Northern and Central Section (1970-present)

Greg began his lifeguard career in 1970 as an LA City Ocean Lifeguard. After graduating from the training academy he worked Will Rogers State Beach adopting Tower 18 as his own.

When Los Angeles City and County Lifeguard services merged in 1975 Greg continued to work thoughout the Central Section including the beaches of Topanga, Will Rogers, Santa Monica, Venice, and Del Rey.

In the summer of 1977, while working Will Rogers State Beach, Bonann performed a routine rescue of some children who were caught in a rip-current. The children's father was Stu Erwin, Jr. who worked for MTM Enterprises, a television production company run by Grant Tinker, the future chairman and CEO of NBC. Bonann would go on to pitch his idea for a television show about lifeguards to Erwin and Tinker, who eventually helped him sell Baywatch to NBC.

In 1989, while scouting locations in Venice Beach, California with the Baywatch producers and writing staff, Bonann was approached by a teenager who had lost his friend in the water. Bonann swam out and made three surface dives before finding the boy, who had been submerged underwater for several minutes, and revived him using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while treading water. The boy was taken to UCLA Medical Center where he recovered. Bonann received the Medal of Valor from Los Angeles County for that rescue.

In 1994 the L.A. County Lifeguard service merged into the Los Angeles County Fire Department, making Bonann an L.A. County Firefighter within its Lifeguard Division.

In 2001, Bonann became an Ocean Lifeguard for Honolulu City and County, Oahu, Hawaii.

Bonann transferred to the Northern Section of Los Angeles County in 2013, including Malibu and Zuma beaches. For the past 8 years he has been a Junior Lifeguard Instructor at Zuma Beach - mentoring the next generation of Southern California Lifeguards.

In 2021 he began his 52nd year as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard.

Bonann has been recognized by the Belgian Life Saving Federation, and the International Life Saving Federation for his dedication to the field, and in 2000 he was awarded the Gold Medallion from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his achievements and contributions.

In 1992, Bonann and partner, Tai Collins, launched a non-profit organization called “The Camp Baywatch Foundation” to benefit homeless and at-risk youth.

The foundation began by teaching inner city children about water safety through a week-long summer camp. Bonann called in favors from Baywatch cast members, Olympic athletes, and other celebrities who volunteered at the camp. The children were not only taught to swim in both a pool and the ocean, but each received individual instruction in water safety from LA County Lifeguard, U.S. Coast Guard, and L.A. County Fire personnel. Since then, the charity has grown into a year-round program, partnering with Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Police Department. In addition to the Summer Camp the foundation offers a variety of after-school, summer, and sports programs, as well as educational trips, and college scholarships.

When the Baywatch television series ended in 2001, the foundation name was changed to "A Chance For Children Foundation". NBC's The Today show honored Bonann in 2009 by choosing A Chance For Children as one of their charities of the year.

In 2013, while working on SAF3, Bonann and Collins established a new branch of A Chance for Children in Cape Town, South Africa. This international extension of the foundation focuses on the education of the children of the townships of Langa, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha.

Central Section (active since 1977)

Dr. O’Donnell has served as a faculty in member in the Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy at USC for twenty five years. In that capacity he led courses in advanced patient management in the entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He also served as the director of the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency. Outside of USC Dr. O’Donnell has lectured nationally and internationally and has presented his research locally as well as at national and international conferences.

In addition to clinical and academic pursuits, Mike has maintained his status as a recurrent Ocean Lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a position he has held since 1977. He competes regularly in ocean lifeguard events and has won two National Titles for lifeguard surfboat racing and six National Doryman’s titles. He enjoys Master’s swimming and for several years he coached age group water polo. Mike was born and raised in San Pedro, California, and he lives locally with his wife Peggy and their three daughters, Erin, Kelsey and Colleen.

Central Section (active 1974-2016)

Dr. Arthur Verge is a professor of history at El Camino College in Torrance, California. He received a B.A. in history from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an M.A., M.P.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Southern California. He was the recipient of the college’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 2004. Among his published works is Paradise Transformed: Los Angeles During the Second World War. He worked closely with noted historian Andrew Rolle on both the 7th and 8th editions of California: A History.

Professor Verge also doubled as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard. He began his career in 1974 and served to 2016. During his forty-two year career, he was elected to the Executive Board of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association 13 consecutive terms serving from 1992 to his retirement in 2016. He wrote two books on the lifeguard service (Los Angeles County Lifeguards and Santa Monica Lifeguards (Arcadia Press). His article on lifeguard\surfing legend George Freeth (which appeared in the summer 2001 issue of the Journal of California History) was the basis for the 2009 award winning film “Waveriders” It was voted Best Feature Documentary at the National Irish Film and Television Awards and Best Documentary in the 39th Annual Surfer Poll Awards (it was the first non-American film ever to win).

Northern, Central, and Southern Section (1948-2001)

Harold “Hal” Dunnigan began his career as an ocean lifeguard in 1948 at Zuma Beach. One of the first County lifeguards to serve in this capacity. In his 57 years of service as a lifeguard he served for Los Angeles City, Santa Monica City, and Los Angles County Lifeguard Services. While his career as a lifeguard has been his passion, Hal achieved success in multiple arenas.

He became a Navy Seal (he was in Class 3 of the newly formed Underwater Demolition Team which was later renamed the Unitied States Navy Seals) and served from the Korean War through the First Gulf War. He received a Presidential citation for this service. He retired with the rank of Chief at the age of 61 but continues to to serve as an advisor.

Additionally, Hal had a distinguished career as an educator. He was the Vice Prinicpal of the new opened Malibu Park Junior High School and was named Principal of Olympic High School in Santa Monica. Olympic High was designated as an alternative school designed to aid those students at risk of dropping out. Hall is credited with influencing scores of young men and women to reach their potential.

But, it is lifeguarding that has had the most profound and lasting influence on Hal’s life. He competed in multiple Taplins, was a Rookie School (now Training Academy) Instructor. He became the second training officer for the Los Angeles City Lifeguard Service and was recognized for evolving the training from a military boot camp paradigm which aimed at washing out candidates to that of a collaborative assiting all cadets to become lifeguards. Alumni of these classes have become recognized leaders and mentors of our current day service. Additionally, established the Annual LACOLA Blood Drive, a program that has benefited thousands far beyond the horizon of our Los Angeles County Beaches.