33: How Tragedy and a Russian Forged the World's Greatest Lifeguard Department

The rock-solid foundation for Newport Beach's prized lifeguard
operation goes back more than 100 years, forged in tragedy and a
Russian immigrant’s belief in 1923 that a city lifeguard
department–a rarity in those days–could prevent the frequent
drownings that had been occurring in Newport Beach for a
half-century, ever since 1870, the year a “new port” was
established. 

In just a few short years, the Russian, Antar "Tony" Deraga would
single-handedly remake Newport Beach lifeguards into one of the
most elite units in the world–a distinction it still retains
today.