Hawthorne Feedback

Name: Anita Bell ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 8:20 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Harmon
Class: 1969
City & State: Fair Oaks, Ca

Message: To Janet Leslie: So your question was, "How much were students involved in sports from the 1980's 70's & 60's? And did the school encourage the students to be involved?" Well, we all have our own memories and recollections regarding this. But here is my 2 cents worth...okay maybe 5 cents. There were all "types" of sports per say. There was of course the big three - Football, Basketball, and Baseball, but we also had Water Polo, Swim Team, Cross Country, Track, Tennis, and Wrestling. And while some may not have actually thought of it as a sport back in 1969, looking back now after all these years I would also add to this list, our Pep Squad - Yell Leaders (yep, that's what we called them) and Song Queens, and Drill Team, and Flag Girls, and Majorettes and don't forget about our Mascot! ALL of those took athletic strength, ability and perseverance. And for those of us who could not or did not participate in any of these - the rest of us supported them with our school pride and spirit. And this pin that is pictured with this post was just one of the ways in which we showed that support. I certainly can't remember now what group or club were selling these at that time but whatever or whoever it was - I had to have one! This couldn't have been any more than a dollar back then but the day I rediscovered this out in my garage? - the wonderful memories of Friday Night Football games just came flooding back. I loved football back in 1969 and I still love it today. Okay, time for a little horn tooting. This statement comes straight from my yearbook. "After four years of hard fought losses, the 1968-1969 varsity football team charged up the field to take second in the Centinela Valley Bay League. The four players who took All Bay League were: Rod Potts, Bill Sloey, Gary Beaird, and Steve Laidlaw. Other players who received Honorable Mention for their outstanding performances were: Roger Ridings, Scott Laidlaw, Larry Poltash, and Nick Orlandos." While all of the other sports offered to us at HHS were just as important, for me it was the Friday Night Football Game that got my adrenaline going. I sat in the stands and cheered whatever cheer our yell leaders were yelling and came home every time with no voice left, it was awesome. And to your last question - did the school encourage the students to be involved? We were ALL involved in one way or another - not many of us needed to be encouraged in that regard.

Name: Clark Millman ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 8:10 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Manhattan Beach, CA

Message: You are too kind Gloria as always! I owe you and John dinner the next time you are in the area! For those of you who don't know Gloria, she was a hot(thats H-O double T) cheerleader at HHS. My Knights nominated her for homecoming queen and we couldn't have made a better choice. She is still a babe 35 years later as my classmate and friend Jon Achrem (her husband) knows. It is I who is honored Gloria, God bless you and yours!

Name: Gloria Achrem ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 6:56 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Valencia
City & State: Las Vegas, NV

Message: I was catching up on FB and see Dan Dye is getting knee replacement...speedy recovery to him! I also read Clark's comments about Dan's amazing 50 year record! And, JB, your comments about Clark's records! He was not only our class president, but he was an amazing athlete and I believe, president of the Knights; not to mention, probably the king of Cougar sightings! Clark has had an incredible journey since our HHS days, and I consider it a privilege and honor to call him my friend.

Name: Robin MacLean Northup ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 5:59 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: MacLean
Class: 1969
City & State: Lincoln Nebraska

Message: Oh my gosh Suzi Nelson (now Susan Adams) contacted me by email. My bestest friend all through school.

Name: Loretta Cuiper ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 12:53 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Morelli
Class: 1962
City & State: Hawthorne, Ca

Message: Today I received a phone call from Greg Sprouse, Son of Sharon Shannon Sprouse, 1962 Classmate. Sorry to say Sharon passed away 1-18- 12 in the State of Missouri. I will miss hearing her voice, we have kept in touch for over 54 years, last 30 years she has been in Missouri. I'm sorry We have lost another good classmate. I'll miss my Good Buddy!

Name: Sherry Wingo ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 11:15 am - HHS Time

Class: 1964
City & State: Haw. Ca.

