A Look Back
By Fred Miller
The Ocean City Beach Patrol will be celebrating its 126th anniversary at their 86th annual Reunion/Hall of Fame Party, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. The party will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Ocean City Historical Museum, 1735 Simpson Avenue. At 7 p.m., the party will move to the American Legion Post 524, 4562 West Avenue.
The reunion is always held the day after the South Jersey Lifeguard Championship. This summer the 84th annual rowing and swimming tournament will be held on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, on the 16th Street beach in Brigantine. The doubles rowing race will begin at 6:30 p.m.
This summer Duane Sonneborn (rookie 1960), Marty Gaal (rookie 1991), Sandy Wilson Greenberg (rookie 1997), and Emma Elmer (rookie 2009) will be inducted into the OCBP Hall of Fame. A total of 120 lifeguards have been inducted since 1975.
The 28th annual Robert Stowe Jr. Award will be awarded to Duane Sonneborn for his outstanding service and contributions to the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
The following are the Stowe Award winners: Fred Miller, George T. Lafferty, Chet Derr Jr., Thomas H. Heist III, Afred Bud McKinley, Vince Hink, Bill Dorney, Joe Grimes, Angelo Psaltis, Joe Schmitt, Anne Copeland Merrill, John McShane, Sam McDowell, Bob French, Jack Brooks, Bill Pugh, Russ Leary, Bob Speca, Jim Sullivan, Chuck Betson, Tom Mullineaux, S. John Loeper, Tony Mehalic, Bob Ogoreuc, Jeff Garbutt, Tom Oves, and Corby Derr.
The members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol are proud of their history and record of accomplishments, and the annual reunion gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate the 126-year-old tradition of excellence in the lifesaving profession.
