The Thompson Family - looking back and saying THANKS

Rodney and Mary Jean Thompson have been a part of the North Brevard community for many years.  While owning and operating several boat-building operations, a fish house, a seafood processing plant and three restaurants, the Thompsons have always found the time and resources to support their employees, local activities and families in need.

In 1997, daughter Laurilee and some friends organized an event to showcase Brevard County's fantastic diversity of birds, animals and natural habitats.  Their goal was to educate residents of the value of the vast public lands found in the north end of the county.  Their vision was that the event would grow into an annual multi-day affair that would generate a noticeable economic impact in the community.  They partnered with NASA and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to emphasize the area's unique connection between space and nature and the Flyway Festival was born. 

Held in November 1997, their first endeavor was a birding competition.  Rodney and Mary Jean purchased four spotting scopes from Leica Optics to be given as prizes to the team that counted the most species of birds in a 24-hour period.  The unexpected entry of a group from Canada gave organizers the luxury of lauding the first Flyway Festival as an international extravaganza.  The intercontinental birding team trounced the locals, packed up the Thompson's scopes and took them to the far north.

Thus began a long relationship that has continued through a change of name and movement of the venue to the birdier month of January.  The birding competition gave way to educational seminars and field trips and the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival surpassed the wildest dreams of its original organizers, who are now joined each year by more than seventy volunteers.  The presence of the Thompsons and Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant has been a constant for every event.

We take this opportunity to thank the Thompson Family – especially Rodney and Mary Jean -- for their faith that the Festival would succeed each year.  It is with great pride that the Brevard Nature Alliance Board of Directors and Festival Staff say a heartfelt and sincere THANK YOU.