Message: Jim Sloey, thank you for the update on Dan Dye. Our prayers are with you Dan.

Name: Mike Mecey ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 31, 2012, 6:30 am - HHS Time

Class: 1961
City & State: CA

Message: All this talk about Dan Dye got the memory harp strings going. When I played football at HHS, well I didn't really play football... I think coach let me on the team cuz they had to have a few tackling and blocking dummies... anyway, one day I got into an argument with Dan... he grabbed my face mask and twisted my head like one of those little Pez dispensers... Some of the things I learned in high school was to never mouth off to someone without having a good exit plan... and that day, keeping my helmet on was not the best exit plan... Get well Dan...

Name: Jim Sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 7:49 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: solvang

Message: Just talked to Danny Dye and everything went well - these things have really progressed since I had mine 9 years ago - Danny is doing well. Therapist had just come into the room and they were getting him up. Good chance he will go home tomorrow! He was very grateful to all of you for your prayers. Don't stop, please! God Bless you Danny!

Name: Clark Millman ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 6:50 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Manhattan Beach, CA

Message: Big Dan Dye having knee replacement surgery!!? Somebody must have exposed "Superman" to Kryptomite! Many of you younger Cougars may not know that Dan is the HHS record holder in the shot put! That, in and of itself may not impress some but when I tell you that he set the record 50 years ago as of this June it puts it in perspective. His achievement is amazing when you realize that no big palooka among all the graduates from HHS in the past 50 years has touched his record! I graduated long after Dan but I saw his name on the record board in the boys locker room every day I was at HHS. Not only a great athlete, a good guy all around! Heal quickly Superman!!

Name: Steve Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 6:24 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Laguna Woods
No E-mail
Message: I remember Lyon's sporting goods. It originally was on Inglewood Ave across from HHS, next to Raspberry's used lumber yard. Tim and Lola Lyons lived in the house adjacent to the store. Later Lyon's Sporting Goods relocated to Hawthorne Blvd a few doors south of Broadway.

Name: Dennis Carden ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 12:50 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1963
City & State: Newnan, Ga.

Message: Does anyone remember Lyon's sporting goods?

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 12:29 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Spinnaker Cove, Ca

Message: Hey, Dan Boy; Knee surgery replacement, not a big deal, you will do great. I had my R/knee replaced (total knee) in September, I was hitting golf balls 6 weeks after surgery. I will be honest, the first day or so is not fun, but it get's better real fast. Like Judy said, just do waht the rehab people tell you to do, and give them twice as many reps as they ask for and your recovery time will be much quicker, hard work does pay off. Good luck, Jorge

Name: Jim Frederick ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 12:07 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1969
City & State: West Hills Ca,/Hanalei Hi,

Message: Hi Leslie .... I don't think the school was on an agenda to get students to play sports. Rather , it was more of the way many students were brought up in the community. Little league baseball was huge with younger kids and so was Pop Warner football. Many of us played in sports well before high school. So when we entered into high school i guess it just seemed natural to continue with sports. And many played more than one sport. It's hard for me to see what has happened to sports at HHS. And many other schools in California. There were many students that didn't get involved in sports. But they still supported the team. And as mentioned the stands were full every Friday night. School spirit was big and support from the alumni was very strong. Friday nights were great because , first we had a prep rally at the school , Then the game , Followed by going to a dance at the memorial center. Or a special school event dance at the gym. Then most students would meet at a popular burger joint. Like A/W Root beer or something similar. There were many sports to pick from. One sport that many of us wished we had was surfing! We would have to ditch class to go surf when the waves were good. And i think some schools finaly brought surfing into there sports program. But sports i guess were just there and many students took good advantage of what was offered. We never knew much about the cost or where the money came from. It was school and that's the way it was. Automatic if you will. Sports provided a student with how team work, works. Working together well and learning how to compete. I honestly only played football myself. And was involved in the arts. But sports helped in ways i never thought it would for me. Hawthorne had many outstanding young men and women go on to college and proffesional sports. Im not the one to tell you who or how many went on to become pro. And Im sure someone like JB or others could tell you that. And i hope they do just for you to know and share in your study. Hawthorne was a great small town with many students playing sports. And made all of us proud of there accomplishments! And i think that is why so much money was raised from alumni last year. We know from being in sports did make a difference. We also had great sport figures to look up too! They set good examples for us also. Yes we still have great players in all sports today. But they don't seem to set the same examples. I may be wrong on that but we didn't hear about a major sports figure getting himself into trouble like we hear today. And the amount of money that players make today is just over the top. It gets back to community and working and playing together! And that's why i feel Hawthorne had so many exceptional students in sports. Including us surfers! Good luck on your report! And Im sure someone here in Cougartown will give you a very impersive list of men and women who came from HHS. And the south bay area!

