MY THREE SONS: Galveston Texas, part 1

May 2, 2010

Galveston Texas, part 1

I just returned from Galveston, Texas where I spent 5 day with lifeguards from around the country including Hawaii. I went with the above group from Chicago as representatives from the Great Lakes Region.(WI is part of the Great Lakes region and also had representatives there) The only current lifeguard above is Erin. The rest of us are retired. Joe Pecoraro (bottom left) hired me almost 31 years ago to guard Calumet Beach on Chicago's Southeast side. He is and always has been an inspiration to all

(Joe pec's bio below from wikipedia)

In 1949, he took a summer job as a lifeguard at North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan[1] and never left except for a two-year stint in the U.S. Army Field Artillery (where he taught swimming to the First Cavalry Division in Tokyo). Mr. Pecoraro's spent much of his service at North Avenue Beach.

In 1974, he became manager for all of Chicago’s beaches and pools, overseeing swimming instruction, scuba instruction, lifeguard recruitment and training. He was president of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) (1983–1991) and continues on its Board of Directors. He travels to public health and safety conferences and among other organizations is a member of Lifesaving Associations of the United States, Ireland, Australia, Germany and F.I.S. (Federational International au Sauvetage). He has authored Chicago’s “Lifeguard Pamphlet” and “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Pamphlet”.

He is viewed by many current guards to be a role model.

Recently Mr. Pecoraro wrote a book detailing his time in the Service, "Naked Rescue".

Here are some of my favorite shots from our trip. Many of my photos were used by the USLA's photographer for the closing banquet slide show...YEAH, I was honored and thrilled