You people ask for MORE Chuck Berry, so here he is.... MORE Chuck Berry

Name: Les Johnson () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 18:33:23
E-Mail: a310driver@aol.com
Class: 63
Message: Just saw my old buddy Jim Reale's picture and it was great. I haven't seen Jim or his wife Ruth since our daughter Keri got married in "95". We have talked on occasion and our daughter sees Jim's oldest son, Jim now and then. Keep up the good work, it's great fun looking back. Les Johnson, Class of 63

Name: Maureen "Mo" Trott () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 14:45:09
E-Mail: momo90250@aol.com
Maiden: Trott
Class: 64
Message: Hi John,
I would be more then happy to tell Bill about the website for you and Loretta (and anyone else), but I don't think he has a computer, but I'll double check. If not, you can e-mail me and I can try and get any information you would like. He's still "MR1DFUL", and we'll always be friends, even if things didn't work out. I have a picture of he and I together at the end of the year (1960) out on the blacktop. He was my math teacher. Little did I know 14 years later I would meet him while working at Crocker Bank at 135th & Hawthorne Blvd.
Now that's what I call a "Teacher's Pet".
Mr. Bill Dana was my Favorite teacher at Intermediate. I know there were many others that felt the same. Thanks Mo...

Name: Robin () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 14:08:25
E-Mail: Go Ducks!.com
Class: 60
Message: .556 is one rippin one shot after another John but wasnt that the league with the Three Sisters of Mercy (Daniel Freeman) and The Mount St. Marys Nine from the convent? But hey, a batting title is still a title :o). To BIG L: Yes we have heard that before. But I'll bet you didn't know that BrYan was an athlete before he got his stage name Brian and started the BBoys.(Who edited that Cougar?) And Sloey, I wouldn't touch that case of the chilled cheeks...too close to home, the statute of limitations problem, plus ice is always the perfect weapon. And even if you won, remember..."Hell hath no fury like a V1 without her canvas" ....JB a well deserved tribute from Steve Anderson for work beyond the call...and with that I'm going to jump in the hottub. I fell down the stairs this morning removing my U of O boxers. Completely forgot it was Thursday....Not much I can do about my breakfast of Fruit Loops...:o) later Cougs
Robin, You are one CRAZY COUG!!! "U of O boxers".....man, I lost it on that one.
...and on that .556 average.....OK, but DF had Sister Claudine, "the Screwball Machine" and SHE was tough!! Be good Robin

Name: Tony Frink () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 13:13:22
E-Mail: tfrink@spacestar.net
Class: 78
Message: John, enjoyed seeing the picture of your '76 softball team. I knew Manny Leon as he helped coach my Senior League baseball team around '74 and '75 as I played on the same team as Manny Jr. I respected him very highly as a coach. He was a real nice guy.
Question for you John - the catcher on your team is listed in the picture simply as "Domingo". Was that Domingo Balboa? I played Hawthorne American Little League and Senior League baseball with the oldest son of a Domingo Balboa, and Domingo helped coach our teams. What a great gentleman and a heck of a coach. I was the catcher on those teams that he coached, and his son pitched. The picture of the Domingo on your team sure looks like the Domingo Balboa that coached me. And the fact that he was your catcher seems right as I recall hearing that the Domingo that coached me caught in fastpitch softball. Do you recall his last name and whether this may be the same person? If so, do you have any idea as to how he's doing these days?
By the way, at 38 I'm still going strong in fastpitch softball back here in Fargo, ND. You still playing any ball? We have an over 41 fastpitch league back here that I'll probably move on to in a few years. You ever make it up to this neck of the woods, drop me a line and I'll make sure to get you a roster spot.
Hey Tony, You know, I think Domingo's last name was Balboa. He was a pretty darn good catcher and a heck of a nice guy. As far as me still playing ball...No, I'm through. Mike Shay HHS61 and I coached a Mustang team in Long Beach when his boys were young, but that was the end of my ball career. I loved it too. Thanks Tony

