Ocean City — The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 2009 Citizen of the Year and Business Beautification Awards at its annual dinner on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Greate Bay Country Club.

The 2009 Citizen of the Year Award will be presented to resident Fred Miller. Miller grew up in the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh, Pa. His love of the Jersey shore began in the 1950s while vacationing in Stone Harbor. He became a lifeguard on the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol in 1960. In 1965, he joined the Ocean City Beach Patrol and from then on considered Ocean City his home.

He graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1963 and began his teaching career at Ewing Township High School teaching health, physical education and driver education and coaching wrestling. He taught for 33 years, most of the time at Pennsauken High School.

He was appointed an OCBP lieutenant in 1981 and was placed in charge of the patrol’s public relations, which was the start of his writing career. He has written over a thousand newspaper and magazine articles and seven books.

Miller met his wife, Susan, in 1975 while lifeguarding on the 14th Street beach.

The couple’s seven books include “Ocean City: America’s Greatest Family Resort,” “Ocean City Beach Patrol,” “Ocean City 1950-1980,” “Ocean City: An Illustrated History,” “New Jersey’s Southern Shore,” “Atlantic City: An Illustrated History” and “Ocean City Baby Parade.”

Besides his writing, Fred is busy with the following organizations: the Exchange Club of Ocean City, Ocean City Historical Museum, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum, Ocean City First Night Committee, Ocean City Historic Preservation Commission, Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission, Ocean City Beach Patrol Alumni Association, Iowa Wesleyan College Alumni Association, Retired Educators Association of Cape May County, New Jersey Education Association and the National Education Association.

For dinner reservations or to congratulate the winners in the 2009 program book, call the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce at (609) 399-1412.