Tom Morey
Encyclopedia
Tom Morey also known by the moniker "Y" is a music
ian, engineer
, and surfer
responsible for several technological innovations that have heavily influenced modern developments in surfing equipment design.
, by 1944 and was avidely developing his talent for drumming in his youth and became a professional musician in the 1950s. While surfing as a hobby
he attended the University of Southern California
and graduated with a B.A. in mathematics
in 1957. He married Jolly Givens in 1957 and worked for Douglas Aircraft, as a process engineer in composites. After Douglas, he worked a series of jobs involving composite material
s and processes, which he applied to his surf-related inventions. He left the corporate world for good in 1964, moved to Ventura
and started a series of companies that served the surfing market, currently TomMorey.com and sponsored surfing competitions such as The Tom Morey Invitational. Tom and Jolly's marriage produced two daughters, Michelle (deceased) and Melinda (artist and surfer). They divorced in the late 1960s.
Morey has been an adherent of the Bahá'í Faith
since 1970 after he came across a 'unity feast' at a Kauai
beach, where "whites, blacks and Hawaiians, mixed cordially" "After a couple of months of attending informal meetings on Bahá'í teachings - I realized this was very something important not to toy with; rather to become immersed in." "I withdrew immediately from alcohol, drugs and sexual promiscuity". Morey attributes inspiration for invention of the Boogie board (July 7, 1971) to a particular Baha'i prayer he kept coming across which included the passage "convey upon me, oh, my God, a thought which will turn this planet into a rose garden.'" married Marchia Nichols, now Marchia Morey, "mother of bodyboarding" who bore them four sons: Sol, Moon, Sky and Matteson.
Tom sold Morey Boogie in 1975 and lived in Hawaii
for a decade, working as a consultant by day, jazz musician by night. In 1985 the Moreys moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, where Tom engineered for Boeing
. In 1992 Tom returned to southern California
; reentering the surf scene and consulting with the latest owners of Morey Boogie Wham-O
. He ended consulting in January 1999 founding his own company again - Now TomMorey.com - and changed his name to Y.
From 1999 to 2007, Tom focused on the development of a new soft surfboard technology. He handmade these boards in a small workshop in Oceanside, California. His most famous of these was the Swizzle, a parabolic-shaped longboard design. He marketed and sold the boards under the name Surfboards by Y.
In late-2007, Tom joined forces with Catch Surf of San Clemente, California, to bring his new technology to the masses. Tom's revolutionary new surfboard technology fuses the safety and durability of soft surfboards with the performance of a hard surfboard.
, Stew Williamson, Bud Shank
and Conti Condolli. He was an original member of the 'Sons of the Beach' ukulele
1948, then, over the years founder several other band: 'Four Eyed Five', in 1950, the 'Tom Morey Quartet' in 1954, URANIUM, 1969. He joined 'Brotherhood' at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in 1983, and currently holds forth at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, California with his most recent ensemble, Laguna Jazz Quartet.
1955-63 Morey was a sponsored surfer for Dave Godart Surfboards, then Dave Sweet, Con, Velzy Jacobs, and finally Dewey Weber
. In 1964 he began setting up businesses providing surf boards and inventing technologies for surf boards -
He left commercial surfboarding interests in the late 1970s and returned to it in the 1990s.
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
ian, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, and surfer
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
responsible for several technological innovations that have heavily influenced modern developments in surfing equipment design.
Background
Morey was living in Laguna Beach, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, by 1944 and was avidely developing his talent for drumming in his youth and became a professional musician in the 1950s. While surfing as a hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
he attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and graduated with a B.A. in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in 1957. He married Jolly Givens in 1957 and worked for Douglas Aircraft, as a process engineer in composites. After Douglas, he worked a series of jobs involving composite material
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
s and processes, which he applied to his surf-related inventions. He left the corporate world for good in 1964, moved to Ventura
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
and started a series of companies that served the surfing market, currently TomMorey.com and sponsored surfing competitions such as The Tom Morey Invitational. Tom and Jolly's marriage produced two daughters, Michelle (deceased) and Melinda (artist and surfer). They divorced in the late 1960s.