Name: Mike Dragoo () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 13:10:35
E-Mail: Magoo@syix.com
Class: 1959
Message: John,
What a great site you have created here. I've been rummaging through the old feedback pages and I haven't found any comments about the "goon squad". The goon squad was that group of guys that either forgot their gym clothes on Monday or didn't have a good enough excuse for not stripping for PE. Now I wasn't a frequent member but, from time to time I found myself being separated from my classmates and reporting to Mr. Sevier for my penance. As we all remember, Mr. Sevier had his way of intimidating us young naïve cougars into doing almost anything and I was no exception. He would spend a few minutes of close order marching; you know the kind, where one mistake by one person makes everyone screw-up. I would make a fist with my right hand hoping it would help me remember right from left. Then it was running laps or some other form of good healthy exercise.
One time he lined a bunch of us up at the starting line on the track (Halcap field was new then) and told us to run one lap as fast as we could while he timed us. Needless to say a bunch of tired runners made the lap in just over 60 seconds (no I wasn't a smoker then). He told us if we kept practicing and running we could get that time down below 60 seconds and we all agreed, I told you we were naïve. Then he told us that the only way we were going to get out of the "goon squad" was to run 4 consecutive laps in less than 4 minutes, hey, if we could run 1 lap under 60 seconds why not 4. We all jumped up and started running trying to improve on our time. He was smiling and seemed to be in a good mood at the edge of the track with his stopwatch in hand while we young cougars were running our little butts off (wow, I just realized, we actually did have little butts then). Of course, what we didn't realize or know was that the world record for the mile (4 laps) at that time was just under 4 minutes. Thanks John, I've been telling that story for years now.
Hey Mike, No one has ever accused a Cougar "Goon Squader" of being brilliant. I too wasn't a regular, but I think most of us made the squad from time to time. BTW, in High School, Ron Sevier wasn't my first pick for the person I wanted to spend the next 53 minutes with. He WAS slightly......well........sadistic. Thanks Mike

Name: Loretta Cuiper () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 12:20:36
E-Mail: LCuiper@aol.com
Maiden: Morelli
Class: 62
Message: Hi John, Im glad to see that Maureen sent the information on Mr. Dana, now if only we could get him to get back to all of us. Your right John, He was one of my favorite teachers too. I thought he was the best. Someone out there must know how to get a hold of him and let him know about our GREAT Website.
There you go Maureen, Can you let Mr. "D" know about the site?

Name: Ed Chesson () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 11:44:11
E-Mail: CaPTChess@aol.com
Class: 1963
Message: It seems, in a way, that I have come full circle now as my last "baby" is graduating from high school today. It seems very hard to believe that it has been 36 years since I was getting my diploma and now I'm going to watch my youngest son, Jonathan, get his diploma tonight. And what makes it even more special is that his high school, Norco High School, are also called COUGARS!!
To any of you that may still have kids at home and may be graduating this year I offer congratulations from the bottom of my heart and a hearty "job well done!" And, John, my hat's off to you and this wonderful website; it has brought back many great memories!
Thanks Ed, Go Cougars.....Hawthorne AND Norco

Name: Maureen "Mo" Trott () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 08:05:12
E-Mail: momo90250@aol.com
Maiden: Trott
Class: 64
Message: RE: Mr. Dana In response to the inquiry about Bill Dana, teacher at HIS. Bill retired from HIS about 9 years ago. He lives in Rancho Palos Verdes. He and I were a "couple" for about 15 years. He's not doing anything in particular, just enjoying live.
Someone else had mentioned his daughter Lili Dana. She lives in Hermosa Beach, is divorced and has two children. A daughter Christy who will be 17 this month, and a son Rick who is 14.
John, you have done such a great job with this web side. Thank you!!!!!
By the way, wasn't the 52-62 reunion the best! Hope Rich is planning another including more of the 60's classes.
Mo, Yes, the BIG reunion WAS a hoot!! Well I'll be dogged if you weren't there. I just looked in the memory book and there you were. Yes, I would love to have another one, as Rich and Mary Sloan, and the rest, did a GREAT job on that one. Thanks too for the info on my favorite Intermediate teacher. It's good to know the "Jazzman" is still local.

