75th Anniversary Celebration of the Lifeguard Service
The 75th Anniversary Celebration: August 3-5, 2025 in Huntington Beach, CA.
To honor 75 years of pubic service, Lifeguard Services are authorized to wear a special Badge and Patch.
Hosted at the Orange Coast District, by the California State Lifeguard Association, hundreds of current and former California State Parks lifeguards, family members and supporters gathered at Huntington State Beach (SB) for a historic three-day celebration to honor the colorful 75-year history of Service, Vigilance, & Endurance of the California State Lifeguards. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, each night featured a different theme:
- Night 1 was a social gathering and included special presentations to California State Parks' first female lifeguard, Sally Tuttle, an in-memoriam video and the premiere of "The Evolution of the California State Park Lifeguards" movie followed by music, dancing, socializing and historical displays.
- Night 2 was an evening of awards honoring extraordinary acts of heroism and lifetime service. Two new honors were introduced, the Robert J. Isenor Award and the David A. Perry Distinguished Service Award. The naming of the Distinguished Service Award in honor of David A. Perry was a surprise reveal, with Perry himself on hand to present and receive recognition.
- Night 3 was an evening of storytelling, featuring food, music and socializing followed by three panels highlighting Women in Lifeguarding, Surf Watch Rescue Boats, and North Coast Lifeguarding.
From its roots in the early 20th century, State Parks' Lifeguard service has evolved into a modern, highly trained rescue force responsible for patrolling over 340 miles of coastline and over 970 miles of lake and river frontage within the California State Park System.
Please see the below links of the 75th Anniversary Celebration:
- Night 1 Photos by Tony Lattimore.
- Event photos by Brian Baer.
- "In Memoriam" video by Mike Brousard.
- Historical Photo Displays by Steve Hicks.
- "The Evolution of the California State Park Lifeguards" movie by Mike Brousard.
- Awards Ceremony Video by Michelle Figueroa.
- Lifeguard Training Program Historical Records.
