THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606130165
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 67 lines
Dr. Beau Killen practices medicine in Virginia Beach now, but for seven summer seasons he practiced pulling people out of the Atlantic Ocean.
The family practice physician worked as a lifeguard at the Oceanfront from 1968 until 1975.
``I never had any close calls. I did have to pull a lot of them out,'' said Killen, ``but I never had to resuscitate a swimmer.''
Killen was one of dozens of former lifeguards who attended Lifeguard Muster '96. The annual get-together convened at the Life-Saving Museum of Virginia last weekend.
The memories flowed like ocean currents. The lifeguards caught up on comings and goings, shared old sea stories and remembered those in their ranks who have passed away.
Mike Wood, who worked the beach during the '60s, wore a name tag that read Lt. Clarence ``Clancy'' Short, in memory of the life saver. Wood called Short, who died in 1987, ``a legend on this beach.''
He was a key figure in the early days of the lifeguard service, working for the late Dusty Hinnant, who helped form the lifeguard service in 1932. Hinnant's son, Kent, took over from his father and has modernized the business. His service now employs about 100 guards and as many attendants to rent umbrellas and chairs and such.
``We've tried to keep pace with the growth and revitalization of the city,'' said Hinnant. ``All the lifeguards have radios to maintain contact with each other and with the police and fire departments, with rescue services and so on. Everyone has CPR training.
``All the supervisors have emergency medical training certifications. Things have changed since the early days when the lifeguards had a whistle and a can buoy. We've tried to combine innovation and tradition. Not every beach has this organized kind of service.''
``Torrid'' Tim Wood, twin brother of Mike, wore a whistle and carried a can buoy from 1962 until 1970. He left Virginia Beach 25 years ago to become a film and print model in Europe. Wood, who was named Lifeguard of the Year in 1967, worked the stretch of sand at 14th Street near the pier.
``It was a dangerous area because of the way the water swirled around the pier, the rip tides and cross currents,'' he said.
Pete Smith worked as a lifeguard during the '50s. He went on to greater fame as one of the pioneers of local surfing and one of the founders of what was to become Pete Smith's Surf Shop. His uncle John Smith worked closely with Dusty Hinnant and Hugh Kitchin, also one of the founders of the life saving service.
``What I remember most was all the great people I worked with,'' said Pete Smith, standing with his wife, Dot, and young daughter, Sarah.
Former Virginia Beach Mayor Pat Standing is another ``grad'' of the beach service. ``I worked as a helper for two years and a lifeguard for three or four,'' he said.
Ann Dearman, who works at the museum, said she was a lifeguard - in Michigan. ``I never worked here, but I've been privileged to be part of this reunion,'' she said. ``We started out with 18 names four years ago. That has grown to a list of 400.
``This is a fund-raiser for the museum, too,'' she added.
Amid the merriment, Hinnant looked around and noted how many of his former lifeguards have gone on to succeed in life.
``We've had Harvard graduates, Wellesley,'' Hinnant said. ``I'd say 80 to 85 percent have gone on to college and graduated. Working with people who are that motivated is a big plus.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
``Torrid'' Tim Wood, who left Virginia Beach 25 years ago to become
a model in Europe, was named Lifeguard of the Year in 1967. by CNB