PREFACE 



This report is published to provide an accurate record of tlie 35-yeai history of the Beach Erosion Board (BEB), 

 predecessor of the Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC). The report discusses the events which led to the creation 

 of the BEB, and the significant effects these events had upon the BEB's course of direction. Also included are references to 

 the many people who contributed to the formation and implementation of BEB programs and the major theoretical and 

 technological advances in coastal engineering. 



The report was prepared by Mary-Louise Quinn, University- of California, Berkeley, under CERC Contract 

 DACW72-74-C-0011. Minor editorial changes were made in the copy submitted by the author to comply with standardized 

 format requirements. 



Several terms used in this report, as well as the general format, require some clarification. The Beach Erosion Board is 

 referred to as an "agency" throughout the text. This term is used based on the dictionary definition of tlie word "agency" 

 and is intended to carry no legal or official connotation. The Beach Erosion Board was comprised of a seven-member Board 

 and a supporting staff. In this report, "Board" is generally used where specific reference is made to the seven-man Board; 

 "Board's staff" is used when referring to the staff; the full name. Beach Erosion Board, or the acronym, BEB, is used when 

 discussing the agency as a whole. 



Although the term "coastal engineering" appears in many places in the report, it did not come into general usage until 

 the beginning of the Coastal Engineering Conferences, some 20 years after the establishment of the BEB. The first of these 

 conferences was held in October 1950. Morrough P. O'Brien wrote the preface for the published proceedings of that 

 Conference in which he stated that "Coastal Engineering is primarily a branch of Civil Engineering which leans heavily on 

 the sciences of oceanography, meteorology, fluid mechanics, electronics, structural mechanics, and others." To this 

 definition he appropriately added, "However, it is also true that the design of coastal works does involve many criteria 

 which are foreign to other phases of civil engineering, and the novices in this field should proceed with caution." 



Within the body of the report, no personal titles (with the exception of military ranks) have been used, a practice 

 adopted by the American Society of Civil Engineers. In regard to military rank, the rank an officer held at the time his 

 name is mentioned in tlie history is the rank used. Thus, the ranks of several officers who are mentioned in the text at 

 different periods, will vary accordingly. Others wiU be mentioned at a rank lower than that which they eventually attained 

 during their military careers. 



Numerous pieces of legislation and other documents related to the organization and functioning of the BEB are cited 

 within the text; these items are quoted in full in Appendix A. 



Over the years, many people have worked on the staff of the BEB. Unfortunately, there is no complete record of all 

 former employees, so all their names could not be listed. Instead, organization charts are included in Appendix E which list 

 as many names as possible. Moreover, charts were selected that best illustrate changes within the agency, such as increase in 

 staff or reorganization. 



Since the history could oiJy have been written with the cooperation of many people, the author gratefully 

 acknowledges some of those who were especially helpful. Mrs. Bennie Maddox and her staff in the CERC library' assisted in 

 obtaining source material. Mrs. Ellen Moore, CERC, also assisted in obtaining numerous useful items. Gerald Giefer, Water 

 Resources Center Archives, University of California, Berkeley, allowed the use of their fine collection. The many people 

 interviewed, whose names are Usted in the report, all gave graciously of their time and provided a wealth of information, 

 and a sincere thanks and appreciation are extended. The several people who reviewed sections of the paper while in draft 

 form made many valuable suggestions, especially Joseph M. Caldwell, Martin A. Mason, Richard 0. Eaton, Albert C. 

 Rayner, and Ralph L. Rector. James J. Parsons, Geography Department, University of California, Berkeley, also offered 

 constructive comments on parts of the draft. Thomdike SavQle, Jr., Technical Director of CERC gave the author this 

 opportunity and a free rein to write the history of the BEB as it unfolded through the research. For this freedom the 

 author is truly grateful, but by the same token, accepts full responsibility for the format, content, and interpretation of 

 this report. A special thank you is extended to Joe W. Johnson, George M. Watts, and Orville T. Magoon for tlieir words of 

 advice and encouragement. 



Comments on this publication are invited. 



Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 166, 79*'' Congress, approved 31 July 1945, as supplemented 

 by Public Law 172, 88*'' Congress, approved 7 November 1963. 



/V w-«*.w'.--- 



JOHN H. cousms 



Colonel, Corps of Engineers 

 Commander and Director 



