I received the sad news the other day that Joe Brown, aka "towboat Joe" passed away over this past Christmas.

If you're a riverboat fan, you will recall that Joe and his pal, the late Bill Zumwalt kept that branch of the hobby pretty active.

Condolences go out to his family and friends

Sad news my friend. Didn't know this man but knew a small portion of his soul through "Towboat Joe's" and that is perhaps the best that can be said of him. His passions were apparent.

Thanks for the word.

I've had a lot of pleasure and good information from his site over the years. A very sad loss.

Sad news, he was a well respected member of this and other forums. Condolences to family and friends from across the water.

Very sad news.

His web site has inspired me many times when building towboat models. In fact my current build would have never gone in the direction it has without his help. Our hobby has lost one of the good guys.

I vote tug boat Joe be voted into the RC GROUPS HALL OF FAME AND FRIEND

JIM

I remember when Bill Z. died - I had some e-mail conversations with him and remember some of Joe's comments about his friend.

I meet Joe at the 2008 Toledo show, the LHD both was next to Micro glass booth and I got talking to Joe about his vacum tow conversion and I told him I had the single shaft and just bought the dual shaft towboat bottom. We went back and forth about tow boats for the week end discussing ideas for a cabin and a pilot house for this boat. We excahnged business cards and stayed in contact for a month or so. Then real life sets in again, and those hot plans get moved to the back burner with long business trips and other "important things."

My thoughts was to make a day trip to Toldeo on Saturday this year, send a couple of hours walking around, hope to find some people that I know (Joe being one of them), and then head Home. I just pulled out Joe's business card - Joe E. Brown - modeler, vocalist, bassist - Joe - I never heard you sing or play, but you were one great modeler and I hope that your pushing easy, the flankers don't jam, the river current is weak and the sun is shining on your face.

Peace to you Joe and Good bye!
Rich

Sad indeed. I just checked his last log in: Dec 24.

Rest In Peace TBJ.

Sorry to hear of Joe's passing.
My condolences to his family.

Aimee

He's rounded the last bend in the river. God Bless. He will be missed.

Mike in Edmonds

I have some of Joe's towboat plans... Need to build one as a tribute...

Very sad news, indeed. When we lost Bill Zumwalt, we still at least had Towboat Joe to keep things going. I wonder what will happen to his website. I suppose that his tips for builders should be downloaded before it disappears.

Pete G.

Sad news indeed. I never met Towboat Joe in person, but exchanged e-mails with him many times. He gave me a set of plans for the Tug Dorothy Ann in exchange for getting him a bunch of pictures of her that he wanted. He did start building her, but it seemed to get put on the back burner. Had looked forward to seeing it done some day.

Very Sad news, indeed. I hadn't heard about this. My condolances to his family. More sad news for riverboat modelers: Alan L. Bates, who sold a line of river steamboat plans and was one of the country's foremost authorities on river steamboats and their history, passed away early on New years Day 2012 at age 88. I had known Alan for 50 years and his efforts inspired me to start my own plans service. Alan authored a number of books on steamboats and steamboat modeling. His Western Rivers Steamboat Cyclopoedium was "the Bible" for modelers of those craft.

Originally Posted by John Fryant

Very Sad news, indeed. I hadn't heard about this. My condolances to his family. More sad news for riverboat modelers: Alan L. Bates, who sold a line of river steamboat plans and was one of the country's foremost authorities on river steamboats and their history, passed away early on New years Day 2012 at age 88. I had known Alan for 50 years and his efforts inspired me to start my own plans service. Alan authored a number of books on steamboats and steamboat modeling. His Western Rivers Steamboat Cyclopoedium was "the Bible" for modelers of those craft.

I am sad to hear that. I have the Steamboat Cyclopedium.

I also had the good fortune to meet the late John Breynaert, who drew the Mount Washington Plan you offer to discuss his Mount Washington model that I had seen in an edition of "Steamboat Bill, " when John happened to be in San Diego. That was before Dumas came out with the kit, based on the same plan. Later, I had an opportunity to see the model on a 'ship museum tour' in New England when I was on temporary duty in Newport Rhode Island.

We are losing many of the pioneers of the craft, so take really good care of yourself, John. Seems like the reins may have been passed to you.

Pete G.