A Lake Mendota mariner, Don Sanford is a member of the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, past Commodore of the Mendota Yacht Club, and Commodore of the International Nite Ice Yacht Class Association. He holds a 100-ton Masters License, Great Lakes and Inland Waters. Since 2006, Don has been a captain for Betty Lou Cruises in Madison. He also hosts Madison School & Community Recreation’s (MSCR) Lake Mendota celebrity cruises.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Don grew up on the shores of Cazenovia Lake, where he first developed his interest in social history. He moved to Madison in 1976 to accept a position with Wisconsin Public Television (WPT). During nearly three decades at WPT, he served as lighting director, production manager, volunteer manager, and occasional on-air host. Don earned his B.S. degree in communications studies from the State University of New York at Oswego and his M.S. from Syracuse University in radio, television and film.