ISSUE 966 June 1, 2020 T ORRANCE NEWS TORCH Lighting the Way to Torrance High School Since 1922 SENIORS: ACHIEVERS OF 2020! THERESA HOLLIS RETIRES BY MIKI IGNACIO Staff Writer After twenty-three years, Theresa start of the school year and graduation, kept her Hollis, one of Torrance High School’s most busy, but Mrs. Hollis stated, “you just work significant faculty members, is retiring on through to get everything done.” September 11. Throughout her career at THS, With her husband and THS’s football Mrs. Hollis has held leadership positions in the coach, Rock Hollis, she looks forward to her Curriculum Office and as the Principal's retirement. Although Mrs. Hollis will have more Assistant. leisure time, she admits she will “miss the hectic Mrs. Hollis is a Torrance High schedule of the school year” and the “wonderful DR. MANNON RETIRES School alumnus from the class of 1972. She faculty and staff.” Working at THS brought BY USHNA ANWAR started working in Torrance Unified School pleasant connections and friends for a lifetime. District in September of 1993 at Bert Lynn After retirement, Mrs. Hollis plans on Staff Writer Middle School and Calle Mayor Middle working on several projects at home, and desires School. to take a vacation during the fall to see the “fall Torrance Unified School from Glendora Unified School Later, she worked at West High foliage on the east coast.” Mrs. Hollis also plans District Superintendent, Dr. District where he had been the School as an assistant to the Assistant Principal. on traveling to Texas to visit her daughter, son- George Mannon, announced his Superintendent since July of 2000. However, when a chance to work at THS in-law, and grandchildren more often. opened up, Mrs. Hollis “jumped at the Mrs. Hollis has made many memories plans to retire at the end of June Prior to that, he was the 2020. Dr. Mannon has spent fifteen Superintendent of the Tustin Unified opportunity to return to [her] alma mater.” The during her time at THS, but one memory in love and passion for her school brought her particular is very special to her: a student’s years as the Superintendent of School District from 1996 to 2000, back even after graduation. grandfather walked into her office and Torrance Unified School District. and Carlsbad Unified School District Each day brought valuable and reminisced about an outstanding athlete back in He is a well-known citizen of from 1993 to 1996. cherished experiences for Mrs. Hollis, and his time. As the conversation progressed, Mrs. Torrance and an active member in He transferred to Torrance students played an endearing role. “I love being Hollis realized the athlete in question was none his community. from Glendora Unified School around students,” she remarks, “...the students other than her husband, Rock. Mrs. Hollis is Dr. Mannon is very well- District where he had been the are so smart, bright and clever.” Keeping up thankful for her time at THS supporting the Superintendent since July of 2000. with the latest trends, gazing at the senior patio students she holds so dear. educated, to say the least. He earned his Bachelor’s in Social Prior to that, he was the from her window, watching freshman grow up Because much of the Hollis family into seniors, and hearing them laugh in the halls are Torrance High School graduates, Mrs. Hollis Superintendent of the Tustin Unified Studies at the University of were the little things Mrs. Hollis appreciated expresses sadness knowing the connection she Tennessee in Knoxville and went School District from 1996 to 2000, while working at THS. has of the past and present will end with her and Carlsbad Unified School District on to gain his Master’s in History “One of the reasons I enjoy my job retirement. Although the connection may from Marshall University in West from 1993 to 1996. is that you never know what each day will dissipate, Torrance High School will never forget Virginia. Dr. Mannon ultimately Along with being an bring.” Some may dislike unpredictability, but the happiness she brought to this campus. earned his Doctorate in Education excellent superintendent for many Mrs. Hollis looked at it in a positive light— Wishing Mrs. Hollis all the best seems grossly Administration from Arizona State years, Dr. Mannon is also an active though she has had her fair share of challenging inadequate compared to the legacy she leaves times. Numerous school events, such as the behind. University. member in his community. He has Like most been involved with Rotary administrators, Dr. Mannon International for twenty-three years, FAREWELL TO FOOTBALL, ROCK HOLLIS garnered years of teaching in addition to being the President of experience before becoming an the Tustin Rotary Club for one year. BY VERONICA GARZA administrator. He was a Social Dr. Mannon is still an active member Studies teacher