Manatee County beaches are about to lose a treasure after 40 years of saving lives.
- Rex Beach is retiring after 40 years as a lifeguard
- He has worked on various Manatee beaches over the years
For the last 40 years the beaches in Manatee County have been just a little bit safer thanks to Rex Beach. To many he’s known as the man at the top of the lifeguard tower or simply as a hero.
“I’ve had people come back from Europe and say that I’m their life guard and they look forward to seeing me and I inspired their kid to become a lifeguard and something like that,” Beach said.
To his colleagues in Manatee County’s Marine Rescue unit, he’s known as Lieutenant Rex Beach. And no, he didn’t change his name to match his occupation. Beach is his real last name. He made his way here to Manatee County beaches all those years ago and hasn’t left since.
“I didn’t have the benefit of having someone to train me and I’ve been able to train the younger guys and give them the pointers I was never afforded,” he said.” Saving them a lot of pain and scars from hitting rocks and jetty’s and things like that.”
Beach says he can remember his early days in the life guard tower with the long hair and shorts that would make David Hasselhoff envious. But gone are those days. Tuesday was his last day on the job. The 60-year-old is retiring and taking years of experience with him, leaving behind a legacy.
“Well it’s time. I’m 60-years-old and it’s time to hand the torch to someone else,” he said.
Of course this won’t be his last trip to the beach. The 40-year lifeguard and EMT says he will forever be a life saver. Keeping watch over the waters of the Bay area.
According to our partners at the Bradenton Herald there were two other county employees who retired at the same time as Rex Beach. Combined they have 110 years of service.