LEROY GRANNIS: RIP | SURFLINE.COM

Registered or Premium Member? LOG IN | Not a Premium Member? TRY PREMIUM FREE NOW

--->

LEROY GRANNIS: RIP

Surf photography legend passes away at 93

February 4, 2011

114 comments

Leroy Grannis passed away on Thursday, February 3rd at a Torrance nursing facility. He was 93. Often called 'the Godfather of surf photography', Grannis was best known for his depiction of the burgeoning sport of surfing in Southern California and Oahu's North Shore through the 1960s and early '70s.

"There's surfing royalty, and he was one of the kings," his son John told the LA Times. "He inspired so many big-name photographers that consider him their mentor."

Previous 1 of 4 Next

Grannis was one of the first to document surf culture in Southern California. Photo: Grannis

Leroy Grannis wasn't the first to depict the California lifestyle with his photos. It wasn't his idea to begin shooting in the first place. His contributions to surfing photography occurred over a brief 12-year period, and he hadn't much bothered with it since 1971. Nevertheless, most of the great images from the '60s golden age of surfing, regardless of the magazine, bear the inscription "Photo: Grannis."

Hermosa Beach welcomed Leroy Grannis into this world. Living mere steps from the ocean, his father would take him swimming and bodysurfing by age five. Soon, Grannis fashioned a bellyboard from a hunk of wood and rode it during vacations in his mother's home state of Florida. In 1931, he procured a 6' x 2' slab of pine and hacked out a kneeboard. At Hermosa Pier, stand up surfing was the rage, so he began borrowing boards until he could get his own. A member of the Palos Verdes Surf Club, the first of its kind in America, he struggled to balance surf time with family and work.

Unable to afford an education at UCLA during the Depression, Grannis dropped out and found work as a carpenter, junkyard de-tinner and spent some years at Standard Oil. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1943, remaining on active reserve until retiring as a major in 1977. Several fellow surf club members were employed with Pacific Bell Telephone, and Grannis joined them in 1946. He surfed the occasional contest during the '50s, gradually settling into the role of assisting Hoppy Swarts at the controls during the early years of the United States Surfing Association. The telephone company position had given him an ulcer by 1959 and the doctor advised taking up a hobby. Photo pioneer Doc Ball was a close friend and suggested he try photography. Grannis was featured in Ball's 1946 book California Surfriders.

Grannis' first published photos appeared in Reef Magazine in 1960. Other photographers were shooting from the water, but they were forced to return to land to reload. Grannis developed a rubber-lined box that enabled him to change film in the lineup. He spent the decade between California and Hawaii, capturing the best surfers in the world riding the best surf. He helped start Surfing Illustrated in 1962 and contributed to every other major surf publication of the time. By 1964, he worked exclusively with International Surfing, and it eventually dropped the "International" tag.

"He inspired so many big-name photographers that consider him their mentor."

-- John Grannis

In 1971, fed up with increased competition for the perfect angle, Grannis quit shooting surfing and soon found himself involved in hang gliding. The sport replaced surfing in his life, and he held a brief stint as photographer for Hang Gliding magazine. Several injuries, including a badly fractured leg in 1981, caused him to find a new outlet. This time it was windsurfing. Until the late '80s, Grannis both engaged in and photographed the sport.

A hardbound book of his 1960's photos, entitled Photo: Grannis, was published in 1998 by The Surfer's Journal.

He caught his last wave in 2001.

Katie, his wife of 69 years, died in 2008.

Besides his son John of Hermosa Beach, Grannis is survived by three other children, Nancy of Sonora, Calif.; Kit of Carlsbad; and Frank of Burien, WA.; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

A paddle-out memorial is being planned for Palos Verdes Cove in June.

He'll be greatly missed. Feel free to leave condolences and remembrances below.

(With Surfline's Surfing A-Z entry, written by Jason Borte)

MORE SURF NEWS
SURFLINE HOME PAGE

Comments: (114) Add Your Comment

John Grannis 02/15/2011 05:22 PM

Wow! Thanks everyone for your incredible tributes to my dad. I am overwhelmed by the kind words you have all shared with our family. Ride a wave for Granny.He's surfin now. Much Aloha john and family

John Doeppel 02/14/2011 06:25 PM

Its never easy letting go !!! But those were the best years of our life. It was all about the SPIRT & LOVE of being a surfer @ being a waterman. You can't put it in words you have to fill it in your soul. Back then it was about having STYLE like LOPEZ, HACKMAN, BERTLEMAN, and our local hero MIKE PURPOSE and so many more. John I love ya man and I fill that were all very lucky to grow up around your dad when we did. YOUR BRO!!!

