America’s most surprising presidential landmark is an obscure river in Illinois

Reagan’s 77 Rescues at Rock River

Before Ronald Reagan ran the country, he kept watch over the Rock River. In 1927, the skinny 16-year-old took a job as lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois.

For seven summers, he worked 12-hour days for $18 weekly plus free root beers. The dangerous waters had claimed lives before, yet Reagan never lost a soul.

He notched a log for each save, reaching 77 by 1932. His most famous rescue came after hours when he dove into darkness to save James Raider from the current.

The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon now showcases these lifeguard years that shaped a future president.

Skinny Teen Takes Life-Saving Job Despite Park Owners’ Doubts

Ronald Reagan got his first real job at 16 as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois in spring 1927. Park owners Ed and Ruth Graybill weren’t sure about hiring such a young guy for such a serious job.

The Rock River had already killed several swimmers, making parents nervous. The park almost closed in 1926 over safety concerns.

Reagan’s dad Jack talked the Graybills into giving his skinny son a chance, promising he’d take the job seriously.

Working Long Hours for Root Beer and Burgers

Reagan earned just $18 weekly plus free nickel root beers and ten-cent hamburgers for his dangerous job.

He worked tough 12-hour shifts every day from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Some days, up to 1,000 swimmers packed the beach with Reagan as their only protection.

He quickly learned about the Rock River’s hidden dangers – fast underwater currents and strong undertows that could pull swimmers under.

Reagan studied the river and knew where the worst spots hid.

Farm Boys Proved Toughest to Save

Reagan tracked each rescue by cutting notches in a wooden log.

Little kids who went too deep were his easiest saves – he’d pull them back and warn them to stay in shallow water.

Farm boys gave him the most trouble during rescues. These strong teens often grabbed Reagan and tried pulling him under too.

Sometimes he had to knock them out with a quick punch to the jaw so he could get them to shore safely without both drowning.

Night Rescue Puts Young Guard to the Test

Late on August 2, 1928, after closing the bathhouse at 9:30 PM, Reagan heard splashing in the dark. Four teenagers snuck in for a night swim.

One boy, James Raider, got caught in the current and sank under the black water. Reagan dove blindly into the river, swimming by sound until he found Raider’s unconscious body.

He dragged the boy to shore and pumped Raider’s arms until water came out of his mouth and he started breathing again.

Local Paper Celebrates Hometown Hero

The Dixon Evening Telegraph ran a front-page story on August 3, 1928, with the headline “James Raider Pulled from the Jaws of Death.”

The paper noted it was lifeguard “Dutch” Reagan’s 25th save.

This was Reagan’s first time making headlines in his hometown paper. The Telegraph kept a running count of Reagan’s rescues, updating readers throughout each summer.

Parents felt better about letting their kids swim with Reagan watching over them.

Clever Tactics Keep Swimmers in Line

Reagan came up with smart ways to control beach crowds.

When swimmers wouldn’t leave at closing time, he threw small pebbles in the water and yelled “River rat! ” This trick sent swimmers racing to shore every time.

Some pretty girls reportedly faked needing help just to get Reagan’s attention. Once, a swimmer lost his false teeth in the river and offered Reagan $10 to find them.

The dedicated lifeguard kept diving until he found the dentures on the river bottom.

College Studies Never Stopped His Summer Duty

After starting at Eureka College in 1928, Reagan kept coming back to lifeguard every summer.

He joined Eureka’s swim team, becoming captain and later coach while still swimming himself. Reagan won several local races and set speed records for crossing the Rock River.

He balanced his college classes with his commitment to keeping Lowell Park swimmers safe every summer throughout college.

Future President Turns Down Olympic Chance

Someone asked Reagan about trying out for the 1932 Summer Olympics swimming team. Most young men would jump at this chance for fame, but Reagan said no.

He felt his job protecting swimmers at Lowell Park mattered more than personal success.

The future president stuck with his lifeguard job through his final college years, putting public safety above possible Olympic medals.

Seven Summers Without a Single Death

Through seven summers from 1927 to 1932, Reagan never lost a swimmer on his watch. He reached a total of 77 rescues, each marked with a notch in his wooden log.

Before Reagan started, the Rock River killed several swimmers each year at Lowell Park. During his busiest final season, Reagan kept constant watch over his swimmers.

Last Notch Carved Before Radio Career Calls

Reagan made his 77th and final official rescue during summer 1932. After pulling the swimmer to safety, he cut the last notch in his wooden log.

When the season ended, Reagan packed up his rescue equipment for good. He left lifeguarding behind to pursue a job as a radio announcer in Iowa.

The seven summers of perfect service at Lowell Park came to an end as Reagan moved on to new challenges.

Lifesaving Skills Followed Him to the White House

Reagan’s rescue instincts stayed with him long after leaving Lowell Park.

He saved a 78th person while visiting the park after his official tenure ended, helping a friend who worked there.

Years later, as a radio announcer in Iowa, Reagan pulled a drowning swimmer from a hotel pool. Even as a California Governor, he rescued a struggling swimmer.

Reagan often called his 77 saves “one of the finest achievements” of his life, ranking it alongside his presidency in personal importance.

Visiting Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, Illinois

You can visit Reagan’s boyhood home at 816 South Hennepin Avenue in Dixon, Illinois from April through December on Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 3pm. Tours start every hour with the last one at 3pm.

The house shows how it looked in the 1920s when Reagan’s family lived there from 1920-1923. Admission is by donation and you can park at the visitors center on South Galena Avenue and West 9th Street.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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