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Mystic Krewe Losing Fine Pirate

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By JEFF PATTERSON

jpatterson@wfla.com

Published: February 6, 2009

Boyd Wynne may be the most photographed pirate in history.

For decades, Wynne has been the goodwill ambassador for Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, serving as chairman of the special events committee. With his pirate makeup and ever-present fake parrot perched on his shoulder, Wynne shines in front of a camera. His image has appeared in national magazines, local newspapers and television and, undoubtedly, countless scrapbooks.

This Gasparilla parade, though, will be Wynne's last as a member of the krewe.

Wynne, 65, says that after years of traveling across the nation promoting Tampa and the Gasparilla invasion, it's time to move on, to allow younger people to take the reins.

"We need to have younger people involved in it, getting new ideas, having new opportunities," he said.

C. Logan Lane has been Wynne's friend for more than 40 years. "Boyd always works for the city of Tampa," Lane said. "He always promotes the city of Tampa, whether you're in Las Vegas or you're in Toronto."

As members of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla special events committee, Wynne and Lane have traveled the country on Southwest Airlines to talk about Tampa and Gasparilla. "We would drop everything we were doing, costume up and go promote Tampa," Lane said.

Wynne, who is the sales manager for a company that markets food-processing equipment, joined Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla when he returned to his native Tampa after flying combat missions in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star and Purple Heart.

When his service was over, many of his childhood friends already had joined Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and they invited him in.

He was a natural, mugging for the camera, marching down Bayshore Boulevard.

"We have a standing rule in the special events committee," Lane said. "Do not get between Boyd and the camera."

News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson can be reached at (813) 486-7448.

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