Friends, family, fishermen and fans of the Discovery Channel show Deadliest Catch gathered at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal in Magnolia this evening to pay their respects to the late Captain Phil Harris. Harris, 53, died in February after suffering a stroke while offloading crab in Alaska. Harris got his start at Fishermen’s Terminal, becoming captain at 21 years old.
“He was business in the front and party in the back,” said son Josh Harris on stage with his brother Jake. “This is a day to remember, and instead of being sad, it’s time to celebrate the mullet and think of good memories.”
“He gave everybody a lot. Sure you all know what I mean. I miss the guy like crazy,” said an emotional Dan Mittman, Harris’s best friend for 36 years. “He was a great guy. I wish you had all known him as I had.”
The memorial service was streamed live on the Discovery Channel’s website, and it’s available to watch on demand here (it starts about 18 minutes in.) Discovery.com will also stream live from CatchCon, the show’s annual convention, on Saturday beginning at noon, featuring captains Sig Hansen, Johnathan & Andy Hillstrand and Keith Colburn.
