Long Beach Neptunes Celebrate 70 years of History
by M. Mori
This February 2021, we celebrate the 70th Year Anniversary of the Long Beach Neptunes. The Long Beach Neptunes is the oldest active spearfishing club in the US, and shares a lot of history among the local and spearfishing community. The Long Beach Neptunes is more than just a spearfishing club; it is a family, which shares a common bond in the love of the ocean, conservation, comradery and spearfishing. We proudly celebrate 70 years of Spearfishing History.
Short History of the Beginnings of the Long Beach Neptunes
Early February of 1952, several members of the Los Angeles Neptunes, gathered at the home of Gene and Dorothy Davies in Long Beach. These members, who lived in Long Beach, and its vicinity, decided to create an affiliate club, “The Long Beach Neptunes”. They believed that it would be beneficial to skin diving in general because cooperation among members is much easier when they are from the same area, and that they can benefit from having several smaller organizations, which can promote their aims of good sportsmanship and conservation. As a result, it was decided that they would create the “Long Beach Neptunes” an affiliate club of the Los Angeles Neptunes.
In February 1952, fourteen members of the Los Angeles Neptunes decided to break away and form the charter members of the Long Beach Neptunes. These members included, Nathan “Doc” Mathison, James “Big Jim” & Patty Christiansen, Gene & Dorothy Davies, Jake & Dotty Frasier, Richard D. “Red” Wollard, Bob & Gerry Kennedy, Herb Samson, Jack & Lorena Ward, Dave Bottles, Bud Flowers, and Larry Reeder. The first official meeting of the Long Beach Neptunes was held at the home of Nathan “Doc” Mathison. Doc Mathison accepted an appointed role as the first President, with Gene Davies as Vice President and wife Dorothy Davies as secretary. It was decided that an official election would take place in May to determine who will serve as the official democratically elected executive board.
On May 1952, the first official election took place. Richard D. “Red” Wollard was elected as the first “elected” President, Jim “Big Jim” Christiansen as Vice President, Dorothy Davies as Recording Secretary/Treasurer, and Nathan “Doc” Mathison and Bob Kennedy as Correspondence Secretary/Publicity Committee, Laura Korchak and Patty Christiansen as hostesses. Larry Korchak and Bob Moore were voted in as the first members of the Long Beach Neptunes who were not one of the charter members. The Long Beach Neptunes official monthly meetings were held at the Belmont Recreation Center, where it remained for some time.
This February 2021, we proudly celebrate the 70th Year of the Long Beach Neptunes!
This February 2021, we celebrate the 70th Year Anniversary of the Long Beach Neptunes. The Long Beach Neptunes is the oldest active spearfishing club in the US, and shares a lot of history among the local and spearfishing community. The Long Beach Neptunes is more than just a spearfishing club; it is a family, which shares a common bond in the love of the ocean, conservation, comradery and spearfishing. We proudly celebrate 70 years of Spearfishing History.
Short History of the Beginnings of the Long Beach Neptunes
Early February of 1952, several members of the Los Angeles Neptunes, gathered at the home of Gene and Dorothy Davies in Long Beach. These members, who lived in Long Beach, and its vicinity, decided to create an affiliate club, “The Long Beach Neptunes”. They believed that it would be beneficial to skin diving in general because cooperation among members is much easier when they are from the same area, and that they can benefit from having several smaller organizations, which can promote their aims of good sportsmanship and conservation. As a result, it was decided that they would create the “Long Beach Neptunes” an affiliate club of the Los Angeles Neptunes.
In February 1952, fourteen members of the Los Angeles Neptunes decided to break away and form the charter members of the Long Beach Neptunes. These members included, Nathan “Doc” Mathison, James “Big Jim” & Patty Christiansen, Gene & Dorothy Davies, Jake & Dotty Frasier, Richard D. “Red” Wollard, Bob & Gerry Kennedy, Herb Samson, Jack & Lorena Ward, Dave Bottles, Bud Flowers, and Larry Reeder. The first official meeting of the Long Beach Neptunes was held at the home of Nathan “Doc” Mathison. Doc Mathison accepted an appointed role as the first President, with Gene Davies as Vice President and wife Dorothy Davies as secretary. It was decided that an official election would take place in May to determine who will serve as the official democratically elected executive board.
On May 1952, the first official election took place. Richard D. “Red” Wollard was elected as the first “elected” President, Jim “Big Jim” Christiansen as Vice President, Dorothy Davies as Recording Secretary/Treasurer, and Nathan “Doc” Mathison and Bob Kennedy as Correspondence Secretary/Publicity Committee, Laura Korchak and Patty Christiansen as hostesses. Larry Korchak and Bob Moore were voted in as the first members of the Long Beach Neptunes who were not one of the charter members. The Long Beach Neptunes official monthly meetings were held at the Belmont Recreation Center, where it remained for some time.
This February 2021, we proudly celebrate the 70th Year of the Long Beach Neptunes!
