Cascade Locks celebrates Sternwheeler’s Captain Tom

Captain Tom began his career on the Columbia River in 1983 as a deckhand on the 100-passenger vessel The Sightseer, which was based in Cascade Locks. He was aboard The Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge during her maiden voyage that same year, and before long was promoted to chief engineer and then to captain in 1985. Tom has shared his reverence for Columbia Gorge history with generations of guests and is a noted expert on the Lewis & Clark Expedition. His own family history goes back five generations in Cascade Locks; his great-grandfather operated a wood scow, supplying that era’s sternwheelers with fuelwood.

The community celebration will recognize Tom’s 41 years of service on the Columbia, and the heroism shown by him and his crewmates George Torres and Steven Hammrich in their actions to save the Sternwheeler when it broke free of its moorings during the severe blizzard January 13-15 of this year.

“Captain Tom is an icon of the Gorge and we as a community are so proud and grateful for his generosity, skill, endurance, and warm-hearted nature that welcomes so many people into the heart of the Gorge,” said Jeremiah Blue, Port of Cascade Locks Executive Director. “He has been our mayor, our Santa Claus, our coach, and our captain — we are excited to celebrate him.”