Thomas Rea Greene

Captain Thomas Rea Greene (February 3, 1904 – July 11, 1950) was president of the Greene Line of steamboats. ^[1]

Biography

He was born on February 3, 1904, in Ohio to Mary Catherine Becker and Gordon Christopher Greene aboard his father's steamboat on the Ohio River. His brother was Christopher Becker Greene. ^[1] He married Letha Opal Cavendish and they had four children including, Jane Greene. In 1928 his brother, Christopher Becker Greene won the Ohio-Mississippi inland waterway championship speed race by defeating Captain Frederick Way, Jr. and his ship the Betsy Ann. ^[2] A rematch was held on July 16, 1929, between the Betsy Ann and the Thomas Greene (steamboat) with Thomas piloting. ^{[3] [4]}

In 1946 the Delta Queen was put up for auction by the owners. Greene became the new owner with a bid of $46,250. He had the boat refurbished. ^[5]

He died on July 11, 1950, in Evansville, Indiana. ^[6]

References

1. "Marker #10-84 Captain Gordon C. Greene / Captain Mary Becker Greene". Remarkable Ohio. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
2. "Packets". Time magazine . August 6, 1928. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
3. "Steamboat Race Set for July 16". The Daily Times (Ohio) . July 8, 1929. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
4. "Steamer Tom Greene Wins Race Upon Ohio River. Thousands Line Banks As The Betsy Ann Goes To Defeat By Small Margin". The Baltimore Sun . July 17, 1929. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
5. "Delta Queen Prepared For Greene Line Use". The Portsmouth Times . December 19, 1947. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
6. "Capt. Tom Greene, Noted River Pilot. Last Member of a Family of Steamboat Captains Dies. Born on Father's Boat". New York Times . July 12, 1950. Retrieved 2011-02-26.