GALVESTON, Texas – Galveston is shining a light on a previously untold chapter of its history with the unveiling of a new Undertold Marker. This marker, awarded by the Texas Historical Commission, honors the courageous African American lifeguards who once patrolled the city’s segregated beaches.
The history of lifeguarding in Galveston dates back to the 1850s with the establishment of the United States Lifesaving Service Station. By 1935, the city hired its first paid lifeguards, including James “Jim” Helton, the first Black lifeguard. Despite early petitions for lifeguards in Black-accessible areas, volunteers initially protected these zones.
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Sharley Adams, a lifelong Galveston resident, reflects on the city’s journey from past struggles to present achievements. Adams has witnessed the city’s changes firsthand. She and her classmates participated in several sit-ins at various businesses across the island.
“We wanted to integrate downtown,” she recalled. “Our parents pay taxes here in Galveston…and yet, we could not sit on the counters.”
Adams remembers a time when she and her friends attempted to integrate parts of the beach, despite being told to stop.
“I was traumatized and really realized that I was because of my color,” she said. “I think I was just like this because I was African-American.”
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Segregation was a way of life in America, and Galveston was no exception. Black Americans were only allowed to use the beach from 27th to 29th Street. This month, the Texas Historical Commission recognized the island’s first Black lifeguards with an Undertold Marker, part of a program that addresses gaps in spotlighting underrepresented topics and groups.
David Mitchell, chair of the African American Beach Lifeguard committee, highlighted the significance of this recognition.
“It’s important because it actually speaks to the necessity to make sure that inclusiveness is literally a way of life,” Mitchell noted.
Many more Black lifeguards likely served on Galveston’s beaches, Mitchell shared as evidenced by locals and former residents nationwide who reached out to him with stories and information about relatives who worked as lifeguards, whether in volunteer or paid roles.
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Adams expressed pride when she saw those lifeguards watch over her family and others.
The legacy of Black Galveston lifeguards continues with her grandson, Thomas ‘T-K’ Mills.
“I didn’t know because growing up I thought I was only a Black lifeguard,” Mills said. “And I didn’t know till later on in history that there were actually men from the community that went out to protect the people.”
Reflecting on her grandson’s role, Adams said, “I thought about where I started from Stewart Beach and just to see him. And we can go to the beach now, you know, and just to see him being a lifeguard, that’s fantastic.”
As Adams reflects on her life, she feels a sense of pride. “I feel proud when I see Galveston open as it is,” she remarked, celebrating the progress and inclusivity that have been achieved over the years.
