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Board celebrates Bob Duncle’s service; Ted Drum recounts local marina history
Summary
The board honored longtime member/staff Bob Duncle with remarks and a small recognition, and heard a wide-ranging history of Fort Lauderdale marinas from local owner Ted Drum, who highlighted the family-run 15th Street Fishery and wartime origins of local waterfront facilities.
The Marine Advisory Board took time on April 2 to honor longtime board member/staff Bob Duncle and to hear a illustrated history of local marinas from Ted Drum, a third-generation waterfront business owner.
Chair Steve Whitten and several members noted Duncle’s years of institutional knowledge and presented a small retirement recognition. “We will miss him,” one member said during a lighthearted, audience-facing tribute that included photographs and a small gift.
Ted Drum then delivered a lengthy oral history of the 15th Street Fishery and related waterfront development in Fort Lauderdale, recounting the site’s World War II naval uses, early postwar marina development under Gulf Oil, and the Fishery’s decades as a family-run marina and restaurant. “I love Fort Lauderdale and I’m very pleased to be involved in our family marina,” Drum said in the presentation, which included archival photos and drone shots.
Why it matters: The presentation linked the Fishery’s history to broader waterfront land-use decisions, commercial marine services, and community identity. Members noted the Fishery’s role in attracting families to the waterfront and generating economic and cultural benefits.
Additional items: The board also briefly aired a message from Chris Stacy of Rock the Ocean Foundation thanking the board for supporting the Tortuga Music Festival; Stacy’s message cited more than $6 million raised for ocean conservation from festival-related fundraising.
Next steps: The board tabled a separate informational presentation from the Marine Research Hub to the next meeting so that speaker Kate can present with adequate time.
