Meet Commodore Bill Damude The 60th annual Beaufort Water Festival July 17 – 26, 2015 A Southern Summer Bash
Sixty years. From parades to country music stars, the Water Festival
has been delighting residents and visitors with a wide array of
entertainment and sporting events designed to appeal to folks of every
age and interest. The real star of the Festival is rightly Beaufort’s
beautiful waterways, featured in everything from toad fishing to
sports fishing, paddle boarding to dragon boat races, shrimp boat
tours and the blessing of the fleet. And of course the Festival itself
is held at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort,
the perfect waterfront venue for the musical entertainment, arts and
crafts market and all the other events jammed packed into the exciting
ten day schedule.
The Festival is completely run by volunteers. In fact it takes
over 400, who are led by a very experienced team of coordinators, who
are in turn led by the Commodore. This year’s Commodore is Bill
Damude, who has been volunteering for the Festival for eleven years.
Commodore Damude has thirty two years of teaching experience, twenty
three years teaching at Beaufort High School, and twenty six years as
head coach of the wrestling team. A warm, affable man, Commodore
Damude is clearly at ease in his Festival role. Recently he took time
from his busy schedule to talk with Beaufort Lifestyle about this
year’s “Southern Summer Bash.”
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 Water Festival (WF)?
BD: Every year we try to keep things fresh so this year we are
bringing back the Gatorland Ski show, moving the Air Show to the
second Sunday after the Blessing of the Fleet, and designating Tuesday
to “Time-warp Tuesday” with sixties music to coincide with the 60th
Water Festival.
One of the Commodore’s many tasks is to design the popular annual tee
shirt. Tell us about this year’s tee shirt design.
BD: Many elements went into this year’s design; my wife and I along
with Mary Thibault worked on the design aspects for a few months and
then Mary came up with the proof. In the design there are many things
that reflect the outlook of my family and me along with the Water
Festival. We picked a summer beach/river scene with chairs to
illustrate our laid back approach in Beaufort as well as myself. The
plate of Lowcountry Supper represents that great night as well as the
surrounding waters, the diamond shape represents the 60th
anniversary/annual year, the guitar is for our son Taylor, and the hat
is for our daughter Jylian. Stew the crab is an element that has been
part of our family for many years and it came from Mary Thibault.
There are some hidden items that the public will have to search when
they get their shirts.
How long have you been involved with the WF?
BD: Eleven years.
How did you first get involved?
BD: I became involved with the Festival, like many others, through a
friend who was working with the Festival. And being a teacher I had my
summers free.
Why did you continue as a volunteer with the WF?
BD: Once I started I found the group of volunteers to be awesome and
the Festival organization is great. They made us feel like family, and
we have made lifelong friends. Not to mention that the Festival is the
best event anywhere!
What is your favorite WF memory?
BD: My favorite memories would have to be shagging with my wife and
daughter at the Commodore’s Ball every year. It is one of the few
nights that most of the crew can take a break and enjoy the party.
What is your favorite event?
BD: I have a few favorite events, the Commodore’s Ball, Motown Monday,
and the Concert in the Park.
What entertainment do you have lined up for this year?
BD: This year’s music reflects my personal taste, so we have country
legend Neil McCoy for the Concert in the Park; crowd favorite Deaz
Guyz on Motown Monday, and a new group, White Chocolate, for Throwback
Tuesday. Departure, a Journey tribute band, along with local talent
Marjory Lee, will play for Lowcountry Supper. Hilton Head favorite
Silicon Sister is opening for Slippery When Wet, a Bon Jovi cover
band, for the River Dance, and then we have Too Much Sylvia for the
Commodore’s Ball.
Tell our readers something they may not know about the WF.
BD: The Beaufort Water Festival is one of the largest fund raisers for
local civic, school and community groups. Groups are paid a nightly
fee to man our many areas of the Festival. Also, they may not know
that planning for the next year’s Festival begins in September so it
is a year round job.
Tell us a little about yourself, where were you born and raised?
BD: I was born and raised in Mansfield, Ohio.
How did you come to live in Beaufort?
BD: After I graduated from Ohio State University, I got married a few
weeks later, then I came to Beaufort to teach a few weeks after that;
the two best decisions in my life. My wife and I fell in love with
Beaufort and we can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Tell us about your family.
BD: I have been married to my beautiful wife Marcia for thirty two
years and we have two children, who are both in college. Marcia works
in the Women’s Imaging Center at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and is the
Imaging Services Coordinator. Our son Taylor goes to the Musician’s
Institute in Hollywood, California and our daughter Jylian (a former
Pirette) goes to the College of Charleston.
Anything else you would like to add?
BD: I would like to thank all of our loyal sponsors who have been with
the Festival for many years because without their support the Festival
would not be able to take place. I also hope that all festival goers
have a great time during the festival, or at one of our many sporting
and water events. I look forward to meeting many new people at our
Southern Summer Bash.
For further information visit the webpage http://bftwaterfestival.com.
The WF is also on Facebook and Twitter and you can download the Water
Festival app.
story by cindy reid photography by susan deloach
