Colombo’s trophy on display at Rosenberg
From staff reports
The Daily News
Published May 4, 2008
GALVESTON — This month, the Rosenberg Library is exhibiting a
championship trophy won by LeRoy Colombo in 1927.
Colombo is a legendary figure in Galveston history. During his
five-decade career, this deaf lifeguard saved more than 900 lives.
Colombo, the son of Italian immigrants, was not born deaf. He lost
his hearing around the age of 7 after a mysterious illness, which was
diagnosed at the time as spinal meningitis.
As a result, Colombo lost his hearing and his ability to speak. He
was also paralyzed from the waist down.
Colombo’s brothers worked to rehabilitate LeRoy by dragging him up
and down the alley behind their house until he was able to walk on his
own two feet again.
Swimming also proved to be beneficial in rebuilding the strength of
his legs.
Because of his hearing disability, Colombo was deemed
“ineducable” by the public school system in Galveston and was sent
to the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin.
Colombo became a competitive swimmer at the school, setting multiple
records for speed and distance.
After six years at the school, he returned to Galveston.
In 1927, Colombo completed a 15-mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico in
just 11-and-a-half hours.
Colombo’s brother, Cinto, finished the race in second place —
three and a half hours behind LeRoy.
Muscle cramps and jellyfish stings caused the other four challengers
to withdraw.
The event was sponsored by the Surf Toboggan Club, an elite group of
volunteer lifeguards.
Colombo joined the group in 1921 at the age of 15. To gain membership
in the club, one was required to spend three hours and 20 minutes in
the Gulf without any swimming aids and without floating on one’s
back.
After devoting more than 50 years to saving the lives of others,
Colombo died in 1974.
The citizens of Galveston erected a plaque along the seawall in his
honor.
In 2006, the Texas School for the Deaf unveiled a new swimming
center, which was named for Colombo.
+++
At A Glance
WHAT: Treasure of the Month
WHEN: Monday through Saturday during regular library hours.
WHERE: Main library on the first floor of Rosenberg Library, 2310
Sealy Ave.
INFORMATION: Contact the museum office at 409-763-8854, Ext. 125.
Link:
http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=be43fd02481f4c3c&-session=TheDailyNews:42F946750c4e802724HsO4271B24
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