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.
