Collins Elliott
considered for captain of the Ocean City life guards · active 1939
One of the two men the Ocean City council considered for captain of the life guards on 31 March 1939. Edward Lee Carey was chosen.
In the record (1)
1939 · 1939-03-31
Ocean City hired a life-guard captain in 1939 at $25 a week and gave him the power to hire and fire
The minute of 31 March 1939: 'Life Guards were discussed and the names of Collins Elliott & Edward Lee Carey were considered for Captain & decided to employ Edward Lee Carey at $25 week salary empowering him with authority to hire, fire his help and take all responsibility to care for the operation of L.G.' On 30 June the council 'agreed to Purchase Sweaters & Red Cross Books for Life Guards'. The 1940 budget estimate allowed $2,500 for the life guard - a fifth of what the town expected to raise in water rent, and more than it spent on its disposal plant.
Two names were considered and one was chosen, and what he was given was not a rank but a payroll. A captain who can hire and fire is a captain running a service, not a man in a chair - and $2,500 a year says the town had worked out that drownings cost more than lifeguards.
Source · checked 2026-08-11