Darin Daly 02/14/2011 12:19 PM

Legends don't die. I remember the look in Johns eyes as we would talk story about our fathers, then Kaylee would skate by on her board with that smooth Grannis style. God bless your entire family, from your old neighbor on Francisca.

K. Fishburn 02/14/2011 10:52 AM

Yep, he was the go to guy for surf photos. He would really imspire us 15 year old gimmys back then. Dam, all the good old guys are kickin, bummer. R.I.P. Fish

Kevin Wargula 02/12/2011 07:20 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

Surf On Brother Leroy

Bruce Clelland 02/12/2011 08:15 AM

John, I am sorry to hear about your dad. He was a super nice person and a gifted photograher, he will be truly missed. I don't if you remember but in 1965 while you were working at the surfboard factory glass research in Jax., Florida we roomed together at Jax Beach, Fl for afew months while built surfboards at glass research/allen surfboards. Itwas nice to have been friends back then. I am sorry that the passing of your father had to be the reason to reconnect. Aloha,Bruce Clelland.

Jordan Dietze 02/12/2011 07:51 AM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

I remember when I was a grom and watching him surf tamarack in his late 70's and 80's. I remember asking who is that old guy? One of the other locals there smacked me in the back of the head and said "That's Leroy Grannis you dumbass!" He was my inspiration! To see a guy surfing that late in his life made me want to do it too!

Mitch Chupack 02/12/2011 07:37 AM

To the Grannis family: I am very sorry for your loss. I did not know Mr. Grannis until we communicated by letter many years ago because I was interested in some of his historic surf photos. I sent a letter to him thinking that a gallery person or someone else might answer or that I would not receive a response. Within a week Mr. Grannis sent a very nice and friendly response telling me about the photos. I was really impressed with how kind and down to earth he was. Of blessed memory, Grannis.

Ryan Tatar 02/11/2011 11:16 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

such an inspiration

Eric Nordskog 02/11/2011 07:01 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

I did not know Leroy, but i bought "Photo: Grannis" about 5 years ago. I was in high school in early 70's, so i have vivid memories of the then published surf mags (i have many late 60's 70's surf mags i purchased on ebay, and i'm surprised that i can just look at a photo, and i STILL remember the caption without looking at the caption!-photos left a BIG impression.) Now i look at the photos in Photo:Grannis, and it takes me right back in my mind to Newport Bch 60's'70's wow.CondolencesToFAmil

Thomas Canterbury 02/11/2011 01:26 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

It was a couple a years before his photo collection went to the gallery. I called him to buy some prints. He invited me to his home to pick out the pictures I wanted. I thought this was amazing. He was so friendly. Tom Canterbury

Derek Levy 02/11/2011 08:02 AM

Rest in peace,Mr.Grannis. My thoughts and prayers go out to John and Lisa and the rest of the Grannis clan. As a rat hermosa kid, Mr. and Mrs. Grannis were always gracious to me when I was in their home. The Grannis's are an iconic South Bay family and their patriarch will be sorely missed.

Yancy Herbert 02/11/2011 02:00 AM

You were always an inspiration and just a great guy! Thank You for the days I was able to share with you in the water surfing! I will always remember them. Yancy

james fay 02/09/2011 09:13 AM

R.I.P. Granny! what a great guy, a pleasure to know. you knew you were in the presence of greatness when around him.

Art Seldner 02/09/2011 08:07 AM

Leroy will always be in my heart and thoughts. We surfed the Rack everyday. First thing in the early morning I'd call him with a surf update. I had a view of First Peak from every window. Leroy took many photos of me and since I have no kids Leroy would print a Christmas Seasons Greeting card of me surfing the Rack to send to family and friends. Thank you Leroy catch a big long right for me!

View All Comments (114 comments)

Add Your Comment:

ABOUT SURFLINE'S COMMENTS: Surfline comments are intended to foster and continue a community discussion and/or debate on the topic brought up by the feature above. We encourage you to comment and express your opinion. Before commenting, you should know that Surfline Comments are moderated, which means that comments containing personal attacks, excessive profanity, or off-topic remarks may not be posted. Also, 'EDITOR'S PICKS' are comments that we feel capture points-of-view from all sides of the issue at hand, not necessarily the comments Surfline most agrees with. Thanks. --the editors