www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ANAHEIM HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SPRING 2017 Volume VIII, Issue I
AHS One Step Closer to New Pool Plans have been submitted to the California Architectural Review Board for approval The conceptual design of the new AHS Aquatics Center includes a 38 meter-by-25 yard competition pool with light fixtures that allow events to occur at night. In addition to rebuilding the pool, the aquatics center will feature an office for the coaches, equipment, modernized shower and locker rooms, and a 250-seat bleacher area. Solar panels are included in the art-deco pool design that fuses the rich architecture of the campus with new technologies. The goal is to have the aquatics center ready by the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Today’s Colonists will one day be able to take a plunge in the school pool like these Anaheim High students from 1951
New Fassel Family Fitness Center at AHS Three semi-trucks filled with state-of-the art weight room, training equipment, furniture and more has been donated to Anaheim High by alumnus Jim Fassel (’67). The donation will fill two refurbished rooms (remembered by some alumni as the auto and machine shops) to create a fitness Save center and a top-notch training room. Fassel has also funded the date! June 9 Membership new flooring for the facility, bringing the donation value to approximately $250,000. Mixer! See page 3 for more AHS Head Football Coach Lanny Hundreds, if not thousands, of Anaheim athletes were shaped information. Booher (‘81) and Jim Fassel were and guided by Jim’s father, Bud Fassel (‘39), who served as right- on hand to direct the set up hand man to Clare Van Hoorebeke in his role as equipment manager. of state-of-the-art fitness and training equipment. FASSEL continues on page 5… www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com 2 Documentary Film Maker Focusing on Historic 1956 CIF Championship Football Game It is considered the biggest high school football game in California history – the legendary 1956 CIF championship game between the Anaheim Colonists and Downey Vikings. Never again matched in terms of “A Salute to Our Colonist Heroes” local interest, young idols, and a record- setting crowd estimated as high as 60,000 spectators, the game is now the subject of a documentary film titled “A Last Hurrah” by Paul Molina. Molina is a graduate of Anaheim’s Katella High School, where he excelled in football. He attended UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television and has spent the past 25 years producing and writing documentaries and news programming for PBS, The Learning Channel, E! Entertainment, NBC affiliates, Netflix and others. PBS has already approached him about his latest project, A Last Hurrah: Film maker Paul Molina returns to his hometown one that’s much more personal to him than to film a documentary of historic Anaheim vs. Downey game. anything he’s done thus far. “As a native Southern Californian, I am very passionate about this project,” Molina said. “In today’s digital world, with instant sports coverage on smart phones, it’s difficult to appreciate the amount of hype this game generated 60 years ago, but the media buzz was unprecedented. Each team was undefeated and had a superstar in the backfield, Anaheim’s Mickey Flynn and Downey’s Randy Meadows. Each guy averaged over 15 yards per carry!” But it’s also the aftermath of the gridiron match that proved a game of such magnitude could not – and would not – ever happen again, said Molina, who is collaborating with Art Hansen, a CSUF professor emeritus who is writing a book entitled “The Golden Kingdom: Prep Football and Early Cold War Society and Culture in Southern California.” “Although the game is what drives this story forward, this documentary is about much more – a social and cultural transformation of an entire region, when all eyes of the nation were on California,” says Molina. “This documentary will appeal to all persons interested in American history in the 1950s, not just football fans.” Molina adds: “The Southern California landscape was changing so rapidly. The population was exploding. The first baby boomers were hitting their teens, so high schools were popping up everywhere. That meant more teams, more games – but smaller crowds. Municipal boundaries were eroding as well, with more freeways. There just wasn’t a small town feel anymore to places like Anaheim and Downey, and with more professional sports teams moving into the region, high school football would never 60th Anniversary: Bob Baker ‘59, a again be the huge draw it was in post-WWII Southern California. The sport sophomore center in the Anaheim vs. would continue to be popular, but you would never see another game like Downey game, proudly displays the wallet the ‘56 team received for an A LAST HURRAH continues on page 5… undefeated championship season. 3 www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com
2017 MEMBERSHIP MIXER “A Salute to Our Colonist Heroes”
WHEN: Friday, June 9th • 5 to 8 p.m. Hosts: Anaheim Home of Barry & Cathi (Soden) Hofstetter ’67 (off Sunkist between Ball and Wagner) Note: Address will be provided upon RSVP Salute to Anaheim (by June 2) to [email protected] High Fallen Questions: AHSAA Membership Director HeroEs & Colonist Veterans Debbie Vidana @ 714-883-2389. ✯Americana Menu Cost: Open to all members of the Colonist ✯Beer & Wine community who join or renew their AHSAA (with donation) membership at the $25 level or above ✯Music (sign-up form on reverse). ✯Memorabilia Dress: Casual, outdoor event. ✯Photo Booth Can’t Attend: Please join the AHSAA via ✯Silent Auction www.anaheimcolonists.com/become-a- donor or mail in donation (sign-up form on ✯Opportunity reverse). Drawing Your membership donation is for fiscal year A special gift for July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 all who attend! All donations tax deductible - I.D. No. 26-4323941
Mission Statement The mission of the AHSAA is to serve as an Association of active alumni who help, through donations and endowments, to save and preserve AHS history and provide assistance to the Anaheim Student Body by providing scholarships, supporting school programs and advancing Colonist Pride and Tradition.
