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Photo courtesy of Paul SchillingON GUARD: Several former lifeguards were on hand for the city’s anniversary celebration and rededication of the Main Beach tower. Pictured are Bill Walter, left, Ralph Kinney, Curtis Bums, Malcolm Miller, Paul Schilling, George Bronner and Day Tawney.GUARDSFROM PAGE 3in town .”Lockwood told the crowd the Laguna Beach lifeguards had set such a good safety record that for seven decades there has only been one drowning on a guarded beach.He also said that despite the increase in beach attendance, now in the millions every year, Laguna’s record is still the best one on the coast.Bill Sorrells, who guarded from 1955 to 1957, came from his home in the valley to see the dedication.“I’m thrilled to death to be here,” he said. “I almost started crying. Seeing the newly renovated lifeguard tower is like a regenesis of the spirit of the Laguna Beach lifeguards.That’s what the difference is between the Laguna Beach lifeguards and all the others, not to mention the record of life saving.”Paul Schilling graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1937 and started guarding that summer.“This brings back old memories of my salad days,” he said. “The girls were beautiful and life was sweet.”Schilling said that his most treasured memory was that in the time he was guarding there was never a life lost.He recounted one scary event in which he was enshrined in a really big wave during a rescue.“The waves were really big and I didn’t know which way was up,” he said. “Then my foot hit bottom and I kicked up.”Seeing all his fellow lifeguards, Schilling said “it is such a pleasure to review old times and renew old friendships”Rob Patterson, a veteran guard and a fire captain with the Orange County Fire Authority, enjoyed seeing all the old guards.“Lifeguarding is mostly seasonal, every year you wouldcome back and see guys you worked with,” he said. “Seeing these guys that have been around for such a long time, they’re fit, looking good and their inspirational. It fires you up about doing the right thing for the community ”Patterson said that he thanks all the people in town who made this happen and made the City Council aware that this had to happen.“This is why people come to Laguna Beach,” he said. “The ocean, the beach and the protection of those resources is what makes this city work.” The lifeguard tower, standing in its new mantle of white and blue adorned in new tiles delicately placed by renowned artist Mario Bartels, cast its shadow on a new group of summer lifeguards just going out for their morning training.“For a lifeguard, this tower gets a lot of use,” said Patterson. “ It’s like an ant farm.“This is where we train the younger guards. This command center trains them totake action in the independentcoves.”“Living here, I’ve seen this tower all my life,” said Henry Plant, 17, who is guarding for his second season this summer. Seeing it refurbished means a lot to me.When people think of our town, they think of the lifeguard tower and its setting on Main Beach.”“Thanks to the concerted community effort, our contemporary generation of Laguna Beach lifeguards will have a head start with an almost brand new Main Beach lifeguard tower,” said Lockwood.“All of us, current and former guards alike, know that before the sun sets on this special dedication day, this old tower will see the saving of at least another life or two.”With a ribbon cutting ceremony and proclamation by Mayor Wayne Baglin, the tower was officially rededicated and put into action once again.
Newspaper Details
Irvine World News
Irvine, California, US
Thu, Jul 04, 2002
Page 52
Full Page
Clipped by
Mike M.
USA 12 Apr 2022
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