Name: Dewey Storie () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 05:50:51
E-Mail: Dewey_Storie@msn.com
AKA: MaD ScaNNer
Class: 74
Message: Chris keeps talking about cruise night....I think there a need for an ice cream fix here.

Name: Renee Chaput-Bartlett () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 04:07:33
E-Mail: naedreb@aol.com
Maiden: Chaput
Class: 1991
Message: Looking for old buddies from class of '91...Also would like e-mail address for Lisa E. c/o '88

Name: Janet Falkenstein () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 01:39:46
E-Mail: janran@ns.net
Maiden: Kinder
Class: 79
Message: John,
What a memory you brought back with that photo of your softball team! Manny Leon was my coach in Little League girl's softball at Eucalyptus Park a few years prior to that! He's the one who taught me how to play first base, and let me use his own first baseman's glove! He was a great, encouraging coach, and I'll never forget him. Mona, I noticed you're on the alumni email list...please tell your dad hi for me, and let him know what an impact he made in my life. How is Manny, Jr.? Thanks, John!
Janet, I taught Big MANNY how to play first base. No, Manny Leon was one hell of a competitor. He was a great softball pitcher NOT because he was overpowering, but because he had the heart of a lion. I remember little Manny too. He would show up at most all the games and really wanted to play on this team. I think he was a little young at that time. The Leons lived on Cedar too (where I grew up). Mona, I remember you too. At that time, I think you were in the 6th or 7th grade.
More Memories... Does anyone remember the Los Amigos Club in Inglewood at the Mayflower Ballroom. We had some good times there in the early to mid 70's.
Thanks Janet

Name: Omar Azze () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 01:19:46
E-Mail: oazze@hotmail.com
Class: 1977
Message: As I scrolled the names of new Cougartown.com members the other day I almost fell out of my seat when I saw my long lost buddy Billy Wadman! I never imagined him of all people to have an e-mail! We just spoke to each other for the first time in probably 8-10 yrs!!! Thanks John.
Hi Omar, Yeah, it seems that about every two weeks, someone comes onto the site from my past. Stick around as there'll be more surprises for you.

Name: Keith D. JOnes () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 01:09:51
E-Mail: cmi50@yahoo.com
Class: 76
Message: Steve Anderson, Please say Hi to Mr Allen for me. He'll remember me. I put his jaquzzi in for hime. If I remember it was a nightmare but I think it worked. He taught piano too. He Dick Clark I think. Also say Hi to Mr Macha. He and Mr. Chichester wanted to take me parachuting and show everyone that I'm not as tough as everybody thinks. Does he still teach Aerospace history. He was a great teacher and one of my favorites. Alot of the models he has hanging in his room my brother built (Les Jones).

Name: Glenn Crist () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 01:01:21
E-Mail: gfcrist@pop.sonic.net
Class: 1964
Message: Can anyone tell me about the HHS mile relay team (early to mid-70's) that probably holds the school record. It was pointed out to me, by one of the pharmacist with whom I worked at the hospital, that they had (at least at the time) run the second fastest time in the country. The only faster time was one university team. Part of the answer to that question may have been addressed by Keith Jones. But it takes a foursome to make a relay team that incredible. Can someone provide details? Thanks

