The beach has been beautiful with few people. Our last day for tower lifeguards for the season was last Sunday.
We’ll still be running patrols the first two weekends of November. During the next three months, we will be regrouping and getting ready for next year.
Even with our five-person, full-time staff, it seems like the “down” months go really quickly. Among other projects, we are going to revamp our Web site, review our policy and procedures manual, repair the lifeguard towers, restock supplies and uniforms, strip and outfit vehicles, maintain the 130 signs we have out on the beach, etc.
You get the idea. We’ll also continue to teach and train and respond to water emergencies.
I’ve been meaning to profile a few of the lifeguards and beach icons in this column and hope to take advantage of the slower months to try to highlight a few people. There’s such a variety just within our ranks alone. Today, I’d like to pick on one of our best and most faithful guards, Mary Stewart.
Mary started with our Junior Lifeguard Program about 10 years ago. She was 11 at the time. After five years with the Junior Guards, she turned 16 and tried out to be a lifeguard. She said when she was a Junior Guard, she wanted to be a “big guard” because she looked up to the instructors.
“I didn’t want to be a follower; I wanted to be a leader like they were and wanted to be part of the team and work together. The instructors showed me that the Beach Patrol was about people working together as a team,” she said.
She was originally from the Memorial area of Houston and ran track and was a varsity and competitive cheerleader. After high school, she went to Blinn College in Brenham and then transferred to Galveston College, where she’s currently getting all of her general requirements.
Mary is small with a big personality. She’s one of those rare people who get along with just about everyone she comes across.
One thing I really like about her is that she’s always positive. I’ve really never heard her gossip in a malicious way, cut people down, or be negative. To say she’s a team player would be a gross understatement.
Her hobbies include running, beach workouts, skateboarding, wake boarding and a little surfing. She also loves to make bracelets. They are very professionally done, but when asked if she’d ever sell them, she said: “I make them for friends. I like sharing them and don’t want money. It makes me happy when people like them and find meaning in that kind of gift.”
Mary loves working Beach Patrol and doesn’t see a time when she won’t work for us. She said she feels comfortable making rescues even though it’s dangerous because she’s not alone. She has the whole team backing her up and feels like she’s well trained so the risk is less. She said she always learns something new, whether she’s making rescues, doing a first aid or moving swimmers. She loves the discipline and workouts and competition.
“I love working together and getting better at the skills needed to make rescues and to help people on the beach,” she said.
When asked if there’s anything else she’d like to add, Mary, who has an infectious laugh, giggled and said: “Beach Patrol is my family. I’m a beach bum.”
Peter Davis is chief of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. The views in this column are Davis’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Beach Patrol, Galveston Park Board of Trustees or any other entity. Information on the Beach Patrol is at galvestonbeachpatrol.com.
