Monday, February 29, 2016

Jack and Jerry Cunningham... Lifeguard Brothers

L2R, Jack and Jerry Cunningham... back in the day.  Photo courtesy of Mike Cunningham.

Just in from LACoFD Lifeguard Capt. (Ret.), Mike Cunningham:

Hi Will,

Here are a couple of old photos of my dad, Jack Cunningham, and uncle, Jerry Cunningham back in the day. 

Jerry Cunningham was one of the original Manhattan Beach Surf Club members, with notables like Greg Noll, Dale Velzy, Bing Copeland, and others.

Jerry was a US Navy pilot during the Korean War, and came back to lifeguarding after that.  He participated in the 1952 Olympic Trials with El Segundo Water Polo, and was a finalist for the National Team selection. 

Jerry was elected president of LACOLA for a few terms and was instrumental in lobbying Sacramento in the addition of our lifeguard profession being recognized in law as a true "Safety" agency...A profession where the inherent dangers of our rescue work was finally recognized. This would prove to be invaluable for future retirements of all permanent lifeguards and their agencies.

He rose through the ranks to Assistant Director during the formation of the Department of Beaches and its Director, Dick Fitzgerald. He assisted in the mergers of L A City and Santa Monica as budget saving strategies after the passage of Prop 13.  He later became acting Director of Beaches and was finally appointed Director of Beaches...a position he held until he retired shortly after our merger with the Department of Small Crafts Harbors.

His revenue-generating RV lot in Dockweiler Beach is still in existence and is still the only beach-side RV site in Los Angeles County.

Photo courtesy of Mike Cunningham

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*** Many thanks to Mike for sharing his remarks & photos with us.  Rest in peace, Jerry. ***

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And as previously advised by Jerry's son, Tim (via our "Lifeguard Alumni"):

Jerry Cunningham: Rest In Peace
From: Lifeguard Alumni
Subject: Passing of Jerry Cunningham
Date: February 6, 2016 at 11:25:29 PM PST

Just received this sad news from Tim Cunningham.

Gentlemen,

It was with a very sad heart that I inform you that my father, Jerry Cunningham, passed away tonight at 6:30 after a brave 30 hours in Torrance Memorial Hospital. Although he never regained consciousness after suffering a massive heart attack at South End Health Club late morning on Feb. 5, he received the Catholic Last Rites on Feb. 5, and was surrounded by friends and family for the entire 30 hours, and we were with him when he took his final breath exactly four months to the day after his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Gerrie, passed away. He and my Mom, Gerrie, can now be together once again...

Love and Aloha Dad,
Tim

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Respectfully submitted,

"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

It's HOT HOT HOT !...

Dateline: Mid Afternoon, Tuesday, February 16, 2016... from the bluffs above the beach in Santa Monica, Calif... Another day of 80 plus degrees on the sand!..... Is it Summer?!...


SMN Tower #15



*** Video Alert ! ***

February Heat Wave: The Video

     https://youtu.be/_343yqbj9Fc


Tower #12


 ... and according to an unnamed source at CSHQ, the OL working Tower #12 in the photo below is none other than Collin Goddard.
 






Tower #8



10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos and videos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2016.)

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Monday, February 15, 2016

President's Day Central Section Reconn...

Dateline: Monday, February 15, 2016... late afternoon on President's Day we conducted a reconnaissance of Will Rogers, Santa Monica North and then got an extra credit bonus air and sea training operation being conducted by the USCG and one of our Baywatch rescue boats!...  see for yourself...




Will Rogers Tower #8, below...


Will Rogers Tower #4 is open too!...


Atten Hut!... WRHQ




Will Rogers Tower #18 open for business too......




With air temps over 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the sand.... lots of people decided to go to the beach to celebrate the holiday...


*** Video Alert ! ***

Central Section Overview: The Video

     https://youtu.be/TgJZeQrCKH0



... and check out the cars lined up in the parking lot behind Will Rogers Tower #8 at Temescal Cyn Road and PCH... the limited options for circulating traffic continue to reveal this to be one heck of a bottleneck...  Perhaps some signage directing beach patrons to exit south of WRHQ or the more recently added exit from the parking lot north of Temescal Cyn. Road.  This entrance and exit is a real issue for lifeguard personnel as well.



 Good call opening Tower #4 with people on the sand and in the ocean...


Veteran LACo OL Bill White, on duty, below, at Will Rogers Tower #8... fully in the glare of the sun's rays!...


And out to sea... we notice a USCG Helicopter training in tandem with one of our Lifeguard Rescue Boats.....


*** Video Alert ! ***

USCG and Baywatch: Video #1

     https://youtu.be/Rlk6-8ZUzTA



*** Video Alert ! ***

USCG and Baywatch: Video #2


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.... and 'they' do say that the salt air is good for us..... so why not a salt water spritzer...... 




 10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

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(All photos & videos by and Copyright Will Maguire 2016.)

p.s. Don't forget to smell the ros..., er, flowers...


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Friday, February 12, 2016

Strafing Northern Section...

Dateline: Friday, February 12, 2016 from 0800 hrs...



View from Paradise Cove Beach Cafe... open for breakfast... with free validated parking until 10 a.m...







OLS Kelby at Pt. Dume Station... someone has to do it.....




Are you thinking what I'm thinking?!... Shouldn't these two kids (look like brothers) be in school?!...
:-)



 Sneaker Wave Alert!...


Surf out front of PDS...



Pt. Dume!...




Someone is opening up Tower #5... lucky puppy!...


Pt. Dume Reserve...


Exiting Northern Section... passing Corral


the bu


Duke's!... venue of many a lifeguard retirement party.....


Las Tunas construction... back in Central unscathed.....


Topanga!...


Topanga South


Will Rogers North, Tower #2... notice they've put the tower in the parking lot because of El Nino storm surge.....




10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2016.)

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