Name: Dean Morris ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jul 26, 2009, 11:44 am - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Vallejo, CA
E-mail
Message: Gary Bickers raises an interesting question. Who are/were the most accomplished, successful HHS alumni from non-sports fields? Seems like we have an obsession about sports or pop culture heroes to the exclusion of many talented persons who went on to become leaders in other fields. I dont think it necessarily is all about smarts, IQ or your grades, but more about how you developed your talents you were given. Does anyone have good stories to share about Hawthorne entrepeneurs, artists, writers, inventors, public leaders, great teachers or school principals, 911-type police or firemen heroes? Maybe these folks don't check into CTown, but somebody knows who they are. Maybe some of our faculty can help out in this regard. Any of our alumni ever become a Rhodes scholar or win a Pulitzer Prize, etc? Our HHS Hall of Fame should be broader than the jocks and Beach Boys, it just takes a little more scratching below the surface.

Name: Michael M Kratz ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jul 26, 2009, 10:57 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Vegas
E-mail
Message: Answer to Kieth question, if I woke up spinning, I would head straight to the doctor. Of course I'll get someone to drive me to the Doctor. Which by the way is exactly what I'm doing next week, I'm going in for a check-up. I feel great for 56, just can't run, jump and skip like I use to do when I was young.

Name: Steve Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jul 26, 2009, 9:20 am - HHS Time
No E-mail
Message: Keith, I think Hitchcock had Vertigo too. I had shingles once.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jul 26, 2009, 6:34 am - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Las Vegas
E-mail
Message: Had an interesting day yesterday spending the whole day in bed. At about 10am the room started to spin. I am lying in my bed working on my laptop. A long story short. This last till about 6pm. I literally could not get out of bed without going all over the place. It hit me all of a sudden. It felt kind of cool but at around 2pm I started getting sick inside and threw up twice. It got better at night. I could not even watch TV and kept my eyes shut the whole time just about. I feel better now at least enough to look at the computer. But, I did have to get up to do my morning business and it was hard to walk straight. It appears I have Vertigo. I will see how I feel after today to see what I will do tomorrow. Anyone else have had this. Kind of feels like after you spin around for awhile and then stop. Everything else keeps going.

Name: Laura Anderson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jul 25, 2009, 8:37 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Twitchell
Class: 1979
City & State: Hemet, CA
E-mail
Message: Spent the afternoon at Manhattan Beach enjoying the big surf and the daring men and women attempting to conquer the angry sea....also brought to mind another HHS athlete that made it to the "show"...in volleyball...Marla Manriquez-O'Hara....pro women's beach volleyball...she played other sports before graduating in '79 and then going on to make her mark in the Pro circuit.

Name: Ron Reinholdson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jul 25, 2009, 6:31 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1965
City & State: Claremont, CA
E-mail
Message: Cougar sighting; Big day at Son Onofre. Entering the parking lot, who should I see but Bob Wankel--'64. I parked. We talked for awhile. I surfed 10 footers. Got out. Went back to Bob's car and talked for a while. Then we paddled out together and surfed together for about an hour. This was my first time out in about 6 moths and I got worked several times. But very much worth the soreness today. Every muscle I know about.

Name: Jim Gibson ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 11:58 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Redding, CA
E-mail
Message: Re: Other high schools' great teams/athletes. In the mid-sixties, in baseball, El Segundo dominated. I believe they went undefeated over a 30-game span. With star athletes such as Kemer (Ken) & George Brett, Scott McGregor, Scott Macready (sp?), among others, El Segundo pretty much ruled high school baseball diamonds in the South Bay area. Footnote: In an Easter tournament, Ken Brett hit a home runoff of me that cleared the right field fence, the tennis court fence, & landed about a day later beyond the baseline of the far side of the tennis court, a pretty good poke for a high school kid. You couldn't get away with hanging a curveball when one of the Brett brothers was at the plate!

Name: Wade Greasby ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 10:17 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Surf City, California
E-mail
Message: Great athletes. Every year it seemed HHS produced at least one GREAT ALL ROUND ATHLETE. Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Track, and Baseball, add Cross Country, Swimming, Water Polo and Fencing all had their share every year of OUTSTANDING players. How about the girls sports? The track teams of the 80's and 90's produced some top qualifiers in State Meets. Softball was solid as was basketball. It is difficult to say which sport, era, gender, position and person is tops. How about comparing HHS to other schools? Couldn't it be that back in the 60's through the late 80's HHS was the top producer of athletes in all sports out of any other school in the South Bay? So Cal Area, California? Growing up we were fortunate enough to watch and learn and play with athletes of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. HHS had a distinguished athletic program beginning as Dean mentioned, with the parks, the youth programs and kids willing to learn and work. Sports were the main events growing up and the coaches we had in the youth programs taught basic fundamentals to make us better prepared for high school, college and even the pros for some. Hawthorne was a tighter knit community in our times, kids pushed each other to compete and to excel. We all wanted to be like the older kids and not back down or miss a Mr Scott ground ball or the OLD COACH having a word with us!! It can be said that HHS produced top quality athletes. Pick a Year!!

