Post on 30-Dec-2015
description
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 ????