Dixie Crew Members
Last Update: 06-29-11


If you worked aboard the Dixie, then this page is for you!
You can add, revise or remove your information HERE.

Entries are in chronological order.


The First Dixie (1914-1928)

Name: Bernard BreeckUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Joseph Breeck
Year(s) worked: 1914-1916Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Devon PhelpsUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Joseph Breeck
Year(s) worked: 1924-1927Position: Concessionaire
Comment: Devon ran the small grocery store aboard the first Dixie.

The Dixie (1929-1949)

Name: Harold GaskillUpdated: Tue Sep 14, 1999
Address: North Webster, INCaptain: Joseph Breeck
Year(s) worked: 1929-1939Position: 1st Mate & Pilot
Comment: Harold was the first 1st Mate aboard the Dixie when it was new in 1929. He worked off and on through the 1930's, many times as the captain. Harold would often drive Joe Breeck from Lamb, Indiana to North Webster in the spring... On one such trip Harold was caught in the 1937 Ohio River flood and had to stay with the Breecks for several weeks. The Ohio was 90 feet above flood stage, and 4 feet from entering the Breeck household... On another such trip Harold met his wife-to-be in Madison.

The Dixie (1950-today)

Name: Kenny KoherUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Earl Ungeright
Year(s) worked: 1955-1957Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Dennis HuffmanUpdated: 07-09-08
Address: Lamb, INCaptain: Earl Ungeright
Year(s) worked: 1956-1957, 1961Position: 1st Mate
Comment:

Name: Judy KiddUpdated: 07-22-08
Address: UnknownCaptain: Earl Ungeright
Year(s) worked: 1957Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: John PiersonUpdated: Sat Oct 30, 1999
Address:Captain: Earl Ungeright
Year(s) worked: 1958Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Tag HuffmanUpdated: Sat Oct 30, 1999
Address: North Webster, INCaptain: Earl Ungeright
Year(s) worked: 1959Position: 1st Mate/Captain
Comment: During his first year of ownership, Tag worked as 1st Mate and Captain for Earl Ungeright to learn the Dixie's operation.

Name: Lu HuffmanUpdated: Sat Oct 30, 1999
Address: North Webster, INCaptain: Earl Ungeright
Year(s) worked: 1959Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Steve TracyUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1961Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Larry HarrisUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address: North Webster, INCaptain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1961Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Bill BechtoldUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1961-1963Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Reta Cooperrider (Huffman)Updated: Wed Sep 8, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1961Position: Concessionaire
Comment:

Name: Sue Huffman (Silver)Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1961Position: Concessionaire
Comment:

Name: Jackie BowmanUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1962Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Liz HostetlerUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1962Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jackie KuhnUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1962-1965Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Sarah HarrisUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1962Position: Concessionaire (sub)
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Bill BrownUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1964Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Phil WootersUpdated: 07-22-08
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1964Position: Substitute 1st Mate
Comment: Nephew of Tag Huffman

Name: Rick HumblesUpdated: Mon Jan 24, 2017
Address: Anderson, INCaptain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1965-1966Position: 1st Mate
Comment: Tag was a wonderful mentor

Name: Donnell StrandUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1965Position: 1st Mate (sub)
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Rick RyersonUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1966Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Dan KuhnUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1966Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Mary ReiffUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1966Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Nancy KonzelmanUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1966Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Rhonda Loucks (Huffman)Updated: 07-09-08
Address: Goshen, INCaptain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1966-1970Position: Concessionaire
Comment:

Name: Chuck HillUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1967Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jim FribleyUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1968Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Corrine CritchfieldUpdated: Sat Aug 8, 2009
Address: Bremen, INCaptain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1968-1970Position: Concessionaire
Comment: One evening we set sail for another uneventful boatful of spectators and great weather. By the time we were across the lake a very bad storm that developed into a tornado, with damage around the lake developing. We cut the trip short but ended up seeing much of the damage done while getting back to our home port.

Name: Tom FribleyUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1969Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Joe ReynoldsUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1970-1971Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Tim HoppusUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1971-1972Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Roger SmithUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1971Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Kevin KoherUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1972Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Scott EddyUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1972-1974Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Tim KuhnUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1973-1974Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Marshall MinnickUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address: North Webster, INCaptain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1975Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Lori SligerUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1975-1977Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jill SligerUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1975Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Norma SligerUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1975Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Dick OwensUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1975-1978Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Eric SheperdUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1976Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Dick OwensUpdated: Mon Oct 4, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1976-1977Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Steve HuffmanUpdated: 07-09-08
Address: Lamb, INCaptain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1977-1982Position: 1st Mate
Comment: Worked as Captain from 1983-1986. I'll never forget when the paddlewheel gear broke in 1981, and we turned the paddlewheel by hand to get back to Dixie Camp... Once we were caught in a storm so strong, that we could only back-into the wind. Even at full reverse we could only maintain our position until the wind abated... All 1st Mates during Tag's era will remember the coin-toss tradition. Tag would toss the 50 cent-piece and call "heads" or "tails"; the loser bought the soda pop...

