Sumner Increase Kimball

Biography

Sumner Increase Kimball devoted decades to public service, most notably by leading the United States Life-Saving Service and shaping it into a model of marine rescue and safety. His meticulous attention to training, organization, and technology ensured that countless men and women were rescued from peril on the nation’s waterways.

Even after his formal service ended, Kimball remained an advocate for public welfare, holding fast to the credo that preparedness and compassion save lives. His influence on maritime safety endures in every orderly station and every sailor who benefits from the standards he set.