As the ESA celebrates its 34th anniversary and prepares to name the 11th winner of the “Colin J. Couture Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to Eastern Surfing Award”, it strikes me that a growing number of ESA officials, members and parents may not have a clue as to why the award was created, what it represents or even who “Doc” Couture was. As the 1999 recipient of “The Doc”, I can tell you that it was the biggest, most wonderful event in my 35 years of surfing. The “Doc” is the most prestigious award in the world of surfing because it honors dedication, commitment and service to the ESA and East Coast Surfing as a whole and there is not another award like it in the world.

The award is named for Dr. Colin “Doc” Couture and honors volunteer service because that is what Doc Couture was all about, and much, much more. Although he was not involved with the formation of the ESA, during his time as Executive Director, from 1972 until his death in 1989, he took a fledgling surfing group and turned it into the proud and powerful organization it is today. Building on the foundation established by Cecil Lear and numerous other dedicated individuals and using the talent, enthusiasm and devotion of a wide-ranging group of volunteers, Doc dedicated his life to the ESA and its most important ingredient, its members. Without Doc it's hard to say where the ESA would be today but I don’t think it would be the largest and most influential surfing organization in the world. He made it happen with the sheer force of his will, his vast talents and that amazing ability he had to make you want to work at least half as hard as you knew he was working. Doc's accomplishments are recognized on a plaque that sits upon a large sandstone boulder at the Surf Motel in Buxton, NC, the "Doc Rock" as it has affectionately become known. Each recipient of a "Doc" Award has a plate added to the rock with their name and the date they received the award.

I sense there is a fundamental change working its way through the ESA as the “old timers” who have been involved for 20 or 30 years become less active and pass the baton to a new generation of leaders. Before we step out though, I feel it is vitally important that our members have a better understanding of what the ESA truly represents, and at least a brief history of Dr. Colin Couture and those who have been honored in his memory because the story of their work tells us how we got to where we are today. Doc's spirit and inspiration is that which the ESA was built upon and which continues to guide us.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way….no wait, that's someone else's line. Actually, it was 1967 and it happened to be in New York of all places when Cecil Lear, a young advertising executive from New Jersey, and Rudy Huber, a jet setting trust fund baby from Connecticut with connections to the world of international surfing got together to plot out the creation of what would come to be the largest and longest lived amateur surfing body, the Eastern Surfing Association. Backed by Hoppy Swarts, the “Duke” of competitive amateur surfing in America, and at a time when the dissolution of the original U.S. Surfing Association threatened to destroy the only coherent amateur surfing program in the U.S., Cecil and Rudy conceived the basic outline of an East Coast-based, East Coast-run surfing organization that would unite what were then a scattered group of little independent surfing “fiefdoms” which were emerging at that time up and down the East Coast.

Cecil was a product of the Jersey Shore, a lifetime waterman who was turned on to surfing in his early 30’s. He founded the New Jersey Surfing Association in 1963 and at the ripe old age of 32 found himself bitten by the magical bug called “surfing”. He began to travel the East Coast, chocolate chip cookies in hand, exploring strange new places with exotic names like “Narragansett”, “Gilgo Beach”, “Cape Hatteras” and “Canaveral Pier”. While it may be hard to believe, at that time these destinations held the same mystical attraction that Tavarua, Bali, and Hawaii's North Shore hold for today’s young surfers. Along the way he ran into the little bands of surfers who populated these areas, isolated from each other like Stone Age cultures yet beginning to reach out and come into contact with each other. As they did, these tribes did what every other social structure ever created by human beings had done when they bumped into another tribe-they went to war. The only difference was that this time the weapons were surfboards and the battlegrounds were the pistine beaches of the East Coast.

The rivalries that sprang up between Gilgo Beach, Canaveral Pier, Newport, RI and the other embryonic surfing scenes quickly mushroomed into a coastal range war. And Cecil was there, the right person at the right place at the right time. With his genial attitude, unflappable demeanor and undeniable decency he was the perfect person to bring these tribes together for their common purpose, like a Henry Kissinger in a Hawaiian shirt.

