Celebrating the Legends of the OCBP
ON AUGUST 29, 1975, during the intermission of the Lifeguard Ball, Vince Hink and Jim Sullivan presented the first OCBP Hall of Fame plaques to T. John Carey (OCBP 1926-1937),
Tom Oves (OCBP 1951-1964), and Dick Thieler (OCBP 1958-1971).
“Guards Named to Hall of Fame” was the headline in September 1, 1975, Press of Atlantic City. The article included a statement from Mark Soifer, Ocean City’s public relations director: “This year’s lifeguards decided to honor past members of the beach patrol. Over the years the beach patrol here has been the leader in Cape May County for winning lifeguard competitions. The guards wanted to honor the men who had previously served and who had given the Ocean City Beach Patrol a glorious history.”
Since 1975, a total of 126 men and women have been inducted. This summer, at the annual reunion party, the following were added: Doug Bergen (rookie 1979), and Ryan Dunn (rookie 1997).
The members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol are proud of their history and record of accomplishments, and the reunion gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate the 128-year-old tradition of excellence in the lifesaving profession.
by Fred Miller