b'MEMBER NEWS:BOB AGRA MARKS 48 YEARS AS A CHICAGO VESSEL OPERATORCaptain Bob AgraC aptainRobertBobAgraJr.,Co- variety of fun, special themed cruises and tourshistory with the company.Chicago Tribune in owner of Mercury Sightseeing Boats andforallagesontheChicagoRiverandLake Chicagos First Lady Cruises, Chicago,Michigan. In an interview with the IL,celebrates48yearsnavigatingChicagos2017, Agra explained why he was drawn to the waterways this month. Bob began the art ofMercury Sightseeing Boats is a sister companyfamily business and why he has stayed on the job piloting passenger vessels in Chicago at the agetoChicagosFirstLadyCruises,atourismfor so long. of15,andeventuallyearnedhisfirstUSCGexperiencethatexploresthecitysrich 100-ton, masters license at age 18, just prior toarchitecturalhistorythroughtheofficialIts a very interesting way of making a living, taking over the business following the death ofChicago Architecture Foundation Center Riverand I enjoy the wind and weather, and you get his father, Captain Bob Agra, Sr. Cruise.Agraandhiswife,Holly,co-manageto meet a lot of unique people, he said. You both operations along with sons Captain Tim,talk to anyone making a living as a sailor, and Today, Capt. Bob Jr. is still piloting his vesselsBob III and his wife Clare.Captain Bob hastheylikedoingitbecausetheressomething with a 200-ton, near coastal license, however,also overseen the construction of six custom- about being on the water, which is the nicest he is very proud of the numbers of captains hedesigned and built First Ladies vessels. His pridepart of this job. The weather is always different has mentored and trained during his 48 years atand joy remains the Skyline Princess, designedthrough the seasons. Weve had a lot of support the helm, and continues as the companys finalby his grandfather and built in Chicago in 1956,in this business from our family, too. exam certifier.it remains an inspected vessel in the Mercury fleet.AnoriginalblueprintoftheSkylineAnd, Agra has met some interesting people on Mercury, Chicagos Skyline Cruiseline is now aPrincess proudly hangs in the Agra living room. the job. When the King and Queen of Norway fourth-generation family-owned and operatedvisitedtheWindyCity,itwasCaptainAgra companycelebratingmorethan85yearsinThe Agra family has been resilient in its manyatthehelmgivingthemonarchsatourof Chicagostourismindustry.Thecompanyyears of doing running a vessel operation. TheChicago aboard the Lady Grebe, a 1961 vintage was founded by Portuguese immigrant Arthurfamily business survived the Great Depression6-passenger cruising yacht preserved for private Agra, son Bob Sr. and his wife Myrtle in theby offering speedboat rides on Lake Michigan.tours and VIP cruises. Welcoming Germanys 1930s. The cruiseline offers guests a front rowThe current situation has been a challenge asChancellorAngelaMerkelaboardChicagos seat to the citys breathtaking skyline, historicwell.SurvivingtheglobalCOVIDcrisishasFirst Lady for a private tour was one of his most landmarksandmodernmarvelsthroughabeen the most difficult time in Captain Bobsmemorable days in his long career.Bob Agra, left, as a teen, and left, in 2021. JUNE 2021 41'