The late Captain Dennis Trone has been honored by the National Rivers Hall of Fame as a 2024 National Achievement Award Recipient. His admiration for steamboats as not only transportation vessels but a deeper connection to river life steered his passion and career, both of which have left a lasting impression in the industry. The National Achievement Award is the highest honor presented by the Hall of Fame to individuals who are making significant contributions to America’s waterways.
Captain Trone was born on July 18, 1930 in Schuyler County, Ill. along the Illinois River. It was there, at five years old, when he saw his first steamboat, the Golden Eagle, go by at Boyd’s Landing. Captain Trone served in the Navy as Lieutenant from 1954 – 1963. During that time, he came upon a book in the ship’s library called “Steamboat on the River”. It was the story of the trip of the original Talisman from Cincinnati, down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi River, up the Illinois River, and then finally up the Sangamon River to Portland Landing, near Springfield, Ill. The story captivated him, drawing connections to places he knew well, and it was then and there that Captain Trone decided what he would do for the next 50 years of his life.
He was going to become a Steamboat Man.
During one quick and fateful trip home from the Navy, Dennis took his family down to the banks of the Sangamon River near New Salem State Park and laid out his plan to run a steamboat there. Along with his brother Robert (Moon), they formed Sangamon Packet Co. The first excursion boat he designed and built for the new company was the Talisman, named after the story that changed the course of his life. Captain Trone went on to design and build many more excursion boats for Dubuque Boat and Boiler, ultimately buying half ownership in the boat yard with his brother. He also was among the founders of the National Association of Passenger Vessel Owners (NAPVO), originally established to help leverage better marine insurance rates by buying as a group, and today, provides access to member only resources such as safety and security tools, regulatory manuals and advocacy, media and communication plans and much more.
The last and possibly the most respected boat built at Dubuque Boat and Boiler, now the current site for the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, was the Steamboat Julia Belle Swain. The Julia Belle Swain was designed and built by Captain Trone in 1971 for his own company, and was the most technically advanced steamboat of her time. She ran on the Illinois River at Peoria, Ill. from 1971 until 1987 when she joined yet another Trone designed riverboat, the Twilight, on the Mississippi River at LeClaire, Iowa.
“Captain Trone had remarkable eye for boat design and a natural ability when it came to piloting,” said Carrie Stier, Vice President of Riverboat Twilight. “He could make a downstream landing in an 8-mph current on the Missouri river look like a walk in the park. He was also a master at taking the steps down from the Pilot house to the engine room three at a time when something went wrong. He could fix just about anything onboard with little more than a dab of pro-poxy, common sense and old-fashioned ingenuity. His boats, as well as his employees, always had a great respect for his authority when he was on board.”
Many of the boats he designed, especially the Julia Belle Swain, have been featured in TV commercials, movies and print advertising. A replica is on display at the River Museum in the boat shop exhibit.
Captain Trone’s vision to bring back the golden age of steam boating has brought millions of tourists down to the river. The economic impact of these passenger vessels on their host communities cannot be overlooked. The Talisman offered hundreds of thousands of rides to visitors of New Salem State Park. Each sightseeing cruise offered a well-researched and entertaining account of the history of New Salem and the Sangamon River. The Julia Belle Swain made overnight trips on the Illinois River to Starved Rock State Park which helped to fill mid-week vacancies at the lodge. Both the Julia Belle Swain and Twilight made continuous overnight trips to Galena, Ill. and Chestnut Mountain Resort each season between June and October, keeping Chestnut Mountain Resort’s rooms filled and the resort open during the summer months. Today, the Riverboat Twilight makes a similar trip between LeClaire, Iowa and Dubuque, filling rooms at the Grand Harbor Resort and providing complimentary tickets to the River Museum to each passenger.
During his career, Captain Trone trained many river pilots: Captains John Vaughn, Kevin Stier, Doug & Donna Schlesier, Neil Conklin, Tom Weiss, Nathan Weiss, George Sinclair, Ace Trone, Robert Anton, John Hartford, and his son, Robert E Lee Trone, to name a few. He also launched many careers in the river industry through mentoring and job training.
“[Captain Trone] was a man of greatness but also of the utmost simplicity and genuineness,” said Stier. “His heart always belonged to the underdog and he was generous to a fault, be it with money, his talents or simply his presence.”
Captain Trone passed away in a single engine airplane crash on May 5, 2008. For his friends in the close-knit community of riverboats, the death of Captain Trone meant the loss of a great deal of knowledge, talent and experience that can never be replaced. For others, it meant the loss of their beloved mentor and boss. The connections he built with the river community and everyone he touched ensure his legacy will live on as the next generation charts its course and continue to shape the riverboat industry.
The Menard County Historical Society will host an honorary event for Captain Trone on Thursday, November 14 in Athens, Ill.