After extensive negotiations with the leaders of the emerging local surf scenes, Cecil and Rudy cobbled together the basic foundation of the ESA. Six districts, starting with New England (Will Jacobs), New York (Emilio deTorres), New Jersey (Red Duffin), Delmarva (Bob Holland, Sr.), North Carolina (Bette Marsh) and Florida (Dick Catri and David Reese) were established along with a corporate structure, a unified set of competition rules and judging criteria and a format for running a surfing contest.

For the first time, East Coast surfers had their own party and they would never again have to kowtow to their big brothers in California. This new group began to attract a growing number of older surfers(older than 25), including a med school student from Rhode Island named Colin Couture (more about him later), who were looking for an avenue to promote and protect this amazing new sport they had discovered. Officially Cecil was only Competition Director between 1967 and 1970 but it was his efforts that got things off the ground. In doing so,he blazed a path and set a standard of service and commitment that continues to be the foundation of the ESA today. Cecil Lear was recognized with the "Dr. Colin J. Couture Award" in 1992.

From those humble beginnings a large group of talented, dedicated surfers were pulled into the ESA, bringing their unique and often contrasting personalities and abilities to the soup pot, creating a synergistic bond and strength that powers the ESA to this day. While a true history of the ESA would include hundreds of individuals and their unselfish efforts on behalf of Eastern surfing, we cannot give complete and full credit where it is rightfully due. For now we can only discuss that select group of individuals who have been honored with the "Doc” award.

David Reese also came to surfing when he was in his 30’s. The son of a prominent family from Old Palm Beach, he founded the Palm Beach County Surfing Association in the mid-60’s to protect his new found sport from restrictive anti-surfing laws of the times. As one of the founding members of the ESA and Co-Director of the Florida district with the inimitable Dick Catri, David laid the foundation for the present day Southeast Region ESA program with its eleven ESA districts and 3000+ competitive members. Moving to Competition Director in the early 70’s, David helped pioneer the double beach/double elimination format, walkie-talkies on the beach, designed the first heat sheets and set the ground-rules for how to run a contest. He helped write the first judges manual and when he stepped down in 1980, the foundation had been laid. Over the last 21 years he has continued to serve as an unofficial advisor and has offered his background as a successful businessman to our organization, much to its benefit. David Reese was recognized in 1993.

At the same time David Reese was shaping the ESA in Florida, far to the north in the chilly climes of Rhode Island, a sharp tongued college student named Peter Panagiotis (Pete Pan) took over the reins of the New England District in 1972 and the ESA would never be the same again. Bringing a caustic wit, a keen mind and some old fashioned Down East grit to the laid back world of surfing, Peter built his district into a power house and a textbook example of how to run a surfing organization. He was, and remains, a fierce competitor and a groundbreaking innovator, introducing longboard competition to the ESA program in the early 70’s, bodyboarding in the 80’s and assisting Cecil Lear on establishing the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame. Now celebrating his 29th year as a District Director, Peter continues to bring a practical, refreshing and direct perspective to the ESA. The ESA recognized Peter with the "Doc" Award in 1997.

A little further south in the fabled land of “New Joisey” Tom McClaren, an avid surfer, family man and employee of AT&T, and Ruth Grottola, a mother of two surfers, formed a partnership that lasted for several decades. Starting first as a competitor in 1971, moving to the head judge of the District in 1975 and then to Co-Director with Ruth in 1977, Tom has been a moving force in the ESA to this day. Ruth’s involvement began as a surfing “Mom” in the early 70’s when she shepherded her children Joe and Jennifer through their formative and successful years as competitors. She made her first pilgrimage to Cape Hatteras in 1974 and has attended every Eastern Championship since.

