The Southern Side of Summer : Commodore Dan Thompson

Story by CINDY REID  Photography by SUSAN DELOACH

Beaufort Lifestyle caught up with Commodore Dan Thompson and First Lady Bonnie Thompson at the Henry Chambers Waterfront Park on a perfect Beaufort afternoon. Under a beautiful blue sky we settled down for a chat about the upcoming 58th annual Beaufort Water Festival. The team of Commodore, Coordinators, Directors and over 400 additional volunteers  puts on one of South Carolina’s premier festival events right here in Beaufort.
The events start with the co-ed softball tournament held in May and continues with various sporting events such as golf, horseshoe, bocce and youth soccer tournaments, sailing regattas, and a Family Fishing Tournament. The week of the Water Festival kicks off with the Opening Ceremony on Friday July 19 and runs through Sunday July 28 when it ends with the traditional Blessing of the Fleet.
Traditions play an important role in the events but the Water Festival stays current by adding new and exciting events from time to time.

What is new or different at this year’s Beaufort Water Festival (BWF)?
This year we are partnering with Dragon Boat Beaufort, which helps raise money for cancer survivors, with their dragon boat races, which will be on Saturday July 20 from noon to five o’clock. We will also be holding our Non-Profit Expo on Saturday July 27 from 12 – 4 in the park.

One of the Commodore’s many tasks is to design the popular annual tee shirt. Tell us about this year’s tee shirt design.
We wanted the tee shirt design to depict the festival and its events. Local artist Mary Thibault created and painted the design for us and she incorporated the raft race, the air show and even the Whistlers! Mary “collaged” the design elements and really captured our vision.

How long have you been involved with the BWF?
The First Lady Bonnie and I have been volunteers with the Water Festival for thirteen years.

How did you first get involved?
I first got involved when I was Reserve Police Officer with Port Royal and I was asked to help out with security for the Street Dance in 2000. (Dan has been a Reserve Police Officer for the City of Beaufort, also a volunteer position, since 2000)

Why did you continue as a volunteer with the BWF?
Our daughter was getting older and we felt this would be something good for us to get involved in as a family, which it certainly has been.

What is your BWF favorite memory?
Last year at Kids Day I brought our 50 pound Sulcata Tortoise Elvis to the park. All the kids were drawn to Elvis! They just wanted to touch him and have their picture taken with him.

What is your favorite event ?
I actually have two favorite events, Kids Day and the Toad Fishing contest, and both for the same reason. There is nothing better than to see the wonder and excitement on a child’s face when they win a prize or catch their first toad fish. But all of our events are great, we really have something for everybody. Our goal is to have a quality event for a reasonable price.

What entertainment do you lined up for this year?
The Parris Island Marine Band will be playing on Friday July 19. Local musician Chris Jones is coming back and country music artist Chris Cagle is our featured artist for the Concert in the Park on Saturday July 20.

Tell our readers something they may not know about the BWF.
Most people don’t know how much tourism the Water Festival brings to Beaufort. Folks come from all over and plan their vacation around the Water Festival! Also people may not know that part of our charter is to assist other festivals, and our equipment has been used at the Port Royal Softshell Crab Festival, Lt Dan Weekend and the Gullah Festival.

Where were you born and raised ?
I am from Detroit, Michigan. I joined the Marine Corps right after high school in 1983.

Tell us about your family.
I met my wonderful wife, Bonnie, who was also a Marine, while we were both stationed 29 Palms, California. We have been married for twenty eight years. Our daughter Amanda was born at Beaufort Naval Hospital in 1989.

How did you come to live in Beaufort?
Our last duty station was Parris Island in 1987. I received an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps in 1991 and went to work for Hargray Communications where I have been employed for the past twenty two years. First Lady Bonnie is a massage therapist at Island Wellness Shoppe on Lady’s Island.

Anything else you would like to add?
I would like to thank our many volunteers, civic groups and non-profit organizations who are very important to the production of the Water Festival. Equally important are our sponsors because without them the Water Festival would not be possible. Thank you!

For further information: http://bftwaterfestival.com/