Name: Janet Burkett ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 11:49 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Humphreys
Class: 1962
City & State: Ca
No E-mail
Message: Thinking about you Dan D and praying that your surgery goes well. Janet, school spirit was more like community spirit. I still remember driving home after football games, screaming out the car windows and adults out front in their yards yelling "who won?" and "what was the score?". Still have a lot of that in the small town I am in. High school sports are big spectator events.

Name: Judy Blomsterberg ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 10:58 am - HHS Time

Maiden: DeGrazia
Class: 1964
No E-mail
Message: The only thing that I can think of at this most upsetting time with Kissin' Dan Dye going in for knee surgery is--keep vasoline on those lips and don't let them dry out. Dr.'s orders. If you say what hospital you're in DD, I'll bring the lip balm myself. As for the knee surgery, you're fine..you don't kiss with your knees.

Name: Gary Bickers ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 10:01 am - HHS Time

Class: 1963
City & State: pve cal

Message: Regards support for sports in the early 60's; we were lucky enough to play our home games at El Camino. I don't know how many people that holds but it was always full. Basketball games were also full to the rafters because coach Toby not only won games but probably played the most entertaining brand of basketball much like coach Wooden was running at UCLA. Baseball games were also packed. I can tell you this; guys were killing themselves to be involved.

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 30, 2012, 12:26 am - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Long beach ca

Message: Dan the man Dye. been talken to the big guy upstairs. You are going to get through this and your knee will be as good as ever, so long as you follow drs & physical therapists orders. I know the Rowdy girls will keep you entertained with their wicked wit while you're recovering. Judy where are you? Danny boy needs healing laughter ASAP.

Name: Ron Reinholdson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 29, 2012, 11:49 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1965
City & State: Claremont,CA

Message: After-game dances in the fall of '63 and '64 were in the boys gym and were very well attended. It seemed that every student in the stands and every player on the field went to the dance. And speaking of the stands--they were always full. And loud. Even in our losing season of Fall '63. And it wasn't just the cheerleaders cheering. There were only 5 cheerleaders--not the dozens you see these days. And they actually LED the cheers. It was inspiring to those of us on the field or the court. Everybody yelled the cheers. As far as being encouraged by staff to participate in sports. Absolutely. And I don't remember any of my teammates being ineligible to play due to low grades. Many of our top athletes were also among the top students. The term "Dumb Jocks" certainly didn't apply at HHS.

Name: Tom Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 29, 2012, 11:37 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Beaumont, CA

Message: Hey Dan. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery my friend. We all look forward to seeing you at the next cruise night, healthy and happy.

Name: Ed Sharp ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 29, 2012, 10:17 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1968
City & State: Anaheim, Ca

Message: @ Janet. We had so much sports involvement and the school provided all the equipment except our shoes, jock straps, trunks, well I think you may know what I am saying. I was in football, track, pole vaulting, baseball (hard and softball), swimming, tennis, weight training, wrestling, I can go on. Not sure where the government is allocating all of our money now, but it is a shame! Sports are the basis for a healthy body and mind. Good luck on your project and don't let the current government policies stop you.