www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com 4
Thank you for supporting Anaheim High School and its students. The AHS Alumni Association encourages yearly donations to continue its important work of awarding annual scholarships; supporting academic, athletic and performing arts programs; and preserving Anaheim High and its legendary spirit, pride and tradition. The current AHSAA fiscal year is July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018.
DONOR LEVELS: Renewal New Donor
□ GRADUATE - $10 (available to alumni up to five years after graduation) □ BLUE - $25 □ GOLD - $50 (Colonist Tote) □ COLONIST - $100 (Tote & T-Shirt) □ SPIRIT - $250 (Tote with Colonist Collectibles & T-Shirt) □ PRIDE - $500 (Tote with Colonist Collectibles, T-Shirt & Collectible Lapel Pin) □ LEGACY (Lifetime Membership) - $1000 (all of the above & listing on www.anaheimcolonists.com)
T-Shirt Size ______(M-2XL) (Note: Incentives available while supplies last.) □ Additional donation to Dr. Paul Demaree Endowed Scholarship $ ______□ Additional donation to Jan Harp Domene Endowed Scholarship $ ______□ Additional donation to AHSAA Memorial Endowment $ ______
IN MEMORY/HONOR OF: ______Class Year: ______(Bio and photos welcome; mail with form or send digitally if possible.)
Total Amount Enclosed: $______======Please check here if you wish to waive donor incentive: □
First:______Maiden:______Last:______
Address: ______Class Year: ______
City: ______State: ______Zip: ______
E-Mail:______Phone: ______
Mail checks made payable to AHSAA and mail to: P.O. Box 389, Anaheim, CA 92815
Please visit www.anaheimcolonists.com for more information on the AHSAA. Questions??? E-mail [email protected] AHSAA is a 501(c)3 organization - Tax ID No. 26-4323941 5 www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com
FASSEL FAMILY FITNESS CENTER continues from cover… But Bud did much more than take care of athletic equipment, according to Gerald “Woody” Woodward from Class of ’59 who serves as AHS Alumni Association president: “Bud counseled, guided and supported the young men who were part of the Anaheim High athletic program,” said Woodward. “He cared for the kids and was a father figure to us all.” Bud’s impact was evident when, in 1992, hundreds of former students and athletes attended his funeral to honor him for his more than 25 years at Anaheim High. His contribution to Anaheim High continues today through an annual Bud Fassel Memorial Scholarship. Bud’s son, Jim, was among the outstanding athletes produced by Anaheim High. From the days of playing football at AHS, Jim went on to a successful career in the world of football. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1997, and he took the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001. Most recently, he served as head coach, manager and president of the Las Vegas Football players help Locomotives in the United Football League, winning several UFL titles during the league’s unload three truck loads existence. He also works as an ESPN sports announcer. of equipment for new The Colonist community is grateful for the generosity of this outstanding Colonist. fitness center
A LAST HURRAH continued from page 2… Anaheim vs. Downey again. That epic game was kind of the end of an era – a last hurrah.” The AHSAA is working closely with Molina to provide him access to archival film footage, newspaper articles, photographs and other memorabilia from the game. In addition, alumni volunteers worked for months locating former players to invite them and their families to a 60th anniversary celebration of the game. During this December 2016 event, Molina flew to Orange County from his home in St. Paul, Minnesota, to interview and film several players, as well as spectators and family members. “There is a sense of urgency,” says Molina. “It’s almost certain that these reunions will not be formally arranged ever again.” A fund raising goal of $24,000 will allow completion of a work-in-progress in order to obtain finishing funds from foundations and organizations dedicated to historical and cultural preservation. So far, $10,200 of the goal has been raised. More information about “A Last Hurrah,” along with a 5-minute promo, is available at http://www.alasthurrahmovie. com. To make a donation to this important project, mail a check made payable to the AHSAA, with “A Last Hurrah” noted on the memo line, to P.O. Box 389, Anaheim, CA, 92805. Questions may be directed to anaheimalumni@yahoo. com or to Paul Molina via [email protected].
