Swarts, Lewis "Hoppy" (1916 – 1988)

Bright, cheery, fair-minded California surfer and surf contest organizer from Hermosa Beach, California; the first president of the 1961-founded United States Surfing Association. "Hoppy Swarts," the Los Angeles Times wrote, "was the man who tamed surfing."

Swarts was born (1916) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of an oil businessman, moved with his family to Redondo Beach, California, and began surfing at age 14 in nearby Hermosa. He was known throughout his life as "Hoppy," the nickname given t...