Name: Mike Shay () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 00:16:53
E-Mail: theshays@earthlink.net
Class: 61
Message: Hello everyone;
I saw that Jessie Lendennie is now tuned in from Ireland.. Jessie we remember your brother Jimmy very well. The last I remember he was going to go on tour with a singing act ( I think it was John & Judy or something like that). He was a great drummer. Your brother Gary was also very talented. His instrument was a pool cue. He was a regular at Utters ( one of our high school hang-outs in the late 50's and early 60's.) I know Baker remembers Gary and other guys like Pat Carden, Bob Cross, John Sparks, Jim Kendall, Glenn Miller, Don Hinzo not to mention old John Utter himself...Any one of these guys could seperate you from your money before you knew what hit you.
Speaking of "Hit You", the 3" diameter hole in the front counter at Utters was there because Glenn Miller got out of the way of a 90 MPH cue ball fired by a very upset Jim Kendall. Nobody wanted an upset Jim Kendall.
Hey John the checks in the mail...M.S.
Utters...another historical Hawthorne landmark trounced upon by the Mall. Thanks for the story Mike. YES, I received your check today and I guess this VERY, VERY, Generous donation to Cougartown would make you our first Charter Member. Thank you Michael, you're the best...

Name: Chris Prewitt () on Thursday, June 10, 1999 at 00:06:12
E-Mail: cjprewitt@juno.com
Class: 1967
Message: Hi John,
I was just viewing the Street Scene pages and remembering that I was down at the corner of Hawthorne and El Segundo a couple of weeks ago. John, when we have the cruise night you might want to retake the pictures of the northeast corner. It is changing again. I think that the only thing that hasn't changed are the buildings at HHS. John maybe you can explain how the pictures in the Street Scene came into your possession. Is that some of the help that Tom Quintana, the Public Information Officer for Hawthorne gave you? I just can't picture anyone having personal photos like those in the street scene.
Hi Chris, Aren't those great pics? Those pictures are the property of the City. Yes, Tom Quintana is the one that helped me with lots of the pictures I possess on this site. He allowed me to photograph a multitude of pics, THEN the Hawthorne Crunch and Tom was gone. WHAT a MISTAKE Hawthorne. This guy was your historian. Anyway, these pictures are now hanging on the walls of the Memorial center on El Segundo and Prairie. I do have ONE more set to put up. They were taken from Hawthorne and 120th looking east.

Name: Sharon () on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 at 22:33:56
E-Mail: chas@ccmaui.com
Maiden: Willis
Class: 72
Message: Wow! Sharon MacDonald and Kathleen Nix/Griff.. I remember those bathing suits, but I think I had yellow and orange stripe, there were different ones, I don't think I was very good, those practices were rough! My brother Greg class of 71 was and excellent "butterfly'er"... Thanks to all of you who have personally contacted me out here in the middle of the Pacific! I am having a mini reunion everyday. Oh, Karen Lemaistre didn't you say that Tobiason contacted you, Gerogiana's brother..? I see a connection here... aloha, gotta go check the surf and the sunset!

Name: Steve Anderson () on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 at 22:08:11
E-Mail: twopoohs@earthlink.net
Message: I want to again write, this time to ALL who have shared their memories, to thank you. Your comments are not only interesting to those of us who teach a very different and new generation of Cougars, but some of us are using your words and lives as lessons in the classroom as well.
My department chair, Pat Macha (many of you may remember him) uses your tributes to those Cougars who died in the Vietnam Conflict as a way to bring home the reality of Vietnam to a jaded and otherwise disinterested generation who has little connection with, what to many of us, seems only yesterday.
I, myself, have used your descriptions of the school in the 1950's and 1960's (especially those about the very beginning) in a local history project for my US History class. You should see the kids jaws drop when they hear about kids coming to school early to help plant trees and bushes with their teachers back in 1951. That, and the faculty vs. student softball and volleyball games which followed are, for many of them, descriptions of another lifetime or universe that they cannot understand. Do something for their school??? With their teachers??? Why???
Still some, look at the past and your words about it and ask the inevitable "What the Hell happened," are honestly inspired to make a difference.
Thanks for sharing.
One last thing- concerning your yearbook project. I recommended a few months back that you contact the current yearbook advisor. I spoke with him about your project and he would like very much to hear from you. He has a copy of EVERY HHS Yearbook ever produced! Even the very first paper edition of El Molino put out in 1952. He is also already planning on putting out a 50th Anniversary yearbook in 2001-2002 and would like any info that any of you can pass along. Again, his name is Rich Allen, Sr. (make sure you get the Sr. in there, his son also teaches at HHS) and you can contact him via the school's phone number at (310) 263-4400.
Again, thanks for reminding us of what once was and what can be.
Steve Anderson, Teacher
U.S. History & AP U.S. History, 1997-
Steve, Man I do NOT know what to say to that. I did NOT realize that this website was having ANY effect WHATSOEVER on the students of today. I am flattered that the school is using it to instill pride in todays students. What I have to say to todays students is..... well, you should feel blessed to be able to attend a school with so much positive history. This is NOT just the school that the Beach Boys attended. Hell, the Beach Boys to you, must look like the Paul Whiteman band to me. It's a school with a rich athletic history that goes back to its first football championship in 1954. It's had many athletic stars with many athletic records. You should be proud of your school, but not for its athletes or its musicians. Of all the bands and athletes that have walked its halls, there's one more thing that I've found that is far and away ahead of this, and that is Academics. Hawthorne High has produced more solid citizens than any school in the South Bay. It's produced more professional people than any school in the Centinela Valley since 1952. Hawthorne High is THE school to which all other schools in the Centinela Valley aspire to. Please....do not take this lightly. You ALL are a "Part of your School History", just as the Beach Boys were... YOU are Hawthorne now. Embrace the pride and history of our proud HHS. Respect its hallowed halls, for the spirits of MANY are watching you.

