About Us
About Friends of Padre
Friends of Padre is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the wild beauty of Padre Island, one of the longest stretches of undeveloped barrier island in the world.
Founded to support the legacy of conservationist Captain Billy Sandifer, our primary mission is to fund and organize the annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup, a massive volunteer effort that has removed more than 3.2 million pounds of trash from the remote 4WD-only shoreline since 1995.
But our work doesn’t stop there.
We raise awareness about the importance of Padre Island’s fragile ecosystems—its sea turtle nesting grounds, bird migration pathways, and dune systems—and empower individuals and communities to get involved in protecting them.
Friends of Padre is a 501 C3 Nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and betterment of Padre Island and the people and wildlife that call it home.
of trash removed from Padre Island beaches
volunteers for the Big Shell Beach Cleanup
years strong of annual cleanups
Executive Board Members
Captain Billy Sandifer
Founder & President Emeritus (1947–2018)
Captain Billy Sandifer was many things: decorated veteran, commercial fisherman, surf guide, conservationist, writer, and coastal philosopher. But above all, he was a relentless protector of Padre Island—a man who turned his love of wild places into action.
Born in Alice, Texas, Billy’s early life was spent hunting and fishing with his grandfather. After serving multiple tours in Vietnam and Guantanamo Bay with the Navy Seabees and Harbor Police, and working in U.S. Customs, Billy eventually returned to Texas. Frustrated by society and longing for solitude, he lived alone down-island, surviving off the land and sea.
Over time, his deep connection to the land evolved into purpose. In 1991, he became the first federally licensed fishing guide on Padre Island National Seashore. And in 1995, he founded the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup, rallying thousands of volunteers to remove millions of pounds of trash from the island’s remote shorelines.
Billy’s work earned him numerous conservation awards, but his greatest legacy lives in the people and landscapes he touched. Through his logs, columns, and coastal reports, he educated generations of outdoorsmen about the importance of stewardship. And through Friends of Padre—founded to ensure the cleanup would live on—his spirit still rides the tide.
Billy passed away in 2018, but his mission continues. His life reminds us that one determined person, fueled by grit and love for the land, can make an outsized difference.
Aaron Scott Baxter
President
Aaron Scott Baxter has spent a lifetime immersed in the outdoors. Born during a rare snowstorm on Galveston Island, his earliest memories are tied to sand, surf, and saltwater. Raised between Galveston and Spring, Texas, Aaron’s childhood was filled with fishing creeks for bass, catching turtles and snakes, and learning to respect the natural world from the ground up.
His passion for nature was shaped by his time as a Boy Scout, and guided by the mentorship of his grandfathers and stepfather. Drawn to the coast, Aaron moved to Corpus Christi in 2000 and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology from Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, studying under fellow Friends of Padre board member Dr. David McKee.
Aaron now works as a university research scientist on projects that support the very ecosystems he grew up exploring—shorebirds, blue crabs, terrapins, and water quality in the Laguna Madre. A lifelong “plugger” and conservation-minded outdoorsman, Aaron also enjoys hunting, birding, and writing music. He shares his deep connection to nature with his daughter, Sagan, and believes strongly in passing down a sense of stewardship to the next generation.
As President of Friends of Padre, Aaron brings scientific insight, field experience, and heartfelt dedication to protecting the wild beauty of Padre Island.
Tyler Thorsen
Vice President
For Tyler Thorsen, fishing isn’t just a pastime—it’s a lifelong passion. Born in Los Angeles but raised across the U.S., Tyler developed a love for the outdoors in every state he called home. From fishing for salmon in Washington State with his Uncle Si to bass fishing Texas lakes with his father, his love for wild places grew with every cast.
A chance surf fishing trip in 1997 with Captain Billy Sandifer introduced Tyler to Padre Island’s rugged beauty—and left a lasting mark. From fumbling a trout hookup to accidentally pranking Billy with a fake reel drag sound, that trip began a friendship and mentorship that changed the course of Tyler’s life. Within a year, he moved his family from Seattle to Corpus Christi to live closer to the coast that had captured his heart.
Tyler quickly became a respected member of the island fishing community. He created corpusfishing.com, launched a weekly fishing segment on local radio, and served as a regular surf fishing contributor for Saltwater Angler. Over the years, he’s served on multiple conservation and advisory boards, including Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Spotted Seatrout Work Group and the Corpus Christi CCA chapter.
Tyler’s passion for fishing, conservation, and sharing knowledge made him a natural fit for Friends of Padre, where he continues to serve as Vice President and advocate for protecting the coast that welcomed him so fully.
Jeff Wolda
Vice President
Jeff Wolda grew up on the banks of the Texas ship channel with a coffee can full of dead shrimp and a love for fishing that’s never left him. Born and raised in Houston, his earliest experiences were shaped by fishing trips with his father and grandfather, Frank Wolda, and visiting shrimp boat docks to see the day’s catch firsthand.
After high school, Jeff answered a different call—enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 9 years and earned multiple medals during deployments to Bosnia, Somalia, and beyond. When his military service ended, Jeff returned to Texas, rediscovering his passion for fishing with frequent trips to Corpus Christi.
A single charter with legendary guide Billy Sandifer in 2004 changed everything. That day on Padre Island sparked not only a renewed love for surf fishing but a mentorship that shaped Jeff’s future. Billy and his wife, Joy, took Jeff under their wing—sharing knowledge, history, and the soul of the island with him.
Jeff became a fixture on the beach, serving as a section leader during Big Shell Cleanups, contributing to research with the Harte Institute, and sharing surf reports and articles in Coastal Angler Magazine. In 2012, with Billy’s blessing, Jeff became a licensed guide on Padre Island National Seashore, carrying forward a legacy of conservation, education, and coastal adventure.
As Vice President of Friends of Padre, Jeff’s focus is as clear as ever: preserve the island he loves and pass on its stories, spirit, and secrets.