From nearby

Don Cantrell

Jim Seely, a rear admiral in the Vietnam era, a 1950 graduate of Newport Harbor High and a one-time swimmer under Coach Al Irwin,

experienced an ironic twist Sept. 11 when the terorists hijacked four

airliners and caused destruction in three places.

One of the planes, which may have been destined to Washington, D.C. by

the terrorists, was turned away toward Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and

crashed, was in the same region as Seely.

Many feel four former American athletes were among a group on the

plance which challenged the hijackers and battled against their control,

forcing the airliner to crash in open terrain.

Seely, a naval consultant, caught wind of the terrorist attacks at an

airport in Pittsburgh and, like most Americans, was outraged by the chain

of dreadful events. Seely, a one-time jet fighter pilot with a flow of

high decorations, took part in numerous Vietnamese battles.

He knows about such challenges and once praised Coach Irwin for the

admirable training when he was a swimmer for the ’50 Harbor High swim

team. Coincidentally, one teammate was a future Korean veteran as an

oft-decorated Army tech sergeant named Jack Bell.

Some of Seely’s honors included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the

Air Medal. Bell was once nominated for the Silver Star.

In time, Seely became the base commander at Whidbey Island Naval Air

Base in the state of Washington. It was a new experience, one that drew

amusement and a smile. He once said he struggled trying to keep his

appointments. He often had to ask his secretary with briefcase in hand,

“Where am I supposed to go now?” It still brings a laugh.

The mention of Irwin also recalls a time during Irwin’s lifeguard days

in Newport when he caused a wide spread of upset among his lifeguard

mates at a beach party in Corona del Mar, circa 1935. They were

celebrating the end of summer duties.

The party eventually turned into a scene of boredom and Irewin finally

chose to dip into the ocean mid-even ing and disapeared without a word,

according to mate Dave Phoenix.

Phoenix said the guys were alarmed after looking around and not

finding Irwin. They subsequently assumed that Irwin swam home. They drove

to Newport and found that they were right. He had covered the distance,

then fell asleep for the night.

Phoenix also remembered another time when Irwin and his football

teammate Wayne Dye took the challenge to compete against Buster Crabbe,

an All-American swimmer in a race from Balboa Pier to the Balboa Pavillon

near the ferry.

Over the years, Irwin, a humble athlete, said he could never remember

“how that race turned out,” Phoenix remembered.

Phoenix said Dye won the race and Irwin was second in an outstanding

event.

A stout tackle on the Harbor High football team for four years,

Phoenix was a memorable player under Coach Ralph Reed. However, he met

his match once, when he switched to Santa Ana Junior College and came to

face the great Jackie Robinson one night in the Pasadena stadium.

Phoenix came to experience Robinson’s strength as a fantasic runner

when he swept over tackle and left Phoenix flat on the turf.

It was the same in major league baseball eventually for Robinson when

he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier.

An interesting note from the championship ’42 Newport grid team is

that many young boys grew up knowing the legendary fullback Harold

Shkeflin before anyone else on the team. Some, lik,e Mel Small of the ’51

class and Al Muniz of the ’49 Class, were often welcome to stroll through

the dressing room and extend greetings.

Gino Boero, the great guard on the ’49 Tar grid team, came to know

Sheflin eventually, but his first ’42 champ acquaintance was wingman Carl

Oberto.

Boero recalled that he came to know him since his father, “Papa” Gino,

was dating Oberto’s mother at one time. Oberto advanced to become a

sterling pass catcher for the Santa Ana Dons.

Boero also has admirable things to say about Chuck Hanson, a ’48

tackle for Irwin at Newport. He later connected with Hi-Time Liquor and

Boero recently said, “No one knows more about fine wine.”

He also recalled that Hanson once played with Bill Walsh at San Jose

State College after high school. Walsh, in time, became the champ coach

for the San Francisco 49ers. Boero said Hanson was an All-Eastern

Conference selection for Orange Coast College in the early ‘50s.