Working together, Tom and Ruth helped develop a Competition Handbook still in substantial use today. Tom took on the additional duties of Head Judge for the Easterns and two U.S. Championships. In 1984, after studying at the feet of Ben Lane (who had in turn learned the ropes from David Reese), Tom became Competition Director and served in that role until 1987. During his tenure he instituted the six-man heat format and the regional contest format, creating the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regional Championships we have today. But it was as the “Computer Guy” that Tom made his most important contribution to the ESA. Using the skills from his job with AT&T, he single-handedly brought the ESA into the computer age in the mid 80’s (when Bill Gates was just moving out of his garage) with the creation of software programs that took slot selection, judging and tabulation of scores out of the Stone Age. He continues as the acknowledged computer guru, producing annual ESA statistics and Regional web casts while still competing as a "Legend”. Tom was given the award in 1994.

In addition to her decade as a district director, Ruth Grottola became a cherished figure at the Easterns, not only as a warm and outgoing presence but as former ESA Head Tabulator, assistant to the Head Judge and Competition Director, and often as chief cook, bottle washer and shoulder to cry on. She helped develop the modern tabulation forms and system. For several years she served as ESA Secretary and although she “retired” from her district ESA position, this retirement was one of form rather than substance as she continued to work on SNJ matters and help with membership services until her death in December 2001. Ruth was recognized with the "Doc" Award in 1996.

In much the same way, the late Bette Marsh filled a similar niche and need in the Carolinas. Another of the great surfing “Moms”, as a founding Director of the ESA, Bette was known as the “Matriarch of Eastern Surfing”. Starting with her own brood, Mike, Mickey and Pat, she became everybody’s “Mom” from the youngest menehune to the old, grizzled legends. She served as a District Director from 1968 until 1979, coached the pre-curser to the ESA All Star team and was a fixture at the Easterns for decades. She was universally recognized for her warm and generous heart, her open mind and her tireless efforts on behalf of surfers, whether it was about beach access, education or just being there for the kids. In her family’s honor in 1980 the ESA established the Marsh Scholarship Fund which has become the largest scholarship fund in the surfing world. Bette’s contributions to Eastern Surfing were recognized when she was selected as the first winner of the “Doc” award in 1991, just prior to her tragic passing.

Joining the ESA as a young grommet in 1969, Bruce Walker was perhaps one of the fiercest competitors the ESA ever produced. He made Pete Rose look like a sissy and inspired fear, awe and dismay in three different ESA divisions. He has been a member of the ESA-All Stars and won the USSF Iron Man award in 1991. But it was a coach of the ESA All Star Team and The U.S. Surfing Federation National Team that he compiled a record that would embarrass Phil Jackson. As All Star coach he helped inspire and produce the best Eastern surfers of the 80’s including Kelly Slater, Greg Loehr, Matt Kechele and in the 90's he worked with Ben Bourgoise, C.J. and Damien Hobgood and the Lopez brothers. As U.S. Team Coach his teams won the 1986 Caribbean Cup, the 1986 Pacific Cup, the 1993 and 1995 Pan American Championships, and two of the Big Ones, the 1986 World Amateur Surfing Championships and, sweetest of all, the dark horse win at the 1996 World Games of Surfing. An brilliant competitive tactician, Bruce demanded excellence from his teams and achieved it through a combination of attention to detail and dedication to team efforts. Bruce Walker was recognized in 1995.

Ben Lane was just a simple country boy when he started surfing in the early 60’s. He started his ESA career in 1972 and became the Director of the Virginia/Outer Banks district in 1975. He held this job until 1978 when he became David Reese’s assistant Competition Director, eventually moving up in 1980 and continuing until 1985. He devoted countless hours to improving the contest mechanism and brought a thoughtful demeanor to often-heated late night meetings. Ben served as ESA Treasurer from 1977-1980 and in the mid 80’s helped form and co-chair The Virginia Beach Surfing Advisory Committee, one of the first groups which brought surfers into decision-making partnerships with local government. As a competitor, Ben won the Virginia Beach/East Coast Surfing Championship four times and was a contest regular up until 1996. Ben was awarded the "Doc" award in 1998.

