Dawn Patrol:

Last Friday a group of friends, gathered from near and far in love and support, watched an ambulance take a slow lap around the Newport Beach pier parking lot.

Inside, Mike Marshall, educator, surfboard shaper extraordinaire, and friend and mentor to many, made his last surf check of his home break, Blackie’s. By the following evening Mike was gone at age 67, never regaining consciousness after suffering a stroke earlier that week.

As his friend Jim Knost said, “It’s a hard pill to swallow. He was our genuine hometown hero.”

Mike grew up in Newport where he developed a reputation as a hot surfer. John Lindsey remembers, “He was one of the best goofy foots on the coast. He had sweeping turns and a good, almost drop-knee cutback. He used to rip Blackie’s. People would get out of the water to watch him surf.”

Marshall got a job at Joe Quigg Surfboards. His craftsmanship in glassing and sanding was so good that Quigg began tutoring him in art of shaping. Before long he was making a lot of the boards.

During the 60’s golden era, Mike shaped for Harbour Surfboards and was instrumental in developing some of the classic models like “The Trestle Special.”

“He learned from the masters who created the modern surfboard then moved to the next level,” Terry Smith said.

Marshall left full-time shaping and completed his college education, earning a teaching credential and later a Masters degree. He taught at Nicholas junior high in Fullerton for over 30 years.

Mike’s diverse interests included palm trees (he joined the Palm Society of Southern California and created a tropical paradise in his yard), and hot rods.

“Only Marshall with his charisma could pull off taking a pink ’63 Rambler to a hot rod show,” Buster Olsen said.

His recent joy was watching his granddaughter Georgia, an aspiring Olympian, compete in swimming.

Mike and his wife Sharon started Blackie’s Classics Longboard Assn., which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in April. They are also founding partners of the Surfing Heritage Foundation in San Clemente, where Mike chaired the educational committee and was head docent.

Over the years, Mike continued to make boards when and for whom he chose. The coveted Marshall boards are prized by their owners. More than once I’ve overheard a conversation along the lines of, “Marshall’s making me a board.” “Really, I’ve been trying to get him to make me one for over a year.”

Though his accomplishments were many, Mike eschewed notoriety. He touched the lives many others of all ages, always in a positive way.

There were many stories and comments from his friends which I hope to share in the future.

Mike recounted some of surfing his experiences in an interview that can be seen in Rick and Ann Chatillon’s documentary, “Living It Forever,” when it premieres this spring.

The “Harbour Chronicles – A Life in Surfboard Culture” exhibit opens at the Frank Doyle Art Pavilion on the Orange Coast College campus Saturday. Mike was a contributor to the project which has been dedicated to his memory.

A reception with food and entertainment, open to the public, begins at 5 p.m.

JOHN BURTON’S surf column appears Fridays. He may be reached by e-mail at hot_dogger@mac.com.