25th Annual Texas Scottish Festival

[Morris at Heathfield]

From what I could find online and elsewhere, "Torf" is a nickname, whether assumed or acquired I don't know, for Louis Torfason, a resident of the Austin area. He is presumably a kiltmaker, but he appears to have no online presence except for in secondhand business listings. As Zardoz said, he may be largely unaware of the Internet.

I remember his nickname from previous games. In 2009 he was on the program offering a seminar on Scottish castles. I have never attended the Scottish castles seminar. In both 2009 and 2011 he is listed in the program guide as a "sustaining patron", as well as a member of the festival committee, in charge of the photo contest. (I did not attend the games in 2010, and can't seem to find my program guide from 2008).

I also noted his use of the word "registered", when "recorded", or perhaps "named", would be more apt. I don't remember his exact words, but when someone asked him how one would find what tartans had been registered, Torf seemed to indicate that such a resource didn't exist, which makes one wonder how he obtained the data for his graph. He also indicated that Lord Lyon registered the tartans, but seemed to be completely unaware of the Scottish Register of Tartans. See what Zardoz said above.

Regarding the dates for knife pleats, buckles, and 8-yard kilts, I wondered if he meant their near-universal adoption by the military or their widespread use by civilians, rather than their first introduction. That would make his timeline look a little better. Still, the average person would expect him to be referring to the date of introduction.

On the plus side, his information on the construction of the belted plaid was accurate from what I could tell.

The seminar was titled "The History and Wearing of the Kilt". I know Torf used So You're Going to Wear the Kilt! as a reference for the "wearing" part, but I'm not certain what sources he used for the "history" part.

I can't speak on behalf of the Texas Scottish Festival, but I believe we have one or more members here who are on the festival committee. Or at least the festival mailing list.

[WillieMacG]

I met this fellow at the Texas festival a few years ago and in the course of a few minutes conversation decided he was at the very least a bit of an "odd duck." I'm not a bit surprised that he calls Austin home.

[KiltedGunn]

Yeah, Torf is both a Character and a Fixture at TSF. I remember running into him in the Press Box when last we were there in 2003...I'd just bought my first Utilikilt and shed my great kilt because of the heat. Torf made some snide comment I don't recall.

This year, the wife and I again ran into him getting onto the elevator for the Press Box (if you aren't familiar, the Press Box is air-conditioned and has ice water, etc...the wife insists we buy patron tickets solely so that we can have access to the a/c! But I digress... ). Torf tells me he doesn't recognize my tartan, and I explained it was the LEO Memorial tartan.

Oh, he says, Gestapo.

I just smiled and explained that my Gestapo tartan is predominantly black and dark grey with blood red stripes, but it absorbs too much heat in sunlight so I generally only wear that one during night raids. He gravely nodded his head as if absorbing it all and I would not be the least surprised if the Gestapo tartan I mentioned wasn't part of his presenation next year!

My wife was able to hold her laughter until we parted at the bottom of the elevator, but only just barely!

[Zardoz]

Folks need to realize that people identified as "a character" in Texas would usually be called "mad" elsewhere.

[Gunny5711]

Folks need to realize that people identified as "a character" in Texas would usually be called "mad" elsewhere.

That is true.

[WillieMacG]

Folks need to realize that people identified as "a character" in Texas would usually be called "mad" elsewhere.

Hey! I resemble that remark!