Paul Meador, a long time Ladder #1 stalwart, turns 80 years young today. Per Dave:
Paul has been guarding Ladder #1 at Oak Street Beach for at least 78 years (I have seen the photo of Paul with his father [at the lake] when he was two years old).
Congrats Paul!
Well today Paul turns 85!! I wish him all the best he has been at the beach since his mom and dad took him at just a few months old (he has a picture to prove it )and as far as running just at the park nearby he has clocked the earth at least TWO TIMES not excluding all the fun runs and races. The only person to win golden gloves in 3 or more weight divissions 3rd degree in judo, and trained qualified to goto olimpics 2times but declined because family medical problems. I could go on for days at all the people he has helped over the years like he did for me 35 years ago first and only time i was healthy. AGAIN HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL MEADOR AND MANY MANY MORE!!!!!
Fantastic! Happy Birthday Paul!
hello laura K
Paul Meador was appointed Mayor of oak street beach by Mayor Belandic. Who said” I may be the mayor of Chicago but Paul is the mayor of Oak st beach”.He trained as a boxer. black belt in martial arts,won body building competitions, Paul added up enough miles to have ran around the world, he ran many marathons and qualified for the New York marathon.he stills hit the health club to lift weights most days of the week. swimming was never tops on his list but i have seen him swim the 1/2 mile plus from ladder #1 to the beach many times. On google earth you could focus on ladder #1 and clearly see his chair sitting there.
During the 35 years @ oak street i saw the twins 1000’s of times and although i would say hello and tell them the water temperature, together they perhaps spoke 100 words to me. they are a bit shy but i was able to get the Suntimes to write a story about them a year ago and they Thanked me. i did not see them this year but was told they did swim at ohio street beach a few times.
MERRY CHRISTAMS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010
DIVER DAVE
P.S WAVES HAVE BEEN HUGE THE LAST 3 DAYS SO I DID NOT SWIM. WATER IS 34 DEGREES
Amazing–80 years old??? I’ve always wondered who he was-he really is a fixture at L1.
Between him and the twins, it could be argued that L1 holds the secret to aging gracefully….
I FIRST SAW PAUL 35 YEARS AGO @ LADDER #1 WHEN I MOVED TO CHICAGO. HE WORKED ON HIS CHOCOLATE BROWN SUN TAN YEAR ROUND AT THE BEACH. IN THE DEAD OF WINTER YOU COULD FIND HIM AT THE OLD NORTH AVE BEACH HOUSE WITH HIS SHIRT OPEN ENJOYING THE COLD WINTERS SUNSHINE. ? WHY SHOULD HIS BIRTHDAY BE THE FIRST FULL DAY OF WINTER? HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY PAUL AND MANY MANY MORE…. DIVER DAVE