Baughman takes helm as Captain Billy LXVII. He's 'humbled and honored' to serve community.

Captain Billy Bowlegs LXVII, James Baughman, looks back to the founding of the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival and the Krewe of Bowlegs for guidance in preserving their traditions.

“In 1953, local business and community leaders put together a Labor Day water ski show as a way of attracting tourists for one last business push before the long, slow winter season,” said the new captain, who was unveiled on June 11 at the 67th Krewe of Bowlegs Coronation Pageant at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Northwest Florida State College campus in Niceville.

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Building on the success of the water ski shows, the idea of a pirate festival was put forth, based on the legend of Captain Billy Bowlegs, a pirate of questionable authenticity who operated in nearby waters and who was thought to be historical figure William Augustus Bowles.

The fledgling festival was organized by the Jaycees.

“Recognizing that a pirate festival would need pirates, local businessmen stepped up and hired local seamstresses to create pirate costumes, and that is how the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, and shortly thereafter the Krewe of Bowlegs, was born," Baughman said. “We are proud to carry on the tradition of supporting business and tourism, and showcasing our beautiful Emerald Coast community.”

James and his wife, Diane Wyman Baughman, were born and raised in the Fort Walton Beach area. The high school sweethearts recall separately as children looking forward to the Bowlegs treasure hunt clues that would appear in what was then the Playground Daily News and to the Torchlight Parade.

James and Diane joined the Krewe in 2010, and then served on the Honor Guard under Captain Billy LVII, Mark Siner. Three years later, they were selected to serve as First Mate and First Mistress under Captain Billy LX, Todd Bolger.

“As someone who grew up in Fort Walton Beach with the Billy Bowlegs Festival, I never imagined I would one day be Captain Billy. I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to serve the Krewe and the community," Baughman said.

James graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School in 1978, and then from the University of South Alabama in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He began his career as an electronics design engineer in Mobile, Alabama, and the couple then moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where James worked for a DOD contractor.

He stepped out on his own in 1991 and founded Gulfview Research, a small independent design consulting firm serving the commercial, industrial, military and aerospace sectors, with projects ranging from vending machines to communications equipment to weapons systems. In recent years, he has designed several scientific experiment payloads orbiting aboard unmanned satellites, the International Space Station and the Space Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle.

Diane enjoyed a rewarding 30-year career as a physical therapist, and now handles the financial duties for Gulfview Research.

Each year, the new Captain Billy selects his Krewe, his theme and his colors. This year, Captain Billy has chosen "Loud & Proud!" for his theme, and his Krewe is known as "The Krewe In Black."

The theme is a nod to the new Captain’s love of loud music and loud motorcycles, “... but it also symbolizes American freedom, independence and the power embodied by the military capabilities in our local area that defend this nation," Baughman said.

Contrary to what some may believe, the Krewe of Bowlegs receives no funding from the city, the county or the TDC. Each year, the Krewe pays for all of the custom-made costumes, the beads, cups and coins that are thrown in parades, as well as the locally-chartered landing boats, with its own private funds.

“While the Krewe of Bowlegs itself is not a charitable organization, our tradition is to support the community, and we make several public appearances every year in support of charitable causes," Baughman said. "I invite everyone to come out and join us at public events throughout the year, and especially at the 67th Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival next May.”

The Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival is produced as a partnership between the city of Fort Walton Beach, the Krewe of Bowlegs, the William Augustus Bowles Foundation and local downtown businesses, and is now held in May n the weekend after Mother’s Day.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival: James Baughman is Captain Billy Bowlegs