2024 Andrew Jackson Baratarian Cup Presented to Shelton “Buddy” Wilkes
The Andrew Jackson Baratarian Cup is awarded to a person, outside of the membership of the Krewe of Dominique Youx, that has made outstanding contributions to our community. Nominees are carefully considered and the final choice is made by a committee of current & past Board Members, KODY Kings and exemplary members of the Krewe of Dominique Youx. The Baratarian Cup is awarded at the Krewe of Dominique Youx Ball every fall, and this person serves as the Grand Marshall the following year at our Mardi Gras Parade.
We are pleased to share that the award this year was presented to Shelton “Buddy” Wilkes, a native Floridian born in Pensacola and resident of Bay County. Buddy once dreamed of careers in baseball and golf but found his true calling in Panama City Beach. After a stint in TV news, in 1976 he joined employment at Miracle Strip Amusement Park and started working toward the growth opportunities that helped turn PCB into a top resort destination that it is today. Throughout his career Buddy has worked alongside Panama City Beach businessmen such as Dominique Youx XXX Gary Walsingham, Charlie Hilton, Johnny Patronis, his mentor Jimmy Lark, Julian Bennett, and other beach business owners. Through challenges like hurricanes, oil spills, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Buddy has played a key role in growing the local tourism industry. During his acceptance Buddy thanked the Krewe of Dominique Youx for making their two biggest events a huge success – the Mardi Gras celebration and the Pirate Festival. He has since retired in 2023, having fulfilled his promise to make Panama City Beach a premier vacation spot.
