2019 Surf Festival Dinner Honorees
2019 Medal of Valor Honorees
Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Shaun Gudmundsson
Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Ruben Carmona
Shaun
Gudmundsson
Ruben Carmona
On the night of August 9, 2018, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist (OLS) Shaun Gudmundsson and OLS Ruben Carmona performed an extremely dangerous nighttime water rescue of two fishermen from a rocky and remote rock ledge, below Inspiration Point in Rancho Palos Verdes. The fishermen had become trapped in the rising tide and huge surf, generated from a hurricane off Baja California. Exposing themselves to extreme ocean and nighttime conditions, OLS Gudmundsson and OLS Carmona successfully saved these men’s lives.
2019 Medal of Valor Honoree
Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Jon Van Duinwyk
Jon Van Duinwyk
On the morning of November 29, 2018, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist (OLS) Jon Van Duinwyk singlehandedly performed the extremely hazardous rescue of a 70-year-old man, who was trapped inside his 25’ trimaran sailboat as it entered huge storm surf off Dockweiler Beach at Tower 41. OLS Van Duinwyk risked his life to enter the vessel, extricate the elderly man, as the boat was breaking up in the 8 foot shore pound. Due to OLS Van Duinwyk action’s, the victim not only survived but was only treated for only minor injuries. In just minutes after the man’s successful rescue, his sailboat, now on the beach, was completely destroyed in the huge surf.
2019 Distinguished Service Honorees
Captain Ocean Lifeguard Ryan Addison
Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Tim Ryan
Ryan Addison
Tim Ryan
On the night of November 8, 2018, during the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Captain Ocean Lifeguard Ryan Addison and Ocean Lifeguard Specialist (OLS) Tim Ryan mobilized and organized residents of Malibu’s Paradise Cove community to defend their homes from the approaching fire. Through their knowledge and selfless actions, they managed to help save hundreds of mobile homes that were threatened. Additionally, they bravely watched over the community for more than 24 hours. Once the fire passed, they performed welfare checks on residents until fire resources arrived to relief them.
2019 Lifeguard Lifetime Achievement Honoree
Ocean Lifeguard Dick Douglas
Dick Douglas
Ocean Lifeguard Dick Douglasis being recognized for his over 50+ years as an Ocean Lifeguard, protecting our beaches and saving countless lives. As a still active recurrent Ocean Lifeguard, Dick is specifically known for upgrading the Junior Lifeguard Program in the 1970’s and 80’s. Dick may best be known as the longtime “Voice of the South Bay”, and his “dark and stormy night” descriptions of Lifeguard heroics are legend. Dick is father to three current Lifeguards; Captain Dan Douglas, OL’s Craig and Todd Douglas, and grandfather to OL Jake Douglas.
Dick Douglas getting ready to MC the Lifeguard Medal of Valor Ceremony.
2019 Junior Lifeguard Award
Ocean Lifeguard Bill Krauss
This is a new and unique award, named in honor of Ocean Lifeguard (OL) Bill Krauss. Bill has just retired from lifeguarding after 48 years patrolling our beaches. He is most notably recognized for his success in teaching, encouraging, mentoring and introducing hundreds of junior lifeguards and students into the Los Angeles Ocean Lifeguard family. Bill is the long-time swimming, water polo coach and teacher at L A Valley College (40 years). Bill is father to Ocean Lifeguard Dr. Bill Krauss Jr.
Bill Krauss
Bill Krauss at Zuma Beach