at Charleston High of the Torrance Del Amo Rotary Staff Writer under the Friday night lights,” he remarked. “My Rock Hollis, Torrance High School’s daughter was a cheerleader and my son played School in West Virginia, and Club, along with being on the head football coach of twenty-six years, gives a ultimately became an Assistant Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation for me.” fond farewell to football and a warm welcome to The legacy Mr. Hollis leaves behind is Principal there. Following that, he Advisory Board. retirement. After beginning his coaching career one of great impact and gratitude. George was hired as Executive Director of Dr. George Mannon has in January of 1991, Mr. Hollis quickly became Tachibana, Director of Athletics at THS, Kanawha County Schools, also in done a superlative job serving the the head football coach for THS in 1994. commented: “He has always cared deeply for all West Virginia, from 1984 to 1987. City of Torrance within the confines Previous to coaching high school of his players and the feeling was mutual.” Mr. Dr. Mannon then worked as a of education and community service. athletes, Mr. Hollis coached his own children in Tachibana added, “He was always there for his sports, including “running, baseball, basketball, Mr. Don Lee of the Torrance Unified players, pushing them to improve as both football principal for the Phoenix Union swimming, tennis, and volleyball.” When his High School District from 1987 to School District Board of Education players and people.” Throughout his career, Mr. predecessor, Bill Bynum, offered him a coaching Hollis proved to be a mentor as well as a coach. 1993. stated, “Torrance Schools are a far position, Mr. Hollis said he “jumped at the “I’ve juggled two jobs since I started The Torrance Unified better place because of Dr. Mannon.” chance to make a difference and inspire the guys coaching and it will be nice to have extra time to His time as Superintendent has to play with intensity,” eager to aid in the School District Board of focus on my business and family.” Mr. Hollis Education hired Dr. George impacted the lives of students in mentoring of the next generation’s athletes. looks forward to retiring with his wife and fellow Accepting a coaching role pushed Mannon in 2005 as Torrance tremendously and we wish THS faculty member, Theresa Hollis. He plans on Superintendent of Schools. He him all the best in his future Mr. Hollis’ involvement in the sport of football focusing on his electrical business, as well as to come full circle, as he finds it to be “an honor visiting his daughter, son-in-law, and transferred to Torrance endeavors! to coach and play at the same school.” As a grandchildren in Texas. player at THS, Mr. Hollis was a Blanket Award However, as excited as he is to begin recipient, explaining it was “exhilarating to writing a more relaxed, leisurely chapter of his coach Blanket Award winners each year.” He life, when asked what he will miss most, Mr. found passion in guiding student athletes along Hollis responded, “I will miss the excitement and a path of success similar to the one he had walked intensity of the game....when I hear the fight song, years ago. smell the fresh cut grass, hear the roar of the After approximately two decades of crowd, and see the cheerleaders on the sidelines, I coaching football, Mr. Hollis walks away with an get goosebumps.” extensive highlight reel. He joyfully recalls As a former THS student athlete and moments such as the “second round of CIF football coach, Mr. Hollis expresses a nostalgic playoffs in the 2011 season” in which “we won sadness with his retirement, thinking of all of the over Ojai to put us in the semi-finals.” In addition to memories made with athletes who have run onto the field before him, his athletes, Mr. Hollis was fortunate enough to and those who will in the future. Mr. Hollis have made memories with his family. “From concludes his thoughts with the two words he has 1993-1998, my whole family was there together spent a good portion of his life chanting: “Go Tartars!” Local News 2 Recovering the Economy Reopening from Quarantine BY MIKI IGNACIO BY JOSHUA FLORES Staff Writer Staff Writer During COVID-19 has will increase the global economic By press time, it will be 81 days Texas Governor Greg Abbot affected the economy on a global flow, even by a miniscule margen. since the stay-at-home orders permeated was quoted: “Starting immediately, scale, but recent reports have shown a the universal society. The quarantine has child-care services are able to open,” According to Yahoo, hopeful return. Economies in some nearly “40 million [Americans] are caused devastating effects on working and “that also includes programs like countries have slowly started to out of work,” and “more than 2.4 class Americans and the US economy.