Name: Armand Vaquer ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 8:58 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Tarzana, Karloffornia
E-mail
Message: Laura's Neil Armstrong story reminded me of my cousin's experience with the astronaut corps. She worked at Xerox off of Aviation Blvd. in the early 1970s in human resources (that's "personnel" for those of you in Sacramento) and one day a worker came in to process out of her employment at Xerox. She was all excited about being selected to be an astronaut. Her name: Judith Resnick. Resnick died in the Challenger explosion.

Name: Gary Bickers ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 3:13 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: pve cal
E-mail
Message: Best Athlete; great subject. My last and final approach is all you guys write out the HHS all-star teams for each sport. Get your favorite coach to help you out. I think your favorite guy might be on two teams; maybe. My guy will be on three. That said my class did not turn out one doctor or lawyer. We had a lot of teachers and military career people in my class. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. The question is who was/is the smartest person ever at HHS? John you are not in the contest.

Name: Laura Wang ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 1:12 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Geele
Class: 1976
City & State: PVE, CA
E-mail
Message: In one of our chats this morning, my dad told me about this gentleman who came to train on the flight simulator (at then North American Aviation) he oversaw. This gent was the best F-15 pilot in the country and trained constantly. . . awhile later dad and his boss were reading about the moonlanding and they noticed the name of the astronauts. They checked the simulator logs, and sure enough, the pilot was Neil Armstrong. My dad notes that he worked with Armstrong for a couple of years and never realized that quiet, unassuming, diligent guy was an astronaut. To tie this in to Hawthorne, dad commuted by bicycle daily from Hawthorne to NAA, which was on Imperial over by where the freeway now starts.

Name: Penny Prouty ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 12:43 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Prouty
Class: 1962
City & State: Torrance, CA
E-mail
Message: Have we forgotten about Jim Reale? I still remember the excitement that Jim brought to our football games...especially, the CIF Championship that we won. I remember it was a trade off....either it would be Jim or Fred Ragatz taking off with the ball and no one could catch them. I believe they both were also winners on the track field (I know Jim was).

Name: Michael M Kratz ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 11:12 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Vegas
E-mail
Message: I read their going to hold more DUI/Police checkpoints in Hawthorne this weekend. I guess to catch drivers without licences? The article says if you live in Hollyglen your safe, that's where the Mayor lives.

Name: Barney Mcardle ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 9:21 am - HHS Time
Class: 1958
City & State: San Antonio, Texas
E-mail
Message: Hey Gords, Yep, I agree with you that J. Bench was the best catcher but there have been some good ones. I saw Gary play once and he was a good one. We had some damn good athletes prior to the 1960's also.

Name: Jack Dicus ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jul 24, 2009, 3:52 am - HHS Time
Class: 1968
City & State: Miramar Beach Florida
E-mail
Message: To the moon and back? Some are not aware of this, but there were US Marines that volunteered to go to the moon even if they weren't coming back. That is dedication. Semper Fi!

Name: Glenn Crist ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 23, 2009, 7:10 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Sonoma, CA
E-mail
Message: The only two "really big" players I can remember in the 50's and 60's at HHS were Dan Dye and "Little" Rick Cooper (well maybe "Myk" and he could stuff a basketball). Dan may have tipped the scales at 235 and Rick might have been 245 pounds. Ron Mix, I think was 6' 2" and 180 lb max and played end at HHS, if I remember correctly from what someone quoted. Where's the Ol' Coach when you need him? It wasn't until USC and the Chargers that he came into his prime. Que the video. Henry Cooper may have been 170#, soaking wet. Tim was never "big in stature" except in courage and heroism. He had speed. Speaking of that, anyone else remember during the "Cuban missile crisis, "Coach Plum running "grenade drills" at practice? And I bet all of us remember where we were the day President Kennedy was shot. Is it my imagination, or do the three astronauts, who landed on the moon 40 years ago, look just a lttle bit older today? Talk about ballsmanship! "You've decided to shoot me to the moon?" My only question is, "Are you sure you can get me back?" Where is Dan McCammon, when we need him?

Name: Howard Paco Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 23, 2009, 5:39 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Lake Forest
E-mail
Message: Back from 4 days of goalie camp.. Sharon, I'll miss your bod at Sano this year! I didn't think the cops were going to enforce the law. There's always your back yard. Back to the best athletes, don't forget my picks, Mike Gillespie and Gordo Martin!!