Name: Tammy PennUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1978-1979Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Leanne HaileUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1979Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Laurie RichardsonUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1979Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Lonnie SiglingerUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1979Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Steve CrouchUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1979Position: 1st Mate (sub)
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Darlene SheperdUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1980Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Tom CoxUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1980Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Kim ZurcherUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Tag Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1980Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Steve BuddUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1981-1982Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Melanie BergerUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1981, 1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Michelle BergerUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1981, 1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Annette ParkerUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1982Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jeff ParkerUpdated: 07-22-08
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1982Position: Substitute 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Lisa StanleyUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1982Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Cynde Aaron (Knotts) (Email)Updated: Thu Dec 26, 2009
Address: FLORIDACaptain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1982Position: Concessionaire
Comment: My favorite cruises were the last one of the evening. The Dixie would appear so serene, almost ghostly with its colored lights flickering, and music quietly playing for all of the lake to hear as we passed by. Usually the boat would be empty as the last of the passengers would be dropped off at Epworth Forest. Rather than take the long way home via the lake's shore, Steve would cut directly across the still, black waters of Webster lake. It was then that I would ride at the very tip of the bow, peering into the water at the 3 to 4 foot long gar that would be illuminated by the boat's bow lights.

Name: Tera CollinsUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1982Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Lynn StackhouseUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Walter Nellessen
Year(s) worked: 1982-1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment:

Name: Lee StrebyUpdated: 10-15-08
Address:Captain: Walter Nellessen
Year(s) worked: 1983Position: Substitute Concessionaire
Comment: My first summer job as a teenager was at Dixie Landing in the new restaurant - the summer of 1983 (I think!) under the Nellessen's employ. My summer included frequent rounds as a Concessionaire on the Dixie. Can't imagine Webster being Webster without Dixie.

Name: Kay StackhouseUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Sallac
Year(s) worked: 1982-1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jill NellessenUpdated: Mon Sept 6, 1999
Address:Captain: Walter Nellessen
Year(s) worked: 1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Crystal WalkerUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Sara GuyUpdated: 07-23-08
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1983Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jon LippeUpdated: 04-19-10
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1983-1985Position: 1st Mate
Comment: I served as sub captain part time my final year for Steve Huffman. I have some great memories (concessions, 1st mate, and a little captain). Steve Huffman, Jeff Amick and I came up with a rating system and often would invite eligible bachelorettes from around the lake on the dixie during our shift.
We had several storms. One of the most noteworthy was when we got caught up on the point near Yellowbanks. I remember the property owner at the time was Jeff's uncle, and he was not happy.
Dixie owner Walter Nellesen (God rest his soul) was captain that night. He insisted on staying out on the lake despite an impending storm. We were caught way across the lake over near Highbanks when the wind hit. Nellie tried to make it past the point going full ahead, despite the emergency protocol of backing into the wind (a manuever which Captains Steve & Tag had used sucessfully in past storms). The boat's bottom is flat and can not operate in high wind going forward.
We knocked the snot out of Jeff's uncle's swim raft then followed up by destroying his dock. The police were called and we had to unload passengers right there on what was left of his pier. They requested we rip several lifejackets from the ceiling (they were stored on the bottom deck in the ceiling and were not routinely inspected back then) when we did so we ripped nothing but dry rotted cloth from the cork filled jackets. They had been stowed in the ceiling for decades and were completely useless. I still remember seeing Nellie's face when the Convservation Officer and police officer aked me to hand them the material. It was priceless.
I will never forget my years working on the lake. I can think of no better way to make money for college and spend my high school years. We could just make it to Goshen after work on Friday's and Saturday's to cruise in the prime time!

Name: Jeff AmickUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1984-1985Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Michelle LippeUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1984Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jason LippeUpdated: 07-22-08
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1985Position: Substitute 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Chris GuyUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1986Position: 1st Mate
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Debbie DeRolfUpdated: Thu Aug 26, 1999
Address:Captain: Steve Huffman
Year(s) worked: 1986Position: Concessionaire
Comment: (archive entry)

Name: Jason Van PeltUpdated: Wed Sep 08, 1999
Address:Captain: Greg Van Pelt
Year(s) worked: 1987-1990Position: 1st Mate
Comment:

Name: Heidi Easter (Van Pelt)Updated: 09-22-08
Address:Captain: Greg Van Pelt
Year(s) worked: 1987-1993Position: Concessionaire
Comment:

Name: David Lee CrabbUpdated: 04-07-10
Address:Captain: David Lee Crabb
Year(s) worked: 1994Position: Captain
Comment:

Name: Stacey de la Fuente (Crabb)Updated: 04-07-10
Address: Leesburg, INCaptain: David Lee Crabb
Year(s) worked: 1993-1995Position: Concessionaire
Comment:

Name: Chris WiggsUpdated: Tue Oct 12, 1999
Address: North Webster, INCaptain: Bo Thystrup
Year(s) worked: 1998-1999Position: 1st Mate (sub)
Comment:

Name: Ron ErbUpdated: Tue Jun 29, 2011
Address: North Webster, INCaptain:
Year(s) worked: 2009-2011Position: 1st Mate (sub)
Comment: Started as cruise captain 2011.

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