Museum Director Person of the Year 

Four organizations and individuals were honored at the annual Governor's Tourism Awards in Rehoboth Beach on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001. 

Dale Clifton, director and founder of the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum in Fenwick Island, captured the big award when he was named the state's Travel and Tourism Person of the Year. 

The Travel and Tourism Person of the Year award recognizes an individual for strong leadership qualities, outstanding service and creativity in the Delaware tourism industry. 

Clifton opened the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum in 1996. The museum contains a large collection of shipwreck artifacts including pieces from the Atocha and local wrecks. 

Also winning from Sussex County were the Rehoboth Outlets for Best Targeted Demographic Campaign, the Lewes Gallery Owners for the Lewes Art Loop for Best Partnership, and the Hall of Fame Award for an Annual Event to the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce for its annual Spring and Fall Sidewalk Sales. 

The Rehoboth Outlets won the Best Targeted Demographic Campaign for its Club Platinum Program, which gives senior citizens discounts of 10 percent or more each Tuesday. The program, launched in May 2000, has more than 9,500 members. The Outlets credit the program with increasing Tuesday traffic by 13 percent. 

The Lewes Gallery Owners won Best Partnership for its Lewes Art Loop program that brings together six Lewes art galleries for artist demonstrations, book signings and refreshments. The group has hosted the Loop three times since 2000. 

The Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber has held its sidewalk sales since 1976. The event attracts more than 50,000 visitors with more than a third coming from out-of-state. A recent state study estimated the economic impact of the fall sale at $2 million.