Stan Garvey

A long-time fan of Mark Twain, Stan Garvey began collecting riverboat photos, clippings, and memorabilia half a century ago. Many of these items, particularly those relating to California, were used in his book King & Queen of the River. For three decades, he has taken overnight trips on the steamer Delta Queen (originally a California boat) as she cruised the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. In the 1980s, he spent many days and nights aboard her twin, the Delta King, during its restoration at Sacramento - taking pictures, interviewing workers, absorbing the feel of the historic paddle-wheeler.

Stan Garvey retired from Sunset Magazine in 1986 to write the book. As part of the research process, he spent long hours finding and interviewing former crew members and scores of passengers who recalled life on the boats. They shared their fond memories of travel between San Francisco and Sacramento in the 1920s and 30s. The book is available at selected historical and maritime museums in Northern California; also at 1 (800) 852-4890. A longtime resident of the Bay Area, Mr. Garvey is a native of the Golden State and has lived in Menlo Park for the past 45 years.