Colonists Reunite: Former players from the ‘56 champion game, joined by their wives Gold & Blue Editor: (all AHS grads), gather again at Glover Stadium, the house built by Colonist football. Janet (Young) Brown ‘77 They include (l-r): Bob Lukens ‘57, Bob Baker ‘59, Beth (Troster) Flynn ‘58, Jean Graphic Design & Printing: (Miller) Mauerhan, a ‘57 songleader who performed at the game, Bill Mauerhan ‘57, Nancy (Ott) Rennie ‘76 Don Ramsey ‘57, Mickey Flynn ‘57, and Charlene (Schutz) Baker ‘58. www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com 6 Anaheim High Salutes Walsworth Siblings as an“Outstanding Colonist Family” 1940’s Graduates Served Country & Community Throughout Their Lifetimes When alumni sing “Anaheim thy sons and daughters Walsworth, who passed away in December 2010 at age who take to life’s great ways,” they certainly can count 76, lived a full life that included many friends (including Shirley, Dick and James Walsworth among Colonist Frank Sinatra). He and his first wife Nancy had two distinguished graduates to whom the school song children, Bill and Catherine. Jim was also a Freemason refers. and a member of the El Bekal Shrine, serving as A Class of 1951 graduate, president of the Gold Coast Shrine Club. James Walsworth pursued a An interesting side note: Walsworth became friends lifelong career in law, which with Sinatra in 1976 when he officiated at the singer’s reached a pinnacle when he wedding to the former Barbara Marx. “Frank loved Jim’s was appointed as an Orange witty personality and ability to talk on any subject,” said County Superior Court judge sister Shirley. “He even served as a pallbearer at Sinatra’s by President Ronald Reagan, funeral.” then California’s governor. Dick Walsworth from Class of Born March 7, 1934, Jim was 1948 was also active at Anaheim an Orange County native who High. He played varsity tennis James Walsworth ‘51 was raised on a citrus ranch on even while running his own Chapman Avenue in Orange. weed spraying business. Many At Anaheim High, he was student body president nights for Dick were spent and an all-CIF champion in water polo. running crews of smudgers, Jim went on to attend Fullerton JC, where he trying to save the family’s 35 was also a student body officer. He continued his Dick Walsworth ‘48 acres of oranges from frost education at UC Berkley, earning a Bachelor’s in damage. business and marketing. Going to school after being up all night wasn’t easy to After obtaining his Juris do, but it did condition him to graduate from Cal Poly Doctorate degree from while raising four sons, according to Shirley. Hastings Law School, he After running the huge King Ranch in Central California, began his career as an Dick moved back to Orange County to start a real Orange County assistant estate firm, benefitting from the “boom” years. district attorney, then He owned and ran Walsworth Real Estate, which is still left the DA’s office to being run by Jim’s son, Bill. Dick’s son, Jeff, owns the begin a private practice. largest private law firm in Orange County. Dick was Prior to serving as a also an active Rotarian and Shriner and often met AHS California Superior friends for breakfast. He died June 27, 2014. Court judge, he sat as a Municipal Court Judge. WALSWORTH SIBLINGS continues on page 7…
VISIT THE AHSAA WEBSITE – WWW.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.COM Take a moment to visit the Alumni Association website to learn more about the work being done to preserve Anaheim’s proud history of Spirit, Pride & Tradition. By SUBSCRIBING to the website, you will be added to our MailChimp data base and receive information on reunions, events and good news about your alma mater. Once A Colonist, Always A Colonist! 7 www.ANAHEIMCOLONISTS.com 2017 SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS
