GULF SHORES, Ala. — As the season ramps up and the lifeguards are back on the beach, the Gulf Shores City Council took time to honor two of the people who work on the public beaches and at the pool.

“Within our community of Gulf Shores we have a team of very dedicated lifeguards both on the beaches and at our pool who do the best that they can every single day to ensure as much safety as possible,” Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs Grant Brown said.

The city honored a retiring lifeguard and recognized another as the inaugural “Lifeguard of the year” for their contributions to the city.

Riddick Marsh had served the city for 13 years in lifeguard service and spent 63 years of his life as a lifeguard. He retired at age 83 recently.

Stone Collins is still working for the city but was given the new award by Beach Safety Supervisor Scott Smothers at a recent City Council meeting.

“For those of us who swim laps over there we’re going to miss having him look out for us,” Mayor Robert Craft said of Marsh. “We’re proud of these two gentlemen and really proud of everyone that works here. There are lots more out there that do great jobs for the city.”

Brook Hopkin is the city swim coach and director in the recreation department and was on hand to help show the city’s appreciation for Marsh’s dedication.

Smothers told of a small example of why Collins was the recipient of the new award. He hopes to start the tradition of an annual award for the lifeguards.

“The one instance that really stood out was we received a call from one of our Share the Beach people at 6 o’clock in the morning,” Smothers said. “Our fire and I responded and we had two swimmers in the water and there were six- to eight-foot waves, a red flag day.”

During the course of the rescue operation, Smothers said he looked up and saw a familiar face plunging into the Gulf to help.

“I responded and went in the water and assisted one gentleman out,” Smothers said. “Went back into the water and was assisting another young lady out. On the way out I turn around and Stone is swimming out to me.

“This is 6 o’clock in the morning, he’s a seasonal lifeguard. He doesn’t have to be there until 9 o’clock. That’s the kind of character this young man has.”

Smothers said Collins brings this type of attitude to work with him every day.

“He puts everything aside to save lives,” he said. “That’s just one of the reasons I wanted to present Stone Collins with Lifeguard of the Year.”

And, Smothers added, he comes to work with a smile on his face as well.

“How we chose this individual is a combination of everything this young man does,” he said. “He wakes up every day like he won the lottery.”

The award was named after the first lifeguard hired by the city in the 1950s who is currently a resident of Orange Beach.

“Our lifeguard of the year award is named after an individual, Larry J. Autry,” Smothers said. “He was the first paid lifeguard for the city of Gulf Shores in 1957. He still lives in Orange Beach and he gave our permission to use his name on the award. He couldn’t be here today, but he was the foundation for our program.”

Smothers also took time to thank council members for supporting his service’s efforts.

“I want to thank the city administration for what you’ve done for our program at the beach,” he said. “We had a great foundation, but with the new administration that came in we’ve built on that foundation and we have an international, world-class lifesaving agency down there now.”

Because of the quality of the agency and its work, Smothers says he has been asked to teach at lifeguard seminars in other states.

“I have the privilege to be an associate instructor,” he said. “We taught Puerto Rico and some other agencies from throughout the United States and around the world and that’s all from your vision you have for our beaches.”