Name: Tom Nadal ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jul 29, 2009, 10:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: The OC
E-mail
Message: I agree with Jill. It would be great to get together with OC Cougars. One idea for a location is the summer concert series at Chapman University in Orange. The music, parking, popcorn, lemonade, and coffee are all FREE. On Friday, August 14, a group called Surfin' USA is playing all Beach Boys hits starting at 6 pm. For more info, check out www.chapman.edu/summerconcerts

Name: Dennis Kilroy ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jul 29, 2009, 10:02 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: OC CA
E-mail
Message: Hey Jill, count me in !

Name: Jim Gibson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jul 18, 2009, 1:28 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Redding, CA
E-mail
Message: There was discussion and debate some time back as to who was the best athlete produced by HHS. John, I believe you went with Dan Dye (a very good choice). It would be difficult, I think, to discount THE MYK as being the greatest TRIPLE-SPORT athlete produced by HHS. I was a 7th or 8th grader when Gary was a senior. I went to all the home games(Gary's team mate, Mike Babineau, a friend of my older brother as well as a baseball team mate of mine at El Camino), played on that team. That was an awesome team! It was as though HHS had a full-grown man on the team! Hey, Gary, if you read this, I think "Babs" is still on 135th St in Hawthorne, living in the house in which he grew-up! Hope he's part of the reunion!

Name: Susan King ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jul 18, 2009, 10:49 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1974
City & State: Thousand Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: Today is dear Mike Backus' birthday! It's been awhile since he posted in and we have all missed him. Maybe if we all shake his email box he'd stop in and say hello. Michael - if you're out there, HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear lifelong friend. Love you bunches, have a wonderful day and party tonite. Wish we were there!

Name: Henry Cooper ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jul 18, 2009, 6:59 am - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Redway Ca.
E-mail
Message: John: Sloey once told me "Beer For Beer" he feels "The Myk" was the best Triple Sport Cougar Student Athlete of the 60's. I tend to agree with him. What do you think? Cougarilly Yours: Henry Cooper

Name: Tom Nadal ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 10:02 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: The OC
E-mail
Message: Wayne, thanks for the warning of the revolving door of adult children with their crew coming back home. I guess empty nesters don't really get RVs to explore the open roads, but actually to keep moving so as not to get blindsided by that revolving door bringing kids back to the nest. This economy is probably going to cause more students to consider grad school rather than face a tough job market. Is it true Walmarts allow free overnight RV stays in their parking lots? If so, this might be a cheap option to explore the open roads.

Name: Danny Petty ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 9:41 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1965
City & State: SANTA ANA, CA
E-mail
Message: Glenn, the Piper Cub crashed at 5348 w. 127th place which was just about behind Diane and Vince Botticelli's house, they lived on El Segundo. Parts of the plane damaged a few homes on 127th place. I recall hearing the pilot gun the engine as it went over my house, he was trying to make it to the empty field which became TRW. True, the pilot didn't make it and the Caldwell family was away on vacation. I recall my dad hopping over the block wall to help put out the fire.

Name: Jim Sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 7:52 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: solvang, ca
E-mail
Message: Hey Barbara Duran that wasn't an airplane. That was George Frenn throwing a 16 pound hammer down 134th St at about 11 o'clock asking your dad to watch his follow-through. I can still hear Doc, George no, George no oh George why here! Crash!!!!

Name: Larry Bach ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 5:37 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Torrance, CA
E-mail
Message: In late 1967 there was a small plane crash where Hawthorne Intermediate School student Sylvia McHenry and her family were killed, see Cougartown post by Sean Ramey, page 470. It was all very sad and upsetting at the time.

Name: John Crotty ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 4:57 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: hermosa beach,CA
E-mail
Message: Hello Fellow Cougars, Sorry this has taken so long but I've been somewhat distracted and along with shifting between my sister's house (thank you Noreen), and doctor's appointments it has been difficult. I'm home now and it feels great to be back to a semi-normal existence. Again, I want to thank so many of you for your prayers and well wishes. I read all of your comments on CT and I received so many cards from people I never met, people I've met once or twice and people I've known for 40 years or more. All of them Cougars. I was really overwhelmed and touched. I just can't thank all of you enough. I'm progressing remarkably well and have no residual side effects. The healing is slow and painful, but my doctors are confident I will be back. I truly believe if it hadn't been for the well wishes and prayers of so many, I wouldn't be here today. Even the Medical personnel called it a "Miracle," so I feel blessed. The only thing that bothers me, and this is purely from a vanity issue, is that they shaved my head and it's taking forever to grow back. That and the huge weight loss I experienced makes me look like those images we've all seen of a POW or a Holocaust survivor. What a remarkable transformation. Anyway, I'm glad to be here and I hope to see many of you again...Thank you so much, all of you...what a fabulous extended family I have...Your all in my heart forever, John Crotty.

