1950 – 1959

1952, Long Beach Township Beach Patrol mourns the loss of Director of Beachfront Safety Norman Frommer.

The island's summer population explosion brings a greater emphasis on beach safety and the need to develop a more professional lifesaving corps. Former football champion Art Jocher was recruited to tackle the job of Long Beach Township Beach Patrol Supervisor.

A senior Red Cross lifesaving certificate was now prerequisite to employment, and live rescues were practiced.

Rescue equipment was still limited and unregulated. Lifeguard stands were minimally equipped with a diamond buoy or rescue torpedo, tow rope, two flags and a basic first aid kit. Lifeguards experimented with 12 foot rescue boards, as lifeguard boats were not in use.

As reported in the Beach Haven Times in the summer of 1952, a record number of 2500 daily bathers, and 5000 weekend bathers frequented the 16 stations maintained by the Township guards.

The Long Beach Township Lifeguards, under the supervision of Jocher, had effected 37 rescues in the summer of 1952.

In 1952 Captain Jocher implemented the use of Long, heavy surfboards in rescue techniques that enabled lifeguards to swiftly paddle out to victims.

The Garden State Parkway was officially opened in 1954, lifeguards were posted every four blocks between each jetty, and the beaches of Loveladies and North Beach were now protected by the beach patrol.

With Art Jocher's influence, the Long Beach Township administration began to regard the beach patrol as essential, rather than merely, necessary.

Not realizing the lasting impact, Jocher organized lifeguard races for the first time.