Robert S. Craig
In the record (6)
1943 · 1943-05-12
The council offered the 1943 lifeguard captaincy to Robert S. Craig in April, then took it back in May because it 'desired to employ Home town Boy to take charge of Guard'.
— 1944 FULL PASS, 2026-08-12 [extended]: The captaincy was contested again in 1945 and the minute book does not say who won it. James Parker asked for the job on 3 April 1945 and no action was taken; Gordon Shipley made formal application on 10 April 1945. On 15 May the secretary was told to answer the letters from boys asking for lifeguard jobs by saying the town would hear from them after 1 June. The 1945 crew went on at about six men over the Memorial Day weekend, a full crew from 15 June at $30 a week, and was kept on past 9 September.
Ocean City Beach PatrolClifford P. CropperHarold J. RayneHerman D. ParsonsE. Raymond BoundsJ. M. Mumford
Source · checked 2026-08-12
1972 · 1972-07-03
The Beach Patrol's June report counted 309 rescues from the surf and three ambulance cases, and from 1 July the guards and the police began driving a night patrol from 10 PM
At the 3 July 1972 regular meeting, item 17, "Capt. Bob Craig, beach patrol, read his June report. The Beach Patrol is in full strength, but as the summer progresses, the waters temperature increases, more lifeguards will be added. Their basic training was completed, and for the end of June there were 309 rescues from the surf, [?0] lost or found children reunited, 3 cases of ambulance assistance. Beginning July 1, the Beach Patrol and the Police Department will drive a night patrol from 10PM to early morning." Their "great need at present" was to finish the new lifeguard station with a counter, shelves, screens and blinds. On 25 May the mayor had reported the beach patrol building completed and "twenty-five lifeguards will be on duty this weekend." A fortnight later, on 17 July, Craig reported 406 rescues in a single week of "terrific tides" (document 3431).
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1972 · 1972-08-07
The beach patrol captain, finding the ban on dogs on the beach ever harder to enforce, suggested training officers with a tranquilizer gun; a councilman objected to using it on a crowded beach and to any help from the Snow Hill dog-control man
At the 7 August 1972 regular meeting Captain Craig's beach patrol report "had made mention of the increasing severity of enforcing the city ordinance prohibiting dogs on the beach and had recommended either having the County issue the license, and therefore, the County could aid in the situation, or instructing several officers in the use of a tranquilizer gun for this purpose. Councilman Cropper opposed the dog control man from Snow Hill assisting anytime in the Town of Ocean City; felt the adequate police force and beach patrol could handle this problem without the former's assistance. Also felt it was not a good idea to use the tranquilizer on the beach due to such a large population. Mayor Kelley suggested Captain Craig meet with Chief Duggan." Three weeks earlier, on 17 July, Councilman Purnell had asked Craig about "a number of dogs using the beach, particularly around 50th St."; Craig "advised everyone they could catch they had taken off the beach."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1974 · 1974-07-15
After Captain Bob Craig read his mid-season Beach Patrol report, the mayor put on record that Craig was just past 56 and had given the beach patrol forty years
On 15 July 1974 (item 8) Captain Craig read his Mid-Season Beach Patrol Report, attached to the minutes but not in the text layer. Mayor Kelley: "I think Bob is just past 56 years old and I think that he has had 40 years on the Beach Patrol. I think he took over after I was Captain and I think that we deserve to recognize that Bob has given this town a great force, lifeguard force, beach patrol, what have you, and it is a source of real pleasure, Bob, to watch your men. You had a decent surf that in July cut down on some of your rescues, but by the same token, the men watch and do prevent with their whistles and their flags a lot of problems that could develop with your rips and your eddies ... the Mayor and City Council wants to compliment you not only on this year, but in all the past years." Earlier in the same item Councilman Purnell reported that "some church organization was selling peanuts on the beach" the previous Saturday, claiming a guard had said it was all right, and Trimper a lighted candy-and-ice-cream van on the beach parking lot claiming a two-day permit for a visiting motorcycle group.
Ocean City Beach PatrolHarry W. Kelley
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1979 · 1979-07-02
The Beach Patrol captain lured Lieutenant Thomas Kane to a council meeting under false pretences to give him a merit award for restoring three apparently dead people to life by CPR, so that it would be in the minutes
At the regular meeting of 2 July 1979 Captain Craig presented the Ocean City Beach Patrol Merit Award: "Tom, next year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Ocean City Beach Patrol, and in the life of the Ocean City Beach Patrol we've given less than 6 of these awards, and none of them have been any more deserving than this one." The citation: "Lieutenant Thomas F. Kane has been a valued member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol, and is thereby recommended for excellent achievement ... during years of service in addition to rescues too numerous to mention. Lieutenant Kane was directly responsible for restoring to life by CPR at least 3 persons who had apparently died." Craig: "We had to get Tom here under false pretenses. He thought he was coming up to answer some questions about the Fire Department. And ordinarily we give this award at our weekly meeting on Friday morning, but I thought this should be written into the record and into the annals of Ocean City's History by being recorded in the minutes."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
1987 · 1987-07-06
Captain Robert S. Craig retired from the Ocean City Beach Patrol after fifty-three years and was given a resolution of appreciation and a picture of the town by daylight so he could see the beach
On 6 July 1987 Mayor Powell read a Resolution of Appreciation: "WHEREAS, Robert S. Craig has served the citizens of Ocean City for the past fifty-three years on the Ocean City Beach Patrol... has rendered capable, conscientious and distinguished service to our citizens in the administration of the affairs of the beach... BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Town's governmental proceedings and that a framed copy be given to Robert S. Craig as a lasting token of our sincere respect and regard." The council also gave him a daytime picture of Ocean City "because they knew that you'd want to be able to see the beach." Craig: "Well Fish and I have been friends and buddies for many, many a year... I'm especially grateful to my wife for putting up with doing without me seven days a week during the summertime for many, many years and now I can have some time at home. Maybe next year she'll wish she could go back to the old system." George Schoepf had been appointed Captain of the Beach Patrol at the meeting of 20 April 1987.
Ocean City Beach PatrolRoland E. "Fish" Powell
Source · checked 2026-09-10