Morey has been an adherent of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
since 1970 after he came across a 'unity feast' at a Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
beach, where "whites, blacks and Hawaiians, mixed cordially" "After a couple of months of attending informal meetings on Bahá'í teachings - I realized this was very something important not to toy with; rather to become immersed in." "I withdrew immediately from alcohol, drugs and sexual promiscuity". Morey attributes inspiration for invention of the Boogie board (July 7, 1971) to a particular Baha'i prayer he kept coming across which included the passage "convey upon me, oh, my God, a thought which will turn this planet into a rose garden.'" married Marchia Nichols, now Marchia Morey, "mother of bodyboarding" who bore them four sons: Sol, Moon, Sky and Matteson.
Tom sold Morey Boogie in 1975 and lived in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
for a decade, working as a consultant by day, jazz musician by night. In 1985 the Moreys moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, where Tom engineered for Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
. In 1992 Tom returned to southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
; reentering the surf scene and consulting with the latest owners of Morey Boogie Wham-O
Wham-O
Wham-O Inc. is a toy company currently located in California, USA. They are known for marketing many popular toys in the past 50 years, including the Hula Hoop, the Frisbee, Slip 'N Slide, Super Ball, Trac-Ball, Silly String, Hacky Sack and the Boogie board....
. He ended consulting in January 1999 founding his own company again - Now TomMorey.com - and changed his name to Y.
From 1999 to 2007, Tom focused on the development of a new soft surfboard technology. He handmade these boards in a small workshop in Oceanside, California. His most famous of these was the Swizzle, a parabolic-shaped longboard design. He marketed and sold the boards under the name Surfboards by Y.
In late-2007, Tom joined forces with Catch Surf of San Clemente, California, to bring his new technology to the masses. Tom's revolutionary new surfboard technology fuses the safety and durability of soft surfboards with the performance of a hard surfboard.
Musician
He had honed his talent as a drummer and ukulele player from his early youth, working professionally by the age of 12. Subsequently he performed professionally with musicians such as Dizzy GillespieDizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Stew Williamson, Bud Shank
Bud Shank
Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank, Jr. was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and throughout the decade worked in various small jazz combos. He spent the 1960s as a first...
and Conti Condolli. He was an original member of the 'Sons of the Beach' ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
1948, then, over the years founder several other band: 'Four Eyed Five', in 1950, the 'Tom Morey Quartet' in 1954, URANIUM, 1969. He joined 'Brotherhood' at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in 1983, and currently holds forth at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, California with his most recent ensemble, Laguna Jazz Quartet.
Surfing
In 1946, at the age of 11, he came in second in the Green Valley Lake Paddle board Championships. He began board surfing in 1952. In April 1955 he wake-surfed (no towrope) behind an ocean-going yacht.1955-63 Morey was a sponsored surfer for Dave Godart Surfboards, then Dave Sweet, Con, Velzy Jacobs, and finally Dewey Weber
Dewey Weber
David Earl Weber, , known as Dewey Weber, was an American surfer.Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he stood out for his unique surfing style...
. In 1964 he began setting up businesses providing surf boards and inventing technologies for surf boards -
- 1954 - created the first "concave nose pocket"
- 1955 - invented something he called the "Wing Tip," a Coaund Lift nose.
- 1964 - created the first polypropylene fin and first commercial interchangeable fin system.
- 1965 - used resin impregnated cardboard to make a "paper" surfboard which became a Television Commercial and an August 1966, a full color, two page advertisement in Reader's DigestReader's DigestReader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
. - 1965 - created the Tom Morey Invitational Nose Riding Championships, first professional surfing contest held at Ventura Point.
- 1971 - invented the bodyboard, called in those days a Boogie Board after his love of music.
- 1974-76 - engineered the essence of today's "soft board" manufacturing technology.
He left commercial surfboarding interests in the late 1970s and returned to it in the 1990s.
External links
- Tom Morey's Surfboards by Y and Catch Surf
- TomMorey.com
- Tom Morey IMDb article
- Tom Morey bio on surfline.com
- Comments of Mike Doyle 1
- HI Surf Advisory Tom Morey
- Industry News The Birth Of The Bodyboard Industry: The Tom Morey Story
- Vagabond.com Response to the "What is killing Bodyboarding?" series by Tom Morey
- A Malibu Surf Dog Barks
- LATimes.com Stoking the masses Once upon a time, folks rode waves on surfboards or air mattresses. Then Tom Morey put an iron to a hunk of foam.
- Tom Morey = The Mad Scientist of Wave Riding
- The Hey Day.com Sultan of surf, baron of boogie