LEGENDARY SURF PHOTO MASTER MAKES HALL OF FAME
by Corky Carroll
We are going into the final weeks before surfings big dance and show comes to Orange County. The Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing, running July 26 thru August 3 at the Huntington Beach Pier. As far as attendance, overall glamor and just sheer amounts of surfing “stuff” that goes along with it, this would have to be considered the biggest event in the surfing world each year. It’s not a World Championship tour event but it doesn’t matter. The surfing world comes to Surf City and it’s a wild and crazy week.
One of my favorite things that goes along with this is the annual induction ceremony for the SURFERS HALL OF FAME. This will be held on Friday, August 1st beginning at 9 A.M. in the SHOF plaza at the southeast corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street. In the shadow of the big Duke Kahanamoku statue, across the street from Dukes Restaurant and directly in front of Huntington Surf ‘n Sport. For more info on the background of the event check my story from 2 weeks ago when I covered all that.
Today I would like to talk about Tom Servais, who, along with Caroline Marks and Dwight Dunn, will be getting inducted this year. Just to lead off I wanna tell you right now and flat out that Tom Servais is one of the coolest, nicest and most talented dudes that I know of in the surfing world and beyond. He is the epitome of what you, or me because I come from the era where this adjective was used commonly, would call a “bitchin’ guy.”
His basic story in his own words (from a Club of Waves post online. https://clubofthewaves.com/surf-photographer/tom-servais/).
“I grew up as a kid in Florida, fishing off the piers of Miami Beach. When the surfing craze hit in the early 60s, I was mesmerized by it. In ‘73 I drove to California to surf and took some photo classes. That led to a job at Surfer magazine. After passing Art Brewer’s audition, I had a job that allowed me the freedom to surf when I wanted. I worked at Surfer for over 20 years, first doing darkroom prints and later in the photo department assisting Jeff Divine. It wasn’t until ’98 when I left the comfort of my Surfer office job and went freelance that my collection really grew. In the following ten or so years I spent between seven to nine months a year travelling. I’ve been very lucky to witness some great moments in surfing. I have to say I’m one of the lucky few who have had the privilege to do something they really love doing and getting paid to do it.”
I got to know Tom when I went to work at SURFER magazine in 1976. I became Ad Director and worked there for ten years. Tom was our “darkroom dude” and a big part of the staff social circle. We had a great staff back then, a crew of amazing personalities and talented people, who mostly had great senses of humor (a trait that I gravitate to). Tom is one of those. There were a lot of pranks, joking and just overall funny stuff that went on behind the scenes in or around the lunch room. Tom was ultra smooth, he never seemed to be the one either pranking or getting pranked but he many times was involved in the background. He was a very good “urger oner” so to speak. We would watch with a super sly smile on his face without ever having to take the brunt of the doer or the one getting done too. We all loved Tom, he is one of those people who you always felt was on your side and was a pal you could tell anything too.
Along with graphic artist Mark “Cubby” Samuels, I had a zillion great lunches, tennis matches and just good laughs hanging out with Tom during my years at SURFER. Tom was a big part of that.
He became one the all-time great Surf Photographers ever. His photos from Tavarua Island, in Fiji, are classic. He has spent his life doing and loving his craft, another trait I look up to. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a lot to do what you want to do. Those who are willing to do that are those who I admire. Tom Servais is all that and I admire him very much. He is a great selection to the Surfers Hall of Fame.
Stay tuned next time for more SHOF information and a look at Caroline Marks and Dwight Dunn. Awhoooooo.