LeRoy Colombo

“World’s Greatest Lifeguard”

Early Life• Born December 23, 1905 in Galveston,

Texas

• Age 7, spinal meningitis-

left his legs paralyzed

• How did brothers, Cinto & Nick, help LeRoy?

• LeRoy regained all his strength

Education• Age 8, went to public

school-frustrated there

• Age 10, Texas School for the Deaf in Austin

• Became skilled swimmer in school’s pool

• Age 16, 1921, left school…. Why?

(death of father)

Young Adult Years• Age 18,(1923) Surf Toboggan

Club 1st Deaf member (he had to swim continuously for 3 hours-no floating)

• 1923 became a Life Guard for the City of Galveston

• 1924: Competed against Herbert Bernau, Jr., the Amateur Athletic Union’s national endurance champion, & beat him

• Labor Day, 1925, (Age 20)Rematch (10 mile race), he beat

Herbert again by 1 mile• New record for the race, 6

hours 55 minutes

How Would LeRoy Fare Against Michael Phelps?

• 1926, competed in a 10 mile race in the Mississippi River & dislocated his shoulder in the 8th mile, continued swimming with 1 arm and finished the race

• 1927-Labor Day Race- LeRoy & Cinto got 1st & 2nd place in a 15 mile marathon (age 22)

They were the only ones to finish out of 6 entrants-why?

LeRoy was timed at 11 hours 30 minutes, beating Cinto by 31/2 hours

• Age 23, 1928-swam 30 miles in 16 hours 24 minutes

• 1929-1939- won all long distance races in the Gulf of Mexico

Why is LeRoy Colombo Famous?

• Rescued his 1st victim when he was 12

• During his 40 years as a Life Guard, he saved 907 lives (Guinness World Record)

• How brave was he?• Forced to retire at age 62

b/c of a heart condition• He still swam a mile a day

up until a a few weeks before he died

• Died on July 12, 1974- age 69

Honored for His Heroism

“In Memory of Leroy Colombo

Dec 23, 1905- July 12, 1974

A Deaf-Mute who risked his own life repeatedly to save more than a thousand lives from drowning in the waters surrounding Galveston Island.”

“Plaque dedicated Nov 1974 By the Noon Optimist Club and the City of Galveston Texas”

Can a Deaf Person Be a Good Lifeguard ????