From the book, Lifeguards of San Diego County (by Michael T. Martino)

When the county supervisors eventually voted to fund a county lifeguard service, they approved enough money to have one man stationed at Solana, Encinitas-Leucadia, Del Mar, and Imperial Beaches.  The civil service test for those desiring a job with the new lifeguard service was held at Mission Beach on May 5, 1941.  Capt. Chuck Hardy, of the City of San Diego Lifeguard Service, along with San Diego police officers Paul Shea, George Evans, and Ed Stotler, served as judges for the exam.  Twenty eight candidates participated in the test, which included "handling of lifeboats, carrying lifelines, the use of resuscitators, the breaking of grips used by drowning persons, and pulling unconscious victims through pounding waves" according to the San Diego Union.  William Rumsey, a lieutenant for the City of San Diego lifieguard service, was the only one for appointment by the county as lifeguard captain.  On May 20, 1941, his first day as the newly appointed captain, Rumsey reported to work at Twenty-Fifth St. in Del Mar, where the first San Diego County Lifeguard headquarters was located.  In 1943, Rumsey and lifeguard John Rigon used lumber from Camp Callan at the Torrey Pines military base to build the County station in Solana Beach.

More recent SD County guards that worked the Del Mar beach included:  Knox Harris, Pat Kahlow, Jim Lathers, Bill Hunt, John Hunt, and Mike Considine.

At left, In 1942, Captain Bill Rumsey washes down the lifeguard vehicle, a 1935 Ford panel truck.  Rumsey was Captain of the County Lifeguards until his retirement on Sept. 7, 1960.  Pat Kahlow became captain when Rumsey retired.  He worked for the County until October of 1964.

Continue to next section:  Del Mar incorporates and starts its own lifeguard service, 1965.

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