I put together this
collection of musical clips
in an mp3 file from my
Bob-Lo Boat Music Archive.
These were songs that Howard
played while he was a DJ on
the Bob-Lo Boats. At the end
of the mp3 I have created a
Masters Salute from the
actual steam whistle sound
files. Howard I hope you
approve, your old Bob-Lo
friend Mr. Lee.
Karen's Tribute to Howard
This page is a tribute to
Howard F. Wright III. Howard
was the last head D.J. on
the Detroit Bob-Lo Boats
from 1984-1991. For eight
years, Howard entertained
thousands of passengers
every day for the 90 min.
boat ride to & from Bob-Lo
Island. Not an easy position
to have on the boats,
considering his audience
ranged from toddlers to
senior citizens! However,
rather he was playing a top
40 playlist, classic artists
like Bob Segar or Chubby
Checker or timeless songs
like the “Hokey Pokey,” &
“The Chicken Dance,” the
dance floor was always full
with all age groups having a
great time & trip! His
booming D.J. voice &
contagious laugh also
entertained the passengers &
crew alike!
Although Howard & I were
different in our ages, lives
& interests, we crossed
paths again in the early
spring of 2007. We reunited
for our common love &
interest of the time we
worked together on the
Bob-Lo boats & wanted to
share those summer days
again with others that had
experienced them too! So,
that summer we began our
Bob-Lo reunions. Planning &
executing these gatherings
weren’t always easy or
stress-free, but they always
came together & brought us
so much fun & happiness!!
We had a lot of genuine
love, encouragement & help
along the way, but the (1)
person who always remained
the same in this process for
me, was Howard. Howard
hosted this website since
the beginning & once he
retired in 2011, he also
maintained & redesigned the
website as well. He was the
official photographer of our
group & would always share
his & other’s photos on this
website. Then, when we
gathered, he would take the
microphone once again to
welcome, lead & entertain us
for the afternoon!
Sadly, Howard won’t be
hosting or maintaining our
website now, nor will he be
taking our picture or the
microphone again. He
expectantly passed away in
July (2013). It appears I
may have been the last
person to have a
conversation with him before
he passed. The irony of that
conversation was that we
were discussing our next
gathering options, this
website & the beautiful
river view from his
apartment balcony. The fact
that I took his phone call
that afternoon, let alone
that I got to hear his deep
voice & contagious laugh
while talking about Bob-Lo &
the water will be a
conversation I will treasure
forever!
Mr. Lee will now be hosting
& managing this website. Lee
has always been a loyal &
respected Bob-Lo friend to
Howard & I. I know Howard
wasn’t expecting to leave
us, but I have no doubt that
Lee’s immediate & gracious
offer to carry on Howard’s
work here was Howard’s wish
& doing!!
R.I.P. Howard, you have left
us in the best & capable
hands besides your own! We
will miss you & cannot thank
you enough for your
friendship, laughs & all you
have done for our Bob-Lo
Reunion group, since we
began!!!!! At our next
gathering, I have a feeling
a “Hokey Pokey,” dance will
need to be done in your
honor. However, for now a
Master Salute of 3 long & 2
short steamship’s whistle
blows are being sent your
way!
