I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. My father taught me how to swim when I was very young and later how to bodysurf on our many trips to Galveston or Surfside. My parents had a Sailboat for many years, and we spent countless weekends sailing in Galveston Bay. These experiences instilled my love and respect for the ocean at an early age.

Skateboarding came next, then I started surfing the summer before my senior year of high school. I moved to Corpus Christi the day after graduation in ’78 and continued honing my surfing skills. I started competing and earned enough points to qualify for the United States Surfing Championships (USSC) held in South Padre Island, Texas in 1979 and 1983. I placed 5th in the finals both of those years. I was the Texas State Champion in 1982 and qualified for the USSC in 1982 held in Cape Hatteras, but couldn’t afford the travel.

In addition to surfing the entire Texas Coast, I have surfed in Southern California, Florida, the Carolinas, Mexico, Baja, Costa Rica.

I have a computer programming degree from Del Mar College and worked for IBM for 10 years. I previously served as VP and President for the largest swim team in Northwest Austin. I have also served on numerous PTA boards as a committee chairperson.

I am a 5th generation Galvestonian, (BOI) Born on the Island. I’ve been a surfer and skateboarder since age 12, after going in halves on a surfboard with my best friend. His parents kept an eye on us from their car parked at Bermuda Beach on the West end. As a teenager, I rented beach equipment at Stewart Beach.

I still surf every day if the surf is good and tanker surf, wake board, deep sea/inshore fish when it isn’t good. I’ve taught several dogs to surf, skate or pull me on skateboards. I have made surf trips to Indonesia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Baja.

I serve as both the current and charter Executive Committee member for the
Surfrider Foundation Galveston Chapter. I also serve as both the current and charter Planning Committee member for the La Izquierda Surf and Music Festival held in Galveston.

I’m a University of Florida graduate. I’m a retired insurance underwriter after working for the company my great grandfather founded in 1913 in the Hutchings Sealy Building at 23rd and Strand, a few blocks from where the Texas Surf Museum is located today. I’m a retired original bartender of Galveston Island Brewing Company.

I am a 1st generation Galvestonian, (BOI) Born on the Island.

I became interested in surfing at 8 years old, when I would sneak off to go fishing at the Flagship. My first surfing competition was the 1st Annual Pepsi Contest in 1967. I won a watch and a trip to Huntington Beach, but my parents wouldn’t let me go. Shortly after, I joined the Blaker Surf Team.

In the ‘70’s I placed 2nd at the US Amateur Surfing Contest in Huntington Beach, won 4th place at the Arabica World Long Board Contest in Costa Rica and went on to place 6th at the East Coast Championships held in Virginia Beach the same year.

I am a retired long shoreman and still make frequent surf trips to Costa Rica.

Karen started surfing in 1964 when she joined school friends on a trip to Galveston Texas. She got her first surfboard as a 16th birthday present from her mom, purchased at Montgomery Wards Department store in her hometown of Houston Texas. The department store hosted an appearance with California Women’s Surf Champion, Joyce Hoffman, to promote surfboards in the sporting goods department. Meeting Joyce was an inspiration that grew into a love for riding waves, exploring East & West coast surf spots & meeting incredible female surfers along the way.

While visiting her dad in Virginia Beach in 1969, Karen wanted to go watch the East Coast Surfing Championships since she had never seen a major surf competition. Her dad encouraged her to enter the contest which she did & finished in Third Place in the Women’s Final. Returning to Texas, Karen became one of the top-rated Gulf Coast Women Surfers. As the 1970 & 1972 Texas State Women’s Champion, Karen represented the Gulf Coast Surfing Association at the 1972 United States Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, CA & in 1975 at the WISA Hang Ten Pro in Malibu Beach, CA. Her most memorable title is 1977 US Women’s Champion at The US Championships in San Clemente, CA. In 2008, Karen along with other Texas women surfers, was honored at the “Women In Waves” Exhibit at The Texas Surf Museum in Corpus Christi, TX.

Karen has always balanced her love for surfing with giving back to the sport & the environment. She served on the Board of The Gulf Surfing Association, US Surfing Federation, joined WISA in 1975 & organized the WISA Texas Chapter. Karen was 1993 Board of Director President for The Surfrider Foundation and current member of The Surfrider Foundation Advisory Board. In addition to surfing, Karen has a successful career in the retail industry & sales marketing spanning Texas to California.
Karen is now back in her hometown of Houston, Texas. Her favorite surf spots include Churches & the South Bay in CA. Surfside, Corpus Christi & South Padre Island in TX.

I am honored and dedicated to serve on the Board of the Texas Surf Museum and to be a steward of the interests of the Members, Contributors, Sponsors and Surfers everywhere, particularly those who donated memorabilia and cherished items for our exhibits. Five generations of my family have owned property and been traveling to Follet’s Island, Surfside Beach. I grew up in Houston, and started surfing at age 13 on a Dewey Weber Ski surfboard, mostly in Surfside, including the extended ‘off campus lunches’ my senior year at Strake Jesuit which almost resulted in my not passing my last period Calculus class.
I still have a beach house at Surfside, in recovery mode after last summer’s Hurricane Beryl. My dad and I built the house 40 years ago and It is located a few board leashes away from where the famed Octagon stood, to which I still pay recognition to today. I am also fortunate to travel to Maui several times a year as I serve on a Board of a Westin/Marriott property there. I think I can safely say my dedication and ability to serve on non-profit Boards far surpasses that of my abilities on a Surfboard.
After I did graduate from Jesuit, I earned a Finance Degree from UT Austin. I have a long career in the banking and investments industry and presently have a 25-year career with Frost Bank, providing financial planning and investment management to individuals, commercial businesses and Non-Profits.