Name: Wayne Dickey ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 3:32 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: La Palma, Ca.
E-mail
Message: Tom Nadal 77'! Kids are gone--------Lock the doors, change the phone #, and hide the extra money! THEY WILL BE BACK. I love mine, but they always come back. The only problem with that is, they bring more back with them (boy friend, girl friend, husband, wife, And/or kids). I'm sure you did a good job raising them, but todays kids have it really hard. College education, and they can't find a job. The cost of living is outragous. When we graduated, there were more jobs then people. With the economy the way it is, I would have stayed at home until I was 30. Sorry for the bad news Tom, but I'm just trying to keep it real. Wayne

Name: Gregory Bashford ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 7:16 am - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: hollywood, Ca
E-mail
Message: Hey Anita, As I am writing you a long overdue email, I peeked to see posts here. Will your grandson make me an Uncle? Or a 4th or 5th cousin, I get confused on all this stuff. All this talk about the plane crashes, which I don't remember, but interesting, reminds me of a tornado on my street when I was in grade school at Eucalyptus, maybe 1963? Does anyone remember more details? I recall coming home from school and seeing all these wood shingles stuck in our front lawn, but thats about it.

Name: Gary Mykkanen ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 7:08 am - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: Brea Ca
E-mail
Message: The 1963 HHS baseball Bay League Champs are having a reunion at Lou E Lueys in the Redondo Beach Wharf on Sat Aug 15. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome--- most of the team will be there--- drop me an email if you would like to join us so we can finalize the head count. The party will start around noon

Name: Michael M Kratz ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 17, 2009, 6:06 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Vegas
E-mail
Message: I think Barbara and I witness the same plane crash/landing. It's been so many years that it could be 1973 and 134th street. I should get off the subject of plane crashes. I live under the landing path for Nellis Air Force Base and their having Red Flag exercise right now! Even though they hold Red Flag traning out-side of Vegas they have to bring the planes back and land them!!!

Name: Loretta Cuiper ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 11:57 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: MORELLI
Class: 1962
City & State: HAWTHORNE, CA
E-mail
Message: I don't remember too much of the details, but sometime in the 60's there was a plane crash on 120th between Freeman and Prairie. It was more like a landing, his engine was giving him trouble, they landed, maybe there was damage to the wing, but they walked away. Also in the 90's maybe early 2000 a plane came down at the corner of Birch and El Segundo there is a Del Taco or maybe a Taco Bell on that corner. They crashed in the street right in front of the take out order window. I believe there were two people who died in this crash. ALWAYS A COUG

Name: Jon Sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 7:24 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: Hawthorne
E-mail
Message: Marilyn Ross mentioned a plane going down in the late 60's with a student and pilot. The pilot was Jean Rose one of the best women flight instructors. Jean had won the womens powderpuff flight across the United States several times. This crash was caused by engine problems. At that time I was working at the gas pits at Hawthorne Airport. Many of the old timer pilots said that if Jean had not been at the controls the out come would have been very different.

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 6:26 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Spinnaker Cove, Ca
E-mail
Message: Hey, John boy; Man, you guys & Gals really know how to make sombody feel old, bragging about Grandchildren, LOL. I have six, between three marriages, oldest 23 years lives in Illinois & youngest 4 years age, lives in Pasadena love em all, just don't get to see that much of them there scattered from New England to California.

Name: Glenn Crist ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 2:51 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Sonoma
E-mail
Message: Paco, there was a private plane crash in the early to mid-1950's on 127th Street / Place a couple of doors off Isis, across from what is now Del Aire Park, but was the Leuzinger brother's last remaining farmstead at the time. This would have been close to, or next door to Danny Petty's family's house. My dad was headed to work at North American Aviation the morning it happened, saw the plane go down and rushed over to see if he could help. The pilot was killed but I think the family who owned the house was on vacation and it was empty. The house did suffer extensive damage. Danny might remember more details, but I don't see a e-mail address for him on the alumni list.

