Braden J. NEGAARD 2026 Dad Vail Regatta Volunteer of the Year John A. SEITZ AWARD Brad Negaard began his 50-plus-year association with the Dad Vail Regatta in 1973 as a competitor. After three successive years as a gold medal recipient for Jacksonville University, he became a loyal spectator, never missing a regatta except one time when he was injured. He also served as a winning coach in 1994 and 1995 for the JU Dolphins. His love for the Dad Vail Regatta became a family affair, shared with his father, Robert Negaard, a longtime referee and gold jacket recipient recognized for his dedication to the regatta. Before Bob’s passing, Brad’s father asked him to return his gold jacket to the Dad Vail Regatta after his death, not expecting that in the future Brad would be awarded the same jacket for his own service to the Dad Vail Regatta. In 2009, Brad was elected to the Board of Directors of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee in recognition of his initiative and readiness to assume responsibilities demanding significant time and operational expertise. Early in his tenure as a board member, Brad prioritized enhancing communication for spectators and followers. He began by feeding public address announcers with radio information on how teams were doing during the race and later providing live race updates for television announcers. For the past nine years, Brad has delivered premier live-stream broadcasts by assembling experienced announcers, working closely with broadcast production companies, and developing and securing broadcast sponsorships. Thanks to his efforts and the support of his team, race coverage now reaches over 40,000 viewers via the Jumbotron and live-stream broadcasts. Brad’s incomparable work capacity extended beyond producing live-stream broadcasts to overseeing By Bill Jurgens
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