Page 58 - RedWhiteFleet_interiors_Sep10

In 1997, he reached an agreement to purchase the Red and continued into the new millennium. Escher’s goal was to FAR LEFT: The three Escher kids: what it boils down to,” he explains. Customer service became
White Fleet from Crowley Maritime (headed by his cousin, keep the Red and White Fleet focused on its core business— (left to right) Tom, Louise, and Casey. a top priority for the newly minted Fleet, and Escher set about
Thomas Bannon Crowley Jr.), gaining ownership of the passengers on the Bay. While it was certainly a time of improving the company, adding to its assets, and increasing its
company name, the rights to its iconic Bay Cruise, three change for the Fleet, Escher was excited about the potential LEFT: Members of the Crowley, list of tour products over the next two decades.
Escher, and Bowles families pose for a
of its tour boats, and the docking facilities at Pier 43½ on of strengthening the company. “I knew [the company], I group photo: (front row, left to right) The initial deal had given Escher the Harbor Queen, Harbor
Fisherman’s Wharf. While the success of Crowley Maritime is knew personally the IBU crew members, and I knew the Phillip Bowles, Virginia Crowley Princess, and Harbor Prince (now known as the Royal Prince),
undeniable, Escher felt it was important to preserve the initial business,” he says. After a childhood spent learning from his Escher, Connie Crowley Bowles, and he soon after purchased the Harbor King and added her
spirit of the company’s early years. By this time, the Golden grandfather and a career spent learning about all different Henry Bowles; (back row, left to back into the Fleet, reuniting the royal family and increasing
Gate Bay Cruise had been operating for close to sixty years, aspects of the maritime industry, he was well equipped to right) Tom Crowley, Henry (Dugan) the Fleet’s capacity to run tours. The company went on to
Bowles, Tom Escher, Casey Escher,
and the red and white painted hulls of his grandfather’s fleet take on the challenge of running this new iteration of his Caspar Escher. introduce new and innovative tours—such as the California
were synonymous with San Francisco and the Bay. Passenger family’s company. Sunset Cruise in 2010—and focused on building its private
service had meant everything to his grandfather, and Escher “If you can offer the best for the customers, regardless of OPPOSITE, clockwise from charter business to offer custom tours to clients. “I love being
wanted to make sure that Tom Crowley’s legacy of service whether you’re in a supermarket or in our business . . . that’s top left: Tom Escher at age back on the waterfront,” Escher told reporters at the time.
thirteen, right around the time when
he started working for the family
business, Crowley Maritime. • Tom
Escher today, now the owner of Red
and White Fleet. • Tom Crowley
(center) with his grandsons Tom
Escher (right) and Henry (Dugan)
Bowles (left). • The Escher family
today: (front row, left to right) Bailey
Foster, Elliott Foster, Sloane Escher,
Tate Escher; (middle row, left to
right) Paula Sullivan Escher, Tom
Crowley Escher; (back row, left to
right) Tyler Foster, Hilary Foster,
Tom Escher Jr., Megan Escher.

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