Overview

"In 1880 John Streckfus began a commercial packet business serving the Rock Island community that evolved to become the largest excursion riverboat operation serving the Mississippi from St. Paul to New Orleans and the Ohio from Pittsburg to St. Louis. Streckfus built the sternwheeler J.S., the first purposed sightseeing and music/dance riverboat in 1900. When the J.S. suffered a tragic fire and burned to the waterline in 1910, Streckfus and his sons acquired additional wooden vessels which were transformed into palatial excursion vessels over the next eighty years. Music was central to the attraction of Streckfus Steamers and the legendary black pianist and bandleader, Fate Marable ran the show on Streckfus vessels which ""tramped"" the Mississippi with extraordinary bands which included the likes of Louis Armstrong and Charlie Creath. Streckfus was eventually forced to retire its wooden fleet of the Capitol, J.S. Deluxe, Saint Paul and Sidney to make way for its gargantuan football field-sized all metal steamers, the President and Admiral. This is a thrilling story of the days of excursion riverboat glory on the great Mississippi and Ohio rivers."

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A native of New Orleans, Arthur L. Smith received his A.B. from Duke University and his MBA from New York University. His undergraduate focus in English and Zoology and his graduate concentration in Economics and Finance gave him a perfect tabula rasa from which to become a Wall Street energy investment analyst. After ten years Art left Wall Street to acquire the highly-respected oil industry valuation expert, John S. Herold, Inc. For more than 20 years Herold prospered with Smith as CEO as the firm strengthened its locations in Norwalk, CT and Houston, TX while stretching its reach among the global oil and natural gas industry. Smith divested Herold to NYSE-listed IHS, (now S&P Global) and formed the investment and consulting firm, Triple Double Advisors. Previously Smith authored Something From Nothing, a biography of oil legend Joe B. Foster.Over his career, Art has been blessed to serve on the boards of directors of many leading energy companies including Plains All American and Pioneer Natural Resources. Today Smith serves on the boards of Evergreen Natural Resources and Mammoth Energy Services and nonprofits Dress for Success Houston and Memorial Assistance Ministries.Art loves Galveston where he maintains a bay house with an excessive collection of boats, jet skis, golf carts, and miscellaneous games and beach toys. A self-professed professional angler and would-be charter boat captain, Art fishes anywhere and anytime but prefers Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoying his semi-retirement with Holly, Art is very proud of his outstanding children and stepsons and six remarkable grandchildren.

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