Bill Neth

Don Cantrell

One of the most inspired linemen off Newport Harbor High’s ’42

championship football team was a rugged speedster named Bill Neth, who

could carry a lineman’s physique to a 10.4 clocking in the 100-yard dash.

Neth had that Midwestern toughness when he arrived in the harbor area

from Nebraska, along with his brother, Roger, who in time, became a

police chief in Costa Mesa and Irvine. His brother was a reserve tackle

on the ’42 champ team.

The other standout lineman with Neth was end and tackle Manuel Muniz,

an All-CIF, second-team selection, who was once offered a contract to the

New York Giants after he finished Arizona State College.

Although Neth was later offered 14 college scholarships, he was also

offered a professional contract with the Hollywood Bears. He turned it

down, however.

The Bears were impressed by Neth’s selection to the Southern

California Junior College grid team. Later, he was crowned with a first

place on the California JC lineup.

It looked bright and positive for Neth in most every direction in

terms of sports, but he decided upon two items -- marriage, and the

acceptance of an encouraging offer to become a news distributor for the

Los Angeles Times. He held the Times position for years.

Prior to the Times offer, Neth had advanced to play guard at Santa Ana

JC with a number of sterling Harbor High gridders.

After that, he became a walk-on assistant coach for the Santa Ana JC

teams for seven years, where he enjoyed coaching under head coach Bill

Cook and his subsequent replacement, John Ward. He always admired both

Cook and Ward.

Both coaches also praised both the Neth brothers and commended their

sportsmanship and skills on the grid. Roger went on to San Jose State.

At one point in Santa Ana as a player, Bill Neth was honored with the

lofty Helms First All-California Trophy.

Neth always made friends easily and constantly drew high regards. One

of his favorites was the late Don Burns, one-time Harbor High grid coach

who also invested many years teaching and working with young lifeguards.

He had high praise for his Harbor High grid coach, the late Wendell

Pickens. He once said, “I really liked him. He was a father figure, like

Bill Cook. ‘Pick’ (Pickens) was all business and was more of a

disciplinarian. Cook was more relaxed.”

Neth was also quick to salute the talent and impact of the late Harold

Sheflin, the All-CIF fullback for Newport in ’42.

He said, “I remember the first time I ever saw him in the backfield.

He looked so polished, even then. It looked like he was born to carry the

ball.”

A broken leg hampered Neth’s hopes for an early prep grid career

because it took two years for it to heal. Hence, he had to wait until his

senior year. Still, the wait paid off, since the championship was on its

way in ’42.

And, 57 years later, another berth was to open for Bill Neth -- entry

into the Daily Pilot’s Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating the oncoming

millennium.