The AHS Alumni Association awarded $17,500 in scholarships to 16 graduates for the 2016-17 school year. The student winners are (l-r): Kiabeth Verduzco, Francisco Alverez, Angel Martinez, Krystal Padilla, Griselda Paez-Vega, Idalis Camarena, Emily Trejo, Michelle Yep, Isaura Castro, Manual Guerrero, Miriam Lozano, Arriana Santos, Ashley Vergara (Class of ’66 Scholarship), Sandy Zendejas (Jan Domene Scholarship) and Julie Lopez (Dr. Paul Demaree Scholarship). Not pictured: Kimberly Villa (Alumni Breakfast Scholarship). The Class of 1966 donated a $1,000 to the AHSAA for a scholarship and the Alumni Breakfast group donated $500. Thanks for the great support and kudos to the AHSAA Scholarship Committee members, headed by Larry Larsen ‘64, for their hard work and dedication.
Walsworth Siblings continued from page 6… Shirley (Walsworth) Guardia, a Class of 1946 graduate, where she bought for 14 was also a school leader. As a teenager during WWII, stores located in the hotels Shirley worked at various jobs while also being “super surrounding Disneyland. active” at high school. She waitressed at Knott’s, along Working for Disney was so with most of the other girls in her class. much fun “I felt guilty for being “I could write a book filled with all my memories of that paid,” she quipped. time, said Shirley, who was crowned queen for raising Also a wife and mother, Shirley the most money for a WWII victory bond drive. “After was an active member of all,” said Shirley, “the ‘grown ups’ were all serving the war the Yorba Linda community, Shirley (Walsworth) effort in some way.” where she still resides, and was Guardia ‘46 After leaving Anaheim High, she continued her selected as “Woman of the Year” for her community education at Cal Berkeley, then started her career in service. the fashion industry as clothing buyer for department The AHS Alumni Association is proud to salute this stores. Her last position was for Walt Disney Corp. outstanding Colonist family!
ABOUT THE AHSAA The AHSAA is the official alumni organization for Anaheim High School and is recognized as such by the Anaheim Union High School District. The AHSAA is a 501(c)3 organization registered with the State of California and the Federal Government and donations are tax deductible (ID No.— 26-4323941). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors that follow bylaws and articles of incorporation. The fiscal year runs from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. The AHSAA official website is www.anaheimcolonists.com. Questions may be directed to [email protected]. AHSAA 2017 CALENDAR May 25 AHS Graduation – Glover Stadium – 7P June 3 Alumni Breakfast – 8 - 9:30A June 5 AHSAA Board Meeting & Election of Officers – Anaheim Community Center – 6P June 9 Membership Drive Mixer – Private Anaheim Home – 5 - 8P Information Sept. 15 Homecoming & Post-Game Party at Anaheim Applebee’s – 7P on these events is Oct. 14 Class of 1977 – 40th Reunion listed under the Calendar on Oct. 21 Class of 1957 – 60th Reunion anaheimcolonists.com. Oct. 21 Class of 1967 – 50th Reunion Questions may be directed to Oct. 21 7th Annual Colony Classic Car Show – AHS Campus – 10A - 2P [email protected] or by calling Debbie Vidana @
714-883-2389
OCTOBER 21, 2017 • 10 AM – 2 PM ANAHEIM HIGH CAMPUS 811 W. LINCOLN AVENUE Free Admission • Food • Vendors Drawings • Entertainment Car pre-reg $35 til 9/30 Questions? Email:[email protected] or call (949) 378-9255 Download car entry forms at www.anaheimcolonists.com