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 Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society

Dedicated to Preserving our Shipwrecks and Maritime History
"From Prevention to Preservation"



HomeAward Recipients 2011


The 2011 GLSPS Award Winners


CONGRATULATIONS TO:


Corey Daniel:  GLSPS Appreciation Award
Bill Matthies:  Dive Community Contribution Award
Tamara Tompsen:  Special Acknowledgment Award




Corey Daniel: GLSPS Appreciation Award


Corey has been a reliable, enthusiastic and energetic North Shore participant in many different GLSPS projects.

These include Monitoring the Madeira Shipwreck, helping Stabilize the Ely Shipwreck, and helping on the Wilson Zebra Mussel Project, helped the author of Shipwrecks Along Lake Superior’s North Shore conduct underwater research at many dive sites that were included in the book, with the rebuilding of the R/V Preservation, helped extensively with several TV shoots for diving and interviewing about GLSPS PIB, he is the Monitoring Chairman and participated in many other projects.


His residence in Duluth enables him to garner support with other GLSPS members on the North Shore who participate with him on frequent diver on many of the North Shore shipwrecks. It is this kind of support and his cheerful willingness to help on many other GLSPS projects that qualifies him for this GLSPS Award.


Corey has been a reliable, enthusiastic and energetic North Shore participant in many different GLSPS projects. These include Monitoring the Madeira Shipwreck, helping Stabilize the Ely Shipwreck, and helping on the Wilson Zebra Mussel Project, helped the author of Shipwrecks Along Lake Superior’s North Shore conduct underwater research at many dive sites that were included in the book, with the rebuilding of the R/V Preservation, helped extensively with several TV shoots for diving and interviewing about GLSPS PIB, he is the Monitoring Chairman and participated in many other projects. His residence in Duluth enables him to garner support with other GLSPS members on the North Shore who participate with him on frequent diver on many of the North Shore shipwrecks. It is this kind of support and his cheerful willingness to help on many other GLSPS projects that qualifies him for this GLSPS Award.




Bill Matthies: Dive Community Contribution Award


 Bill Matthies has been a pillar of the diving community for over 50 years and has been a regular dive show speaker for many years. Bill began his scuba instruction career in 1959, seven years before the organization known as PADI was established! To call Bill a dive industry legend would certainly be an appropriate description. He is a founding member of both PADI and NASDS. Bill is more than great stories. Over the years he has built quite a resume of dive credentials.

His list of certifications includes being a recreational diving instructor for PADI, NASDS & YMCA. As owner of the Minnesota Commercial Diver Training Center and Underwater Commercial Divers Inc., Bill has extensive experience in the commercial dive industry and is a TDI instructor and license to teach drowning recovery and Surface Ice Rescue techniques to Rescue squads.


Along with owning and operating one of the oldest and most respected dive stores in Minnesota, Bill has a Masters degree in Math Education and taught Mathematics for 34 years in the Brainerd School District. Bill is an instrument rated pilot and he has his sea captain’s license.

For his many years of service in the industry and for teaching and sharing his passion for diving with thousands of students and fellow divers, GLSPS would like to acknowledge and express our gratitude for his special contributions to the dive community.

Bill Matthies has been a pillar of the diving community for over 50 years and has been a regular dive show speaker for many years. Bill began his scuba instruction career in 1959, seven years before the organization known as PADI was established! To call Bill a dive industry legend would certainly be an appropriate description. He is a founding member of both PADI and NASDS. Bill is more than great stories. Over the years he has built quite a resume of dive credentials. His list of certifications includes being a recreational diving instructor for PADI, NASDS & YMCA.

As owner of the Minnesota Commercial Diver Training Center and Underwater Commercial Divers Inc., Bill has extensive experience in the commercial dive industry and is a TDI instructor and license to teach drowning recovery and Surface Ice Rescue techniques to Rescue squads. Along with owning and operating one of the oldest and most respected dive stores in Minnesota, Bill has a Masters degree in Math Education and taught Mathematics for 34 years in the Brainerd School District. Bill is an instrument rated pilot and he has his sea captain’s license. For his many years of service in the industry and for teaching and sharing his passion for diving with thousands of students and fellow divers, GLSPS would like to acknowledge and express our gratitude for his special contributions to the dive community.



Tamara Thompsen: GLSPS Special Acknowledgment Award


Tamara Thompsen has given generously of her time and talents to support GLSPS projects for over five years.


She has been a show speaker, a key instructor in our Discover Re-breather program, a key contributor to many to our National Register programs, generated international publicity for our work, and has been a moving force in arranging Put-It-Back projects. Tammy photographed the North Shore wrecks for Steve Daniel’s book Minnesota Shipwrecks Along the North Shore. Her unpaid contribution to the book brought the sites to life and added to the professional level of the publication.


As one of the top underwater still photographers of the Great Lakes, Tamara could reasonably command a high price for her photographic contributions to all of the GLSPS projects in which she participates. Instead she graciously donates the fruit of her amazing talents to the cause, which elevates all or our work to a more professional level. For her selfless donation of time and talent and for being a joy to work with, the GLSPS graciously recognizes and appreciates her contribution.

Tamara Thompsen has given generously of her time and talents to support GLSPS projects for over five years. She has been a show speaker, a key instructor in our Discover Re-breather program, a key contributor to many to our National Register programs, generated international publicity for our work, and has been a moving force in arranging Put-It-Back projects. Tammy photographed the North Shore wrecks for Steve Daniel’s book Minnesota Shipwrecks Along the North Shore. Her unpaid contribution to the book brought the sites to life and added to the professional level of the publication.

As one of the top underwater still photographers of the Great Lakes, Tamara could reasonably command a high price for her photographic contributions to all of the GLSPS projects in which she participates. Instead she graciously donates the fruit of her amazing talents to the cause, which elevates all or our work to a more professional level. For her selfless donation of time and talent and for being a joy to work with, the GLSPS graciously recognizes and appreciates her contribution.

Congratulations again to the Awards Winners and for their support they offer to the Upper Midwest Diving Industry.  

GLSPS Board of Directors