Name: Jelani Hughes ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Mar 9, 2007, 9:03 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Hughes
Class: 1994
City & State: des moines, ia
E-mail
Message: What's up Folks????

Name: Walter Holt ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Mar 9, 2007, 7:17 am - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Surf City, CA
E-mail
Message: Maybe so John. In our day our fights were usually between two people not rival gangs. We had clubs not gangs and we usually didn't fight on campus, which isn't from what I read where this one started off but started again on campus. It's another way that kids today have no respect or somewhat fear of their surroundings. We knew if we got in a fight on campus we would be in dire staits not only with the school but our parents. I did read another article I found interesting on how Hawthorne is trying to make changes so the kids from Lennox can go somewhere else besides Hawthorne High as they feel that is when most of the crime element and lower test scores they are getting are coming from. So it does show they do have an idea of how some of their problems could be solved by getting the district to reopen the school or a school in Lennox and/or plans to cecede from the district.

Name: Sharon MacDonald ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Mar 9, 2007, 7:04 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Badger
Class: 1963
City & State: Bruceville, Texas
E-mail
Message: Today there seems to be a tendency to over-react. In this forum we talk about the strange and wonderful things we did in our youth. If some of those adventures were to occur today, we'd be in court (civil or criminal) in a heartbeat. I have a good friend who when talking about the crazy things we did when we were growing up finishes the conversation with, "Yet we survived our childhoods despite our own best efforts not to."

Name: Jim Peppers ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Mar 9, 2007, 4:13 am - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Athens, Greece
E-mail
Message: Hi Cougars, Wow, what a depressing picture of Rosecrans Ave. Of course then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Does anyone have such a panoramic picture of Rosecrans from an earlier era, say the 20', 30's, 40's, or 50's? I know that when I was but a tot the right hand side of Rosecrans as you headed toward the beach was all sand dunes. We used to have a blast rolling down the dunes and would come back home with half of the sand in our clothes. I remember someone saying that they had dug up the remains of the sets from the D.W. Griffith's silent movie "Intolerance" that was filmed there. Anyway, how industry and land development has destroyed what was once a truly beautiful place! Take care Cougars, Jim Peppers

Name: Carl Tank ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Mar 9, 2007, 1:56 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles, CA
E-mail
Message: I work campus supervision at a South Bay High School, and am involved each day with the Dean's office, working to reduce some of the "Drama" or misunderstandings that lead to fights on or off campus. We all know how different things are for our kids than they were back in the '60s and '70s--but I can say from experience that the procedures put in place, many of which are a result of what happened at Columbine High School, are very effective, and necessary to maintain as much peace on campus as possible. We all want them to have fun at High School, and look back on those days as a magical time, without all the pressure of adulthood. I try to explain to the kids I work with what HHS was like when I was there, and they are amazed. All we can do is keep them focused on the prize, and less focused on rumors and drama, and as Alan said-- all the media hype. The campus I work at has three School Police Officers on site, and four supervision aides, with a student population of 3,600. As I walk the campus I think of Mr. Nelson from HHS. He did back then, what it takes seven of us to do, virtually on his own!

Name: Kyle Jokela ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Mar 9, 2007, 1:37 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Irvine, Ca
E-mail
Message: Hi Jan. If you want an overview about me, you can go back to my very first message here on Cougartown on Feb. 12, 2007 at 9:15 PM (HHS time). I'm sorry you went through all the research trying to find my name on lists and things. But I am in the El Molino. You would need to get the 1968 El Molino when we were freshmen. I only went to HHS in the 9th grade. I'm pictured on page 81 with the "C" Basketball team. My last name was spelled wrong. It should be Jokela, but it was incorrectly spelled Jorela. I'm also pictured on page 89 with the "C" Track team. This time my name was spelled right. I have one brother and three sisters, all of whom have roots in Hawthorne. We all went to Eucalyptus Elementary. My oldest sister Sharon was the only one who graduated from HHS. She graduated in Jim Baker's class of 1962. I think she was voted most likely to succeed in her senior class at HHS. Our family moved around so much, that I attended three different high schools, all in different states. But like I stated earlier here, through it all, I've always felt like Hawthorne is my hometown and that I am a Hawthorne Cougar. I felt like a missing Cougar. In fact, I was such a missing Cougar, that I didn't even show up on the "Missing Cougars" list. I had some very good times at the other schools I attended and places I lived. But I knew deep down, that I would have enjoyed living in Hawthorne and going to HHS much more. As much as we all agree that we enjoyed growing up in Hawthorne and that it's a special place, it's actually the people who lived and went to school here with me who made it such a special place for me. A testament to all I've said about Hawthorne, is this great Cougartown website. I've never seen any other high school with as grand an alumni site as we have here with Cougartown. Congrats to Jim Baker and those who helped create Cougartown. Jan, though I won't be able to share much of those great memories about going to HHS as you and so many of your classmates of 1971, I still feel a part of you all and that I would have a great time at your class reunion. I would look forward to being there. Thank you.

Name: Alan Nelson ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 7:44 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Parker, AZ
E-mail
Message: The Daily Breeze has the article on the HHS "Riot". All I can say is DAAMMMNNN!