Name: Dale Hahlbeck Jr. ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 23, 2009, 4:17 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1975
City & State: Yorba Linda CA
E-mail
Message: Cougar Sighting well actually a Lunch Date..Clark Millman took me to Polly's Pies for Lunch today. I did not want to break Clark so after my Prime Rib, Lobster Tail, baked potato, green salad, chicken soup, and during my second Apple Pie Ala Mode...we figured out why we had Strokes...it was a curse placed on us by the Catholics at Loyola High School for being a part of the winning Field Goal in 1974...so we gotta find Bruce Chauncey to warn him of his impending doom!! We caught up on all of our Glory Days and our own personal Cougar Sightings...and please feel free to add ME on Facebook if ya got one under Dale Hahlbeck Jr. Love to get back in touch with the old clique. On a happier note, Clark looked great, and he even said I looked pretty good for an old fart....well he had a stroke so I am not sure if it affected his vision...anyway I put the lunch leftovers in my Tupperware...Clark had no leftovers cause he only had a cup of coffee since he had to pay for my meal..(isn't Clark an Angel or what?) and we said our good-byes...We will set up another date at Disneyland soon, since we can go to the head of the line with our Disabilities...(Eat That Loyola..seems the joke is on YOU again)...please someone Warn Bruce...and I did promise to meet Millman at the next Cruise Night..since he bought me lunch in all..so I am looking forward to seeing all of ya soon...Thanx Clark...how about dinner??? H1 Out!

Name: Sharon Bierman Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 23, 2009, 3:38 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: San Clemente, CA
E-mail
Message: Hawthorne has produced a slew of young men (and women?) who went on to the Pro's and I'm proud to know that our little burg was the genesis for greatness. But not all great athletes run fast, jump high or throw far. My hubs (an honorary Cougar) was/is a golfer. He spent every spare moment golfing. Dreamed of going pro and might/could have, but life got in the way. He did manage to parley that passion into a career in a way, golf is a big activity in his chosen industry (steel.) In fact he's at Pelican Hill today, courtesy of US Steel Corp (gotta get that last outing in before they apply for their bailout bucks.) (just joking.)(sort of.) Well he's not in an athlete's body any more (but heck, neither am I) but I just wanted to say that you don't have to play football, basketball or baseball to be a fine athlete. Seattle Slew was once named athlete of the Year. Now for the really bad news: the nude beach is closed now in SC. Remember when 26th street was a nude beach?

Name: Glenn Crist ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jul 23, 2009, 6:24 am - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Sonoma, CA
E-mail
Message: I've been thinking, that trying to pick the best all-around athlete, is kind of like trying to pick the most beautiful girl that ever stepped onto the HHS campus. As athletes go, sure size, talent and coaching are essential, but isn't there a reason they call them team sports. The greatest athlete is seldom noticed on a non-winning team. Jim Schroeder add to your list Ron Mix, Tim Thomas and Hank Cooper. Henry led the league for most varsity tackles as a linebacker three years in a row, played center most (if not all) of the games from his sophomore year on, wrestled and ran track. I remember him saying water polo was a sissy sport until he swam a practice once. He was heard saying as he left, "I'm going back to a non-contact sport, football!" Let's applaud all of the great athletes from HHS. No one has mentioned the fencing team.

Name: Jim Schroeder ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jul 22, 2009, 10:03 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Central Point, Oregon
E-mail
Message: As the dog days of summer heat up, the discussion of "who may be the greatest" athlete in HHS history, I'd like to throw a little fertilizer on the fire. Granted, HHS has put out a vast quantity of good/great athletes, who went on to some level of acknowledged greatness, but how can we dispel the contributions of those of us who didn't mature physically until later in life (or not at all). How would it be to put up an athlete pound for pound that may of been better than all those "big guys." We didn't have any control of our development in those days, but what if? Can you remember anybody better than Tom Graves or Donny Ray or Benny Baruch pound for pound? These guys never were the size of Myk or Mike Scott or Gordon Martin, but were so outstanding for their size that they also deserve recognition in this discussion. It might be a stretch, so to speak, but can you recall any other "smaller" (no disrespect intended) athletes who deserve the accolades that we lay on the "big" guys? Who's HHS's Spud Webb, Freddie Patek, or Eddie LeBaron? Any thoughts? Candidates? Just thinking.

Name: Sue Walsh ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jul 22, 2009, 4:49 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Jolly
Class: 1961
City & State: Hesperia Ca
E-mail
Message: Hey JB, McGriff is my hero too. What a guy

Name: Pauline Matthew ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jul 22, 2009, 4:47 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Spencer
Class: 1969
City & State: Oak Hills, CA
E-mail
Message: I had a Cougar sighting today. I had coffee with Lee Dale class of 69 and his brother Keith Dale, not sure what class Keith graduated in. Lee has lived and taught school here in the high desert for 30 plus years. We did not we all lived so close. It was nice meeting with him today.