The sunny, hot weather and wide beaches drew record crowds to the 8-mile-long oceanfront and made the summer of 2011 a very busy season for the Ocean City Beach Patrol. The 165-member squad, nationally known for its lifesaving skills and athletic prowess, was prepared. Under the leadership of the officer corps, the lifeguards upheld the patrol’s 113-year-old tradition of excellence in protecting beach users.  The OCBP, a branch of the city’s fire department, is led by Fire Chief Joseph Foglio, OCBP Director of Operations Tom Mullineaux, Senior Lt. Jeff Garbutt, Senior Lt. Dennis Swan, Lt. …

One hundred years ago on Sept. 28, 1911, Police Chief Samuel B. Scull asked Lifeguard Captain Alfred R. Smith and his men to help with control of the crowds at the Hippodrome Building on the Boardwalk, where Gov. Woodrow Wilson was going to speak. At 8 o’clock that evening, Gov. Wilson spoke of what he had accomplished since his election as chief executive of New Jersey, and what he hoped would come in the future. At the conclusion of his talk, he shook hands with many of the people at the meeting, including Captain Smith. Wilson was elected president of the United States 13 months later. …

Lifeguard Captain Alfred R. Smith’s end-of-the-summer report to Mayor Lewis M. Cresse 100 years ago contained the following information: “In more ways than one, the season has been the most successful Ocean City has ever experienced, not a drowning accident occurring. “Although the beach has been exceptionally free from holes and bad offsets, there still have been a number of rescues, which might have proven fatal if it had not been for the promptness and efficiency of the guards. “There is no question that there has been more bathing this season than ever, and the manner in which the beach …

The Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger on June 25, 1957, reported that Ocean City Beach Patrol Captain Thomas Williams hired 12 new lifeguards. The article named the rookies, and Joe Schmitt was on the list. Thus began a career that would last 55 summers. Schmitt, 72, announced on Aug. 15 this was his last year on the patrol. The 2011 OCBP yearbook devoted a full page to Schmitt, saluting him for his 55 years of service. It included the following information: longest serving beach patrol member in the history of the OCBP; United States Lifesaving Association national champion; founder of Masters …

Ocean City’s Anne Monihan won the women’s division of the Atlantic City Pageant Ocean Swim for the second straight year on Sept. 10, 1938. The best brother and sister swimmers in New Jersey 73 years ago were Bob and Anne Monihan. It was Bob’s second year on the Ocean City Beach Patrol, but his sister was not eligible, since ocean lifeguarding was strictly a male profession in those days. It wasn’t until 1976 that the OCBP hired a female lifeguard. Judy Lichtner joined the OCBP on June 21, 1976, after she scored high in the three-day rookie competition.   The 82nd annual Atlantic City Pageant …

On Aug. 11, 1950, the trophy winners in the Ocean City Beach Patrol intrasquad swim race were, from left, Barney Hungerford (first place), Paul Geithner (second place) and Farrell Devlin (third place). A week later, they all competed in the South Jersey Lifeguard Championship. Hungerford won the South Jersey swim, while Geithner finished in fourth place.  Ocean City’s Jim Macallister and Frank Schiesser won the doubles rowing race, giving the OCBP their second straight South Jersey title. The OCBP swimmers have won a total of 27 South Jersey titles. Atlantic City Beach Patrol is a distant …

Ocean City Beach Patrol’s Paul Mangen, left, celebrates with his coach, Bill Dorney, after he won the swim event at the South Jersey Lifeguard Championship on Aug. 16, 2010. It was the third time Mangen won the South Jersey swim title. Dorney placed second in the swim in the 1971 race, crossing the finish line seconds behind Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan.   There have been 65 South Jersey swim races since 1945 and Ocean City swimmers have won a total of 27 times. Atlantic City Beach Patrol is a distance second with a total of 13 wins. The Ocean City Lifesaving Museum, Bayside Center, 520 Bay …

John B. Kelly congratulates Ocean City lifeguards Jack Kelly and Joe Regan on their victory in the doubles rowing race at the sixth annual South Jersey Lifeguard Championship in 1944. The 72nd annual South Jersey Lifeguard Championship will be held 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, on the Decatur Avenue beach in Margate. Dave Kelley with be inducted into the OCBP Hall of Fame and lifeguard Jack Brooks with receive the 15th annual Stowe Award on Saturday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the OCBP reunion party at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro in Somers Point. Call Fred Miller for reunion information, 609-398-…

Ocean City Beach Patrol won both events at the 1968 South Jersey Lifeguard Championship to capture its eighth straight title. Dave Smith (left) and Bob Young (right) won the doubles rowing race, and Dave Kelley won the swim race. The 72nd annual South Jersey Lifeguard Championship will be held 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, on the Decatur Avenue beach in Margate. Dave Kelley will be inducted into the OCBP Hall of Fame, and lifeguard Jack Brooks will receive the 15th annual Stowe Award at the OCBP reunion party at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro in Somers Point at 7 p.m. Aug. 13. Check out the Ocean …

The Ocean City Beach Patrol won its 10th straight South Jersey Lifeguard Swim Meet 42 years ago on August 23, 1969, at the Mainland Recreation Association pool in Linwood. The award-winning swimmers were (from left) Dave Kelley, Bruce Wigo, Dave Gleason, Steve Kennedy, Dennis Carey and Bill Lafferty. The 69th annual South Jersey Lifeguard Swim Meet will be held 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Ocean City Aquatics and Fitness Center pool. OCBP has won seven of the last 10 meets. Dave Kelley will be inducted into the OCBP Hall of Fame during the reunion party at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro in …

