LAGUNA BEACH : A Walking Artwork on the Fourth

Adorned as an American Indian and painted from head to toe, Al Simmons has been a July 4th attraction on the beach at Emerald Bay for almost a quarter-century now.

In what has become a community ritual, neighbors gather each Independence Day to doodle on Simmons’ body before he begins his annual stroll along the beach. The solitary parade soon attracts flocks of youngsters to his side. The Fourth, friends say, wouldn’t be the same without the seaside spectacle.

And the 77-year-old Simmons, whose real estate development company helped build Emerald Bay years ago, does not seem likely to abandon the tradition, which has evolved into a community celebration including a concert, picnics and games for the children.

The transformation of Simmons begins with one or two residents sketching designs on his body at a neighbor’s house on Independence Day morning. Soon, other residents stop by to pitch in, Simmons said. They decorate his body with a ship, eagle, heart, rattlesnake, school names, logos and just about anything else that’s not too “spicy” for the children, he said.

“There are times you’re standing on one leg and there will be four or five people working on you all at once,” he said.

July 4th is not the only time he comes in handy, according to residents of Emerald Bay, an oceanfront community on unincorporated land split by Coast Highway and wedged between the two northernmost sections of Laguna Beach. Since the inland portion of the development backs up to undeveloped Irvine Co. land, it is not unusual for residents to come across a sunning snake. When that happens, they call Simmons.

Simmons returns most of the snakes to the hills but has killed a few and tacked their skins to his garage wall. Sometimes the skins become part of a Thanksgiving presentation on Indian folklore that Simmons prepares for schoolchildren.

He learned about American Indians, Simmons said, a half-century ago when he traveled through their villages as a member of a U.S. geodetic team.

Much of his community involvement has centered on youngsters. In addition to coaching swim and volleyball teams, Simmons, who has earned about 25 medals competing in the Senior Olympics, plays Santa Claus at Christmas, according to longtime friend Diane Crain.

“Al is a unique human being,” Crain said. “He’s loved by everyone and he is a giver. He just does everything in this community.”