Name: Jan Norton ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 6:12 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: CHAUNCEY
Class: 1971
City & State: same ol house
E-mail
Message: HEY THERE CLASS OF 71 and 72. We always have a great time getting together for our reunions....lot of stories to share from HHS till now.....who we dated, who we did not date and wish we had, 26th St, cars, football games, Bob Big Boy's, proms, clubs, sports, just being involved in HHS, hangin' out, surfers, low-riders, and I love hearing stories about my dad, even if he made you "run laps", there was always a good reason why. What great high school days we had. On AUGUST 25th, come join the story telling, hugs, and enjoy our great Cougar classmates. Hey, other classes are welcome too!. We are heading to the Stick n Stein in ES to start off the weekend on Friday!! The classes of 71-72 sure enjoy getting together. Please check out Cougartown, Reunions, for the details...GO COUGARS!!!

Name: Jan Norton ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 5:49 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Chauncey
Class: 1971
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: Kyle Jokela...who are you? I have worked on every reunion committee since graduation, you are not on a graduation list, an alumni list or in the El Molino.....did I miss your "feedback note" stating you had another name????

Name: Bonnie Snow ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 4:36 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: McCoy
Class: 1978
City & State: Irvine, CA
E-mail
Message: Regarding today's lockdown at HHS, I was told by the Hawthorne PD there was a fight with some students and thankfully, there were no deaths. The students were released to go home already and campus is no longer on lockdown.

Name: Jill McFarlane ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 3:40 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: Mission Viejo, CA
E-mail
Message: Coming soon; Information on the long awaited Golf Tournament. Can you believe this is our 4th Tournament! We are hoping to see a lot of you return golfers and hope to see some new golfers. This course is beautiful! Keep checking back to C-Town for information. OR just email me directly. Thank you.

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 2:59 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
No E-mail
Message: Lots of activity at HHS today. I was on my way to Hawthorne Nursery around 2:15 and they had El Segundo blocked off around the school. Helicopters in the air and Police from Inglewood, Hawthorne and Gardena.I stopped one of the students and asked him what was going on. He said that there was a riot within the school but had no other information other than that. A very sad day.

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 2:18 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: Long Beach, CA
E-mail
Message: I took the day off today, and am sitting here watching the 2:00 p.m. when they come on with a news extra on Channel 9 that Hawthorne High is in lockdown. I wasn't paying attention until they said the name of the school. Does anyone know what happened. As far as I know it's still under lockdown and they are not allowing anyone to leave or enter the school.

Name: Noreen ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 8:01 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Crotty
Class: 1972
City & State: Westchester, CA
E-mail
Message: We received a couple of emails from alumni having trouble getting the 71 - 72 reunion info. JB has put a link to it on the CT reunion page. You may need to click your refresh button to get the latest version. Looks like we're going to have great weather for cruise night this Saturday.

Name: Mike Shay ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 7:13 am - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Cerritos, CA
E-mail
Message: Hello Cougars; About two miles north and 10 years earlier than that picture was taken was one of our favorite drag strips. Ah, I can still see Mike Hendricks' red 61 Impala beating almost everybody. Hope to see you all Saturday! M.S.

Name: Barbara Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 8, 2007, 7:06 am - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: El Segundo
E-mail
Message: I just ran into Cal & Noreen (Crotty) Culley at the La Paz Restaurant in El Segundo. We we're talking about the 71-72 reunion..it sounds like so much fun, I can't wait to see everyone again!

Name: Dan Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 7, 2007, 10:25 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: Sherman Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: That photo was taken 3 days before my 13th birthday! Is that place just east of Manhattan Ave called Orville & Wilbur's? Was it called that then? I'm watching an episode of Medium and I'm pretty sure that one of the scenes was shot on 121st Place just each of Aviation (or is that Redondo-Inglewood?)

Name: Laura ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 7, 2007, 10:12 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Petros
Class: 1971
City & State: Hawthorne, Californi
E-mail
Message: Helloooooow fellow alumni!! I am so excited and I hope you are too!! We are finalizing our plans for the August 25, 2007 reunion and can't wait to see all of you at the Hacienda Hotel. Please send your check in soon so you won't miss out on a great night of fun & frolic.

Name: Baxter Dodd ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 7, 2007, 9:59 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1957
City & State: Riverside CA
E-mail
Message: FYI. Just watched a Sherlock Holmes movie (cir 1946) on satellite TV. One of the character actors in the movie (Skelton Knaggs) lived in Hawthorne (cir late 1940s) on 134th near Doty. The reason I know this is because he bought my folk?s house near the end of WWII. Any time Hollywood needed a character actor with scary features, for horror movies, pirate movies, crime movies, etc., this guy got the part. I think he died around 1955 - Baxter

Name: Jim Raines ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 7, 2007, 7:56 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Salt Lake City Ut
E-mail
Message: Say John, recently I have been reading some things I wrote back in 1968 when I was in Viet Nam. I mentioned in my notes that I met a sailor who was of the class of '64 by the name of Latham. If you can verify him then I'm calling it a Cougar sighting, 39 years past.

Name: Karen Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 7, 2007, 5:12 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Hawthorne, Ca
E-mail
Message: Wanted to take a moment to let the class of '63 and all other Cougar friends that your classmate, Don Brann is recovering from emergency surgery. It was a rough go but I hear he is doing better everyday which is great news. Hope you can all take a moment to send him some Get Well wishes. We here in the Wiseburn School District miss him and hope he can rejoin us soon... Get Well Dr. Brann!!