Name: Barbara Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 2:16 pm - HHS Time
E-mail
Message: We lived at 5167 W. 134th st, I "think" it was 1973 a small, single engine plane crashed at the end of our street. It flattened the tops of a few cars, some of which, belonged to the guys working out in my dads gym.

Name: Michael M Kratz ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 1:48 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Vegas
E-mail
Message: Since were on Hawthorne plane crashes, back in 1972, I heard a puttering sound and went out-side and saw a single engine plane that landed on South La Cienega Boulevard that runs along side of the 405, near 133rd street! I had my trusty KODAK Blue Button 110 and ran to the plane and took pictures of the guy getting out! Since no-one got hurt and the plane wasn't damaged, I guess there is no-need for me to up-load the photo.

Name: Anita Bell ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 11:56 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Harmon
Class: 1969
City & State: Fair Oaks, Ca
E-mail
Message: Hey Jim Sloey and JB and any other "Grandparents in waiting". This must be the year for BOYS! I just found out this week that I am getting a Grandson too!!!...his ultrasound photos left no doubt! Nathan Thomas Archer is due November 27th. I'm starting to get excited. He will be my first but hopefully not the last.

Name: Howard Paco Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 11:29 am - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Lake Forest
E-mail
Message: Wasn't there a crash in Del Aire around the 1950's? I remember my brother in-law Danny Morrow and cousin Carol Coombs talking about it, seems it was real close to their house. They lived close to El Segundo and Anza.

Name: Armand Vaquer ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 11:04 am - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Tarzana, Karloffornia
E-mail
Message: Don't sweat it, Mike. The plane crash happened after your post. Weird, though. I remember a plane crash around 1972 in a residential neighborhood near the Hawthorne Airport. I saw a plane crash in West L.A. about 20 years ago. It was an experimental plane and the pilot tried to get back to Santa Monica Airport but it went down. I was stuck in traffic at Olympic Blvd. on the 405 going south and saw the whole thing.

Name: Marilyn Ros ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 10:54 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Wisham
Class: 1956
No E-mail
Message: My mother lived on Broadway about a block east of the circle. In the late 60's a plane went down on Broadway a couple of blocks east of her. We heard a loud crack and ran outside to see what it was. The telephone pole was broken in two and hanging. Then wires started falling and sparks flying. We could see a large plume of black smoke and thought surely someone died. The plane landed on Broadway and crashed into a car. The pilot and student walked away unhurt and nobody on the ground was hit. Plane and car a total loss.

Name: Tom Nadal ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 10:37 am - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: The OC
E-mail
Message: I remember that midair plane collision in the 60's. I was in the backyard with my dad and I heard him saying "Oh no, oh no." and looking up at the sky. When I looked up I saw one of the plane's wings flapping like someone bending their elbow, and heading down to the ground. My brothers and I got on our bikes and raced over to the crash site and got there just as the first responders arrived. There was also a helicopter crash around that same time when it was transporting AC units onto the roof of a Northrop building. OK, on to a happier topic. Just took youngest daughter to college orientation in San Diego. With a son working in Torrance, another daughter in Santa Barbara, and the last starting college next month, my wife and I will soon be empty nesters. What should I do with this new burst of freedom? Any advice from wise older Cougars would be appreciated.

Name: Cal Kappen ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 9:50 am - HHS Time
Class: 1959
City & State: Oceanside CA
E-mail
Message: I don't remember what year it was but I remember a midair collision at Hawthorne airport. I just got through flying and was leaving the airport when I heard on my radio that there was a midair at the airport. I was driving past Northrop when I saw what was left of a small aircraft in their parking lot. Thank God it was a Saturday and the parking lot was empty. I went over to help but saw right away that there was nothing I could do. One of the planes made a safe landing. I was so traumatized that I stopped flying for a long time. Take care! Cal Kappen

Name: Neil Larson ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 16, 2009, 9:07 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Crestview, FL.
E-mail
Message: Some of the Alumni will recognize fellow COUGAR- Mike Huerta- We met on Nyman Hall?s stage as Thespians of drama & Mr. Fix many years ago- In 1971 he shifted gears to be dropped into the Viet Nam War- I have heard ?Cougar Sighting? an overused expression like ?old school? is reduced to just a mere blog on a feedback page. I challenge everyone to attempt a finer tribute to any lifelong friends & Cougars! The over-used expression ?Cougar Sighting? ought to be documented with a photo to be truly authentic and held in high esteem. SO may I present my version of a ?documented? Cougar Sighting