Organizers of the Wichita River Festival have revealed the 51st Admiral Windwagon Smith.

Alan Howarter has been a volunteer with Riverfest for 45 years, starting in the festival’s food court. Howarter has competed in over fifteen 10K River Runs and was part of a “poorman’s team” that raced in four years of the festival’s bathtub races, even securing a third-place finish. His team proudly claims to have built the first propeller-driven bathtub boat in Riverfest history.

Howarter is a native of Dodge City who worked in a Wichita accounting firm for a number of years, then in 2006 he joined Vess Oil Corporation as Vice President of Financial Reporting. In this role, he oversees accounting for more than 60 related entities, including SEC reporting for two publicly sponsored royalty trusts. He has served on multiple nonprofit boards, often as treasurer, including the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Heartspring, St. Vincent de Paul Endowment Association, the Wichita Public Library Foundation, and the Great Plains USBC Bowling Association.

The tradition of Admiral Windwagon Smith dates back to 1974, when John Bell first wore the red coat during the third Riverfest, then known as the Wichitennial River Festival.

The Prairie Schooner Mates were also announced on Wednesday. They serve as youth ambassadors for Riverfest, and they accompany the Admiral at public engagements, civic events and volunteer activities throughout the festival.

Riverfest runs from May 30th to June 7th.