Ocean City lifeguards (from left) George Becker, Al Reichenbach and T. John Carey won the surfboard rescue event 75 years ago at the 1936 National Lifeguard Championships. Atlantic City, the host patrol, won the team title followed by Ventnor, Ocean City, Miami Beach, Bradley Beach, Rockaway Beach and Margate.  This summer, the Ocean City Beach Patrol will be competing in the 2011 National Lifeguard Championships in Cape May August 4 to 6.  The 32nd annual T. John Carey Masters Ocean Swim will be held 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23, on the 34th Street beach in Ocean City. Check out the Ocean …

The Ocean City Beach Patrol won the Longport Women’s Lifeguard Invitational a year ago by scoring in four of the five events. The OCBP women scored 19 points, one more than the Longport women, and four more than Upper Township. The champions kneeling from left: Brittany Sedberry, Jill Smaniotto, Erin Curry; standing, Emma Elmer, Kelly Scheirer, Carly Wray, Shawnee Foglio, Stephanie Hauck and Senior Lt. Jeff Garbutt.  Ocean City and Ventnor have dominated the tournament since it began in 1998. Ocean City has won five events and Ventnor has won seven. The only other winner was Longport in 1999…

The Ocean City Beach Patrol won five of the six events at the 2010 Cape May County Lifeguard Championships to win the team title. The team posed with the trophy: (from left) Andrew Mockaitis, Dylan Kosten, Tony Mehalic, Dan Casey, Andrew Carter, Jeff Garbutt, Paul Mangen, Sean Fagan and Matt Garbutt. Holding the trophy, in front, is the next generation of Garbutts:  J.J., Cole and Liam.  Ocean City has won seven of the 10 county championships in the past decade. The 28th annual Cape May County Lifeguard Championships will be held 6 p.m. Friday, July 8, on the Rambler Road beach in Wildwood …

The 1936 Ocean City Beach Patrol posed for its annual group picture 75 years ago with Captain Jack G. Jernee, Commissioner George D. Richards and Beach Surgeon C. Eugene Darby. At the time, a total of 54 lifeguards were on duty protecting bathers at 14 locations. This summer, 150 lifeguards will be protecting bathers at 42 locations.  The OCBP group pictures are proudly displayed in the Lifesaving Museum, 520 Bay Ave., and in Bob’s restaurant at 14th Street and the Boardwalk. A list of all OCBP lifeguards from 1898 to 2011 is posted on the Ocean City Rowing & Athletic Association’s website (…

“HARRIS SHATTERS DISCUS STANDARD” was the headline in the June 21, 1941, New York Times. A smaller banner reported “Toss of 174 feet 8 ¾ inches in N.C.A.A. Meet on Coast Breaks World Record.” Archie Harris, a 1937 graduate of Ocean City High School, was a senior at Indiana University when he broke the world record at the NCAA track and field championships in Palo Alto, CA. Harris spent his summers during high school and college working as a lifeguard on the Ocean City Beach Patrol. He left the OCBP to fight in World War II. After graduating from Tuskegee Flight School, Harris chalked up 10,…

The intra-squad and inter-city rowing, swimming, running and paddling races are designed to improve lifesaving skills, keep the lifeguards in good physical condition and develop esprit de corps. The first inter-city competition, the 28th annual Cape May County Lifeguard Championships, will held 6 p.m. Friday, July 8, on the Rambler Road beach in Wildwood Crest. The Ocean City Beach Patrol won the county tournament last summer by winning five of the six events: Andrew Mockaitis and Dylan Kosten  the doubles row; Andrew Carter the rescue board race; Paul Mangen the swim; Matt Garbutt the …

Lifeguard tryouts this year will be 9 a.m. June 11 and 12 on the First Street beach. The competitive tryouts have always involved a combination of ocean swimming, rowing and running. Go to ocnj.us for an application form.  _____________________ See also: Michael McMahon's "Then and Now" historical photos, which run every Saturday.

On Memorial Day 1931, Ocean City Beach Patrol Captain Jack G. Jernee hitched a lifeboat to a Ford Model “A” in front of the beach patrol’s winter headquarters at Seventh Street and Haven Avenue. He took the lifeboat to the 10th Street beach, where lifeguards Ralph Clayton and Marley Fitzgerald rowed it a short distance from the beach and placed a wreath on the ocean to honor the U.S. Navy's war dead.  The OCBP’s wreath laying tradition continues this Memorial Day at 9:15 a.m. May 30 on the beach beside the Ocean City Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace. _____________________ See also: Michael …

Photographer Donald B. Kravitz took this picture of Mayor Henry “Bud” Knight and internationally famous model Petra Nemcova turning the Ocean City Beach Patrol’s gold key to unlock the Atlantic Ocean on May 28, 2004. This annual event will be held at noon Friday, May 27, 2011, on the beach beside the Ocean City Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace.  This will be followed by the Business Persons’ Plunge.  People in business attire will march into the ocean to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” to welcome the summer of 2011._____________________ See also: Michael McMahon's "Then and Now" …