14th Annual Lifeguard Tournament: Who was Howard Rowland?

July 5, 2009 by emilykellis
Filed under Archived Notices, Recreation News, Tourism News

14th Annual Howard Rowland Lifeguard Tournament
July 9th, 6 pm
10th Avenue Pavillion

Belmar's legendary chief lifeguard Howard Rowland

“If there existed a ‘Congressional Medal of Honor’ for saving lives, self-sacrifice, dedication beyond the call of duty, and for promoting water safety, Howard Rowland is our candidate.” So begins a 1987 American Lifeguard profile of Belmar’s legendary chief lifeguard, the late Howard Rowland, for whom Belmar’s annual lifeguard tournament is named. Rowland made his first water rescue when he was only 12, and over his lifetime pulled an estimated 6,000 people from harm’s way.

Rowland was 80 years old when American Lifeguard published his profile, and by then he had been a lifeguard, fireman, Red Cross instructor, trainer and official for 50 of those years. Unfortunately, “Howard was not at his spot at Belmar Beach (NJ) last summer [Summer 1986], due to the fact that he had suffered a stroke on Christmas day, 1985… He is thankful to get back on occasion to his “home” on the beach and thankful to his crew for not letting him languish at home.”

“It seems like Howard has been around forever,” the article reads. “A regular Jersey Shore fixture like the Barnegat Lighthouse.” He might not have his own dedicated lighthouse, but he lives on in the name of Belmar’s Annual Howard Rowland Lifeguard Tournament.

Click here to view a PDF of the American Lifeguard profile on Howard Roland

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