Following two years working as vice president, institutional bond sales for Merrill Lynch, Eckstein returned to Marquette as a dispatcher in 1990.
After 30 years with Marquette Transportation Co., he assumed the role of executive chairman.
“The last 30 years have been an incredible journey for me and the Marquette team,” Eckstein said. “I’m extremely proud of what we’ve built and appreciate the friendships I’ve been able to establish across our industry.”
Today, Eckstein carries forward the Marquette legacy of entrepreneurship and forward-thinking solutions to meet the demands of a new business world. With a world-class management team behind it, Marquette’s high-quality initiatives and innovative services have turned a once mom-and-pop operation into a vibrant marine transportation company serving some of the world’s largest suppliers of food and commodities. With a strategic mix of vessels across three fleets, Marquette now serves America’s inland rivers, the Gulf, Eastern Seaboard, and offshore destinations, such as the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Eckstein joins an esteemed list of past National Achievement Award recipients including river scholars, authors, environmental advocates, and cultural leaders. He was formally honored during the christening of the M/V John Paul Eckstein on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
About National Rivers Hall of Fame
Established in 1985 with 113 national advisors, the mission of the National Rivers Hall of Fame is to collect, preserve, and share the stories of the women and men who have had a significant impact on the rivers of America. Located at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, the Hall of Fame advances its mission through educational programs and exhibits through the Museum & Aquarium, and through its national outreach program, RiverWorks Discovery. The Hall of Fame is supported by members in 36 states. For more information on the NRHOF, visit www.rivermuseum.org/national-rivers-hall-of-fame.