Name: Sheree Klingenhagen () on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 at 22:01:47
E-Mail: sklingenha@aol.com
Maiden: same
Class: 1975
Message: We'll my sister couldn't remember the name of the rock'n'roll place down in the triangle area of Redondo but our Mom could! I guess I wen't to too many concerts in the nose bleed section!! Anyway the name of the place was the Smokestack to her remembrance. If she's wrong you gotta tell her, remember Mom's always right. So where are all you Cougarettes from 75? Marching on the field 8 to 5, Smoke on the Water, Little Saint Nick, come on guys!

Name:John Baker() on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 at 22:26:02
E-Mail: john14
AKA: Slugger
Class: 62
Message: All right, I thought "Jock Night" was over. I'm sorry, but I'm tired of listening to everyone ELSE blow their own horn. It's time to hear from the Softball Guru.
This is "The Team". The Mermaid Tavern played at Centinela Park in Inglewood. From the Summer of 1975 through the Summer of 1976 was undefeated and untied. I was one of only 2 "Gringos" on this team BTW (they were trying to be politically correct). I won the batting title in the Summer of 76 season with a .556 average (25 for 45). This was NOT "Parabola Pitch" folks... These guys could "Bring It".
And now you know the REST of the Story.

Name: David Barboza () on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 at 21:42:53
E-Mail: iliketrains@usa.net
Class: 74
Message: Hey Cindy Matthies:
40 shmorty is right. I still play ball two nights a week on Tues. and Thurs. Have hit Homers in every game for the last three consecutive weeks. I'm on a role here at 43. Not bad for an old man. These are mens leagues and on Thurs. we play against teams that have guys no older than 25 and were still in 1st with a 5 & 2 record. My wife has played as a 9th player for us on Tues. Age is just a state of mind.... Though after a few slides into home that state is a little shaky.

Name: Susan () on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 at 21:22:36
E-Mail: funds4kids@Yahoo.com
Maiden: Ciampa
Class: 77
Message: No John... I haven't let Stick & Stein know yet, but I will take care of it... promise! By the way, don't change my e-mail address, I listed my families by mistake.... OOPS. To Joe Mailander, I have an idea. Why don't you just post the names of all the women you want to take to Sloopys for lunch and we'll all meet you there, OK? At least we'll all get to see each other too! Boy, the employees at Sloopys must wonder what's up with you.... a new woman every week! Imagine what they'd say if we all came in at one time. Susan
P.S. When we're at the Stick & Stein you can see pictures of all the Brett's and answer the Brett Brothers trivia questions on the placemats. Won't that be fun?!