A Look Back
By Fred Miller
Jack G. Jernee was captain of the Ocean City Beach Patrol from 1920 to 1942. As the summer of 1934 began he was busy preparing for the National Lifeguard Tournament. It was going to be held on the 10th Street beach on July 26, 1934. The object of the tournament was to develop improved methods of lifesaving.
Two championships were to be decided at the meet: National Team Lifeguard Championship; and National Individual Lifeguard Champion.
A total of 206 lifeguards representing 17 lifesaving squads from all over the country met on the 10th Street at 1:30. They were ready to compete in eight swimming and rowing events hoping to take home a national championship trophy.
Captain Jernee designed a logo for the event. It was a ring buoy with two oars crossing over the drawing of a lifeboat.
It was an intense day of competition and when all the points were added up, the OCBP was the clear winner scoring 37 points, ten more than the second-place team from Jones Beach, N.Y. The top finishers were: Jacob Riis Park, Atlantic City, Wildwood, Ventnor, Miami Beach, Avalon, Cape May, and Rockaway Beach.
Ocean City lifeguard T. John Carey won the Individual National Lifeguard Championship.
