Lee Nelson Honored with National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The National Rivers Hall of Fame is proud to announce Lee Nelson as a recipient of a 2026 National Achievement Award, one of the highest honors in American river history and heritage. Nelson, president of Upper River Services in St. Paul, Minn., has spent more than 40 years working on and for the Mississippi River, from the wheelhouse of a towboat to the forefront of efforts to balance commercial navigation with the health of the river.
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. 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.
Nelson first worked on the river in 1979, when he took a job aboard a St. Paul riverboat while in college. Initially drawn to the field through an interest in maritime law, he went on to earn his U.S. Coast Guard license as a towboat pilot and captain. After years of navigating the Upper Mississippi, he transitioned into the business side of the industry.
He now leads Upper River Services, a full-service inland harbor operation that has supported commercial transportation on the Upper Mississippi for more than four decades.
Beyond his company, Nelson is widely recognized for bringing together groups that have not always shared the same priorities. During a period when navigation and environmental interests were frequently at odds, he worked to connect industry, conservation organizations, government agencies and river communities around a shared understanding that a healthy river and a strong river economy can go hand in hand.
Notably, Nelson helped develop the framework for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), which pairs navigation improvements with ecosystem restoration to strengthen the long-term health and resilience of the Mississippi River.
Nelson joins an esteemed list of past National Achievement Award recipients, including river scholars, authors, environmental advocates, cultural leaders, and industry leaders. He will be formally honored by the National Rivers Hall of Fame during the 23rd Annual Waterways Symposium hosted by Waterways Council, Inc. on Nov. 11, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky.