Ramona Fan Brings the Thunder
By Johnny McDonald

Boltman's original costume was popular but harder to move in than the current one pictured below. Ramona Home Journal archive photo

Like many other Charger fans, he holds a season ticket and attends every home game at Qualcomm Stadium.

From that point, the similarity ends. He takes on the role of Boltman, traveling through the Plaza section, boosting the noise level as he leads cheers and entertains fans with his high-spirited personality.

Ramona's Dan Jauregui has been donning a uniform since 1995, first as the contracted Charger image and now as the Boltman figure. The 41-year-old family man's day jobs are as a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Ramona and as a part-time Ramona Unified School District bus driver. He has lived in Ramona 30 years.

He was hired by the Chargers to be their mascot in 1995, and for two years, wore a costume boosting the Charger lightning logo, with his muscle arms and legs sticking out.

"But the club and I went our separate ways because, basically, the salary wasn't meeting my expenses," he said.

Photo Courtesy of Boltman

Rather than just settle in his seat for a full game, Jauregui decided to assume a new role, which meant a new image, that of a "supercharged" lightning bolt super hero character.

"It was beneficial for me to be independent," he said. "I own the character copyrights and trademark to Boltman, which allows me to market myself without any interference with NFL properties and the San Diego Chargers. I was not able to do this under contract with the team."

Attired in a white. blue and gold Charger uniform, with a muscle suit underneath and a custom-built fiberglass helmet, the unofficial mascot gives the stadium a boost of excitement.

He's in the suit for about five to six hours, and unlike Superman, he changes clothes in an RV in the parking lot.

"Kept my identify secret," he added. "Needed to have some mystery."

"It takes me a quarter and a half just to get through the Plaza area because people want to take pictures and get autographs. In 10 years, I have never had a fan give me a bad time."

He says among NFL mascots, the one in Kansas City is the highest paid at $80,000 and the lowest is $35,000 for Dallas' character. With special appearances, the potential is $100,000, according to the Boltman.

He says his wife of 22 years, Dalene, loves it and has a better understanding of why he continues to don the uniform after witnessing the enthusiasm the fans have for Boltman on game day.

How long does he intend to continue?

"Realistically, if we (the Chargers) were to go to a Super Bowl this could be my last year," he answered. "I need to concentrate on my real estate career."

"Winning or losing seasons, my allegiance is to the San Diego Chargers. I am proud to say that I am a charger fan, and that is why I became Boltman."