Steve Golding started his career working on the drydocks at his father’s shipyard Big River Shipyard at the age of 15. Steve’s father, Thomas Golding, worked closely with another family, the Brent family of Brent Towing in Greenville, as Steve grew up around the river. Steve showed up to his first full-time job on the river as a tankerman and licensed steersman. Then he started boarding boats at Ole Man River Towing; Steve went on to lead the barge line at 23 years old, eventually selling it to Kirby Corporation in 1995.
Not staying out of the barge industry long, Steve founded Golding Barge Line in 1995. When it first opened, Golding barge line did not own or operate any boats or barges. The company started with its headquarters being at an outlet mall. With his previous experience in the industry, many of Steve’s colleagues signed on to work with his company.
Today, the Golding family, Steve and Melody Golding, are carrying on the family business, with their son Austin entering the inland barge business in 2009. Austin joins the ranks of the 200+ employees that work at the company. Many of the employees work on Golding Barge Line’s custom built 29 boats and 66 barges.
Steve credits the industry for acting as a big family to help each other out. This is a commitment that Golding holds himself to, speaking to government leaders about helping mariners and supporting programs that educate people about the maritime industry. The Golding family gives back where they can, including donating land to form a new park in Vicksburg so the public can experience the breathtaking views of the riverfront. The Golding family hopes their donation keeps communities engaged on the rivers, connecting people to their history, and encourages understanding of the personal daily impacts of the river.