Other than a brief and disastrous one-heat career as a competitor, Michael Angiulo, who received his "Doc" Award in 1999, came to the ESA rather late compared to the other “Doc” winners. After graduating from Law School in San Diego and returning to Long Island in 1980, Michael made the tactical error of putting himself on Doc’s radar screen and before he knew it, he was traveling up and down the East Coast working on beach access problems. His itinerary included Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York and New Hampshire and an appearance before the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1984 on behalf of the USSF.

Michael was appointed ESA's first General Counsel in 1981, a position he still holds today. He became one of Doc’s advisors and worked behind the scenes on numerous legal, political and business matters for the ESA. Following Doc’s tragic death, Michael, along with Kathy and Jeff Phillips, Kit Henningsen, Russ Atwell and several others, was one of those who stepped up to the plate to ensure a smooth transition to a new Executive Director. Taking an increasing role in ESA affairs led Michael to the USSF and he was soon tapped as General Counsel and Executive Director for the U.S. Surfing Federation, running the Federation from 1991 to 1997. During his tenure Michael pushed the USSF to reach out to the surfing industry, professional surfing groups and the world of sport and commerce outside of surfing in an attempt to forge a unified national surfing program which still eludes the U.S. to this day. He is most proud of the upset victory by the U.S. National Team in the 1996 ISA World Games of Surfing which happened on his watch. He still surfs and serves as ESA General Counsel, advising Executive Director Kathy Phillips on a number of issues and taking on the occasional special project now and then.

The 11th recipient of the "Colin J. Couture Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to East Coast Surfing" is Linda Hanson. She was posthumously presented with the award in 2000, in recognition of her many years of service from 1971 to 1983. Linda worked closely with Doc as Secretary of the ESA, assisting him and helping build a strong foundation for the ESA, until a paralyzing stroke in 1979 forced her to vacate her position. Undaunted, Linda continued to attend the Easterns each year and contributed hours at the Easterns, behind the scenes, with logistical support. She passed away in 1999.

This diverse group has two things in common. First they have all devoted incredible amounts of volunteer time and energy over the years to making the ESA what it is - the best, biggest, proudest and oldest surfing organization IN THE WORLD. Second, they were all brought to the ESA, or stayed with the ESA, because of Dr. Colin Couture. Trying to explain Doc's influence on people is complicated. Everyone saw him from their particular perspective but every one of the ten Doc award winners agrees unanimously on one point. No matter what he was doing, Doc tackled it with humor, wisdom, tireless enthusiasm and something else that made you feel good about doing your part. That whatever you were working on was important for surfing or important to the environment or important to the kids, even if only in a small way. Simply put, through his obvious devotion to the sport of surfing he inspired people to always do their best. He made them feel good about it.

Doc rose to become the ESA's Executive Director in 1972 after only a few years involvement with the New England District. For those who knew him, it wasn't surprising. Doc was one of the most talented people I ever met. He was very smart, he worked harder and longer than anyone else, and he would have been a success at anything he set his mind to. His early interests were law and he served as a Congressional Intern in Washington, D.C. during college. He could have been a successful corporate lawyer or a dedicated public defender. He could have been a skillful politician. Everyone knows he got plenty of practice at both. But instead he chose medical school and the field of psychology, eventually running a large health care organization in Boston, MA.

Fortunately for the ESA, Doc chose to devote his substantial talents to surfing and making the ESA something special and different in the world of surfing. Doc had the amazing ability to attract talented people, nurture them, delegate jobs to them and then sit back and let them run. He always knew intuitively where he wanted the ESA to go on any given issue and his work ethic and dedication inspired those around him to perform at their highest level towards his goals which became the goals of the organization. He was part friend, part father figure, part benevolent dictator and his vision, philosophy and plain hard work brought the ESA from a small surfing club of 300 members to the leading surfing organization in the world, with over 2000 members at the time he passed away. Today the organization boasts over 6,000 members, part due to what he did, how he thought, and the values he instilled in the organization. To this day, the ESA is something special in the world of surfing and different from every other organization currently in operation. Doc was an original, one-of-a-kind individual and one of the truly important figures in the history of surfing.

