Bay-Waveland Yacht Club

     The Bay-Waveland Yacht Club was founded in 1896.  Newspapers
of the day describe its first annual regatta and the name of its
commodore, a gentleman named T. R. Richardson.  The clubhouse,
constructed at a cost of $2,500 and described as a double story
over the water with "water works and departments for accommodations
of ladies as well as gentlemen," was opened in 1897 with “a ball
in grand style.”
     In 1901 the BWYC became a charter member of the Southern Gulf
Coast Yachting Association, but a hurricane destroyed the club's
facility in 1915, resulting in decreased activity and no dues
collection.
     The BWYC was reorganized in 1921 as the Bay-Waveland Yacht
and Athletic Club and admitted to the Gulf Yachting Association in
1922.  Inactivity set in during the Depression years and continued
through World War II and into the late 1940's.
     The club was reorganized again in 1949 by a group of yachtsmen
and civic leaders, with John E. Bell, Jr. serving as commodore, and
the clubhouse was built on the present location.  The 1949 building
was completely destroyed, along with many members’ homes on August
29, 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.  The current, greatly improved
clubhouse was dedicated on July 1, 2008.
     In 1963 BWYC won its first Junior, and also its first Senior
Lipton title.  Today, club members are active regionally and
nationally as both competitors and administrators.  Club members
are proud to be part of the long tradition of yachting on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast, a way of life that has survived hurricanes,
wars, epidemics, and hard times.

Compiled from various sources by Commodore Walter Chamberlain '87
(Revised 8/2008 mdc)
                                                   

            BAY-WAVELAND YACHT CLUB
     Former Commodores since reorganization in 1949

1949 John E. Bell, Jr.*                          1979 Lucien M. Gex, Jr.*
1950 John E. Bell, Jr.*                          1980 Lucien M. Gex, Jr.*
1951 Robert L. Camors*                        1981 Charles A. Breath, III
1952 Robert L. Camors*                        1982 Edgar W. Santa Cruz, Jr.
1953 Henry B. Chapman*                      1983 Edgar W. Santa Cruz, Jr.
1954 Norman Renshaw*                        1984 John E. Bell, III   
1955 J. Alvin Weinfurter*                       1985 Frank C. Allen, Jr.*
1956 Henry B. Chapman*                      1986 Basil T. Kennedy
1957 Norman Renshaw*                        1987 Walter G. Chamberlain
1958 Donald L. Chamberlain*                1988 Peter A. Morrill
1959 Charles J. Lozano*                        1989 Randolph C. Bourgeois
1960 J. E. Erwin*                                  1990 Mark A. Uram
1961 Kenneth W. Pepperdene*              1991 Frederick L. Eagan, Jr.
1962 Kenneth W. Pepperdene*              1992 William B. Whitfield
1963 Kenneth W. Pepperdene*              1993 Anthony Trapani, Jr.*  
1963 Richard I. Hadden*                        1994 Van Ness Tanner *
1964 Norman Renshaw*                        1995 Clement S. Benvenutti
1964 Richard E. Reeves*                       1996 Henry Martinez 
1965 Richard E. Reeves*                       1997 Alexander M. Crighton, Jr. 
1966 Edward M. Heath, Jr.*                   1998 Roy Terry Markel
1967 Wesley L. McFarland, M.D.             1999 John R. Adams
1968 Ray Gordon*                                2000 Judith J. Reeves
1969 Ray Gordon*                                2001 Michael D. Chapoton
1970 Emile P. Larroux*                         2002 John C. Hadden
1971 William B. Whitfield                       2003 Camors C. Roth
1972 William B. Whitfield                       2004 Henry C. Magee, III
1973 Hardin Shattuck*                          2005 Michael D. Haas, Jr.
1973 Ray H. Stieffel, Jr.                         2006 Tucker E. Dawson, Jr.
1974 Ray H. Stieffel, Jr.                         2007 Bernard J. Wolfe
1975 Walter A. Gehrke*                        2008 Judith J. Reeves
1976 Walter A. Gehrke*                        2009 Michael J. Carron
1977 James R. Shadoin*                       2010 Christopher F. Trapani    
1978 Maurice F. Eagan*                        2011 John R. Santa Cruz                                                                            

Former Gulf Yachting Association Commodores from BWYC

1904  John A. Rawlins*                  1992  Basil T. Kennedy
1909  E. J. Bowers*                       1997  Frank C. Allen, Jr.* 
1957  J. Alvin Weinfurter*              2002  Walter G. Chamberlain 
1967  Henry B. Chapman*              2009  Judith J. Reeves 
1982  Henry G. Chapman

Former & Present U. S. Sailing Association Board Members from BWYC 

Former & Present   Walter G. Chamberlain

Former & Present Members of BWYC who have been
Commodores of other Yacht Clubs

Present    Fabian K. Fromherz                           Former     Thomas W. Shepard, Jr. 

Present    Ralph W. Pringle                               Former     Frank C. Allen, Jr.*

Former     Eugene H. Walet, III

This list was prepared by the Regatta Committee for the 
50th MCYA Chapman Regatta in 1999 and last updated December 20, 2011.
Should anyone have names and information on Commodores of 
Bay-Waveland Yacht Club prior to 1949, please contact BWYC Historian
 2010 Woody Santa Cruz at (228) 224-0112 or by
email at ewsantacruzjr@aol.com EWS,Jr. 
                                                    Deceased *

BWYC Former Commodores

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 BAY-WAVELAND YACHT CLUB
Former Commodores from 1896 to reorganization in 1949

1896 T. R. Richardson*

This list was started in April of 2008. Should anyone have names and information on Commodores of Bay-Waveland Yacht Club prior to 1949, please contact BWYC Historian 2010 Woody Santa Cruz at (228) 224-0112 or by email
at ewsantacruzjr@aol.com EWS,Jr.               
                                                                 Deceased *