While the ESA, like every competitive surfing group, is primarily concerned with running surf contests, in Doc's mind the organization was about much more. It was important to him that the ESA not only offer "kids" (whether they were 10 or 60) the best organized, most fair competitive experience possible, but also that it support its members and protect the intangibles that make surfing such a special and magical thing.

At a time when money, the media ratings, and generally "being cool" threatened to turn surfing and surfers into commodities to be bought and sold like sugar or oil, Doc made it his business to keep the ESA focused on what was really important about surfing; the kids, the environment, working hard for surfing, having a great time with friends and always trying to do the best he could to help others. In his mind, being the best surfer was nowhere near as important as being the best person; giving of yourself for others for no reason other than that it was the right thing to do.

The things Doc did were mind-boggling. While running a large health care service on a part-time basis, he also spent countless hours on ESA business for seventeen years. He thought nothing of loading his foster boys and his dog in to one of his vans and driving to Florida for a contest or to California to harangue and embarrass the surfing industry into shelling out money. He could put 100,000 miles on the odometer without breaking a sweat, and he didn't really drive the cars - he punished them. When the phone would ring at 11 p.m. you knew who was on the other end of the line. I can still hear his gravelly voice "Hey Mike…is it too late…?" And you felt that if it wasn't too late for him, how could it be too late for you?
In addition to growing the ESA into a great organization, he served as USSF President from 1979 to 1988, establishing an uneasy but workable alliance which created the first true national surfing program in America.

I cannot finish without mentioning the efforts of one who has yet to win the "Doc" Award, Executive Director Kathy Phillips. While Doc built the foundation of the ESA, Kathy has been at the helm for more than a decade now, and her stewardship has been as important as Doc's empire building. Her administrative, business and negotiating skills would make Doc proud. That, coupled with her dedication and commitment to the philosophical foundation of the ESA, gives the organization a leader of unparalleled excellence who commands the full respect of the surfing industry and media. She, like the Doc award winners, has worked, pushed, prodded and shoved the ESA down a long and winding road, and if you ask her why she holds on to an often thankless job, Kathy speaks for all of us when she says, "Because that's what Doc would have done."

I still miss him to this very day, but I know that as long as the ESA continues on its present course, promoting the positive aspects of surfing that cannot support a price tag, Doc will always be with us.

Michael Angiulo, August 2000

EDITOR'S NOTE:

In 2001, the ESA recognized Kit Henningson. Kit started surfing in 1970 and joined the ESA in 1971. He became a Charter Member of the ESA in 1972. In 1982 Doc Couture awarded Kit with a Lifetime Membership as a token of appreciation for the many hours of effort Kit had devoted to fundraising for the fledgling ESA Marsh Scholarship Fund. Kit’s witty, sometimes caustic letter writing campaigns become legendary among the East Coast surfing community as well as the West Coast surf industry. His efforts helped to raise an initial endowment of $10,000. Kit later was appointed the Managing Trustee of the Fund, which enjoys an endowment in excess of $120,000 today. Kit has also served as ESA Treasurer since 1990 and briefly served as Treasurer of the US Surfing Federation from 1992 – 1996.

In 2002, the ESA recognized Harry Purkey, of Virginia Beach.

In 2003, Marilyn Austin, of Edgewater, FL was recognized.

In 2004 The ESA recognized Jeff Phillips of Ocean City, MD.

In 2005 The ESA recognized Kathy Phillips of Ocean City, MD.

In 2006 The ESA recognized the first husband and wife, Lisa Roselli and Joe Grottola of Cape May, NJ