Sidelines: Coming soon: Class of ’52 party

Don Cantrell

Newport Harbor High’s Class of 1952, which observed and celebrated

some great hours in basketball and swimming in the school year of

1951-52, has mapped plans to salute its 50th anniversary at the Balboa

Pavilion Saturday, Sept. 7, according to committee chairman Don Huber.

Huber (who can be reached in the evening at 714-546-2120) and his

committee are anxious to reach missing person from their class list.

The reunion weekend will also feature a revisit to Heritage Hall at

the school, a trip to the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum and Riverboat

Restaurant and a Sunday morning “Brunch Cruise.”

The spokesman said the class committee always values help from the

Daily Pilot since, “it has become difficult in this day and age to locate

old mates.”

Although it was a slim football season for the varsity, Bees and Cees,

the class was cheered by a superb varsity basketball season. Newport’s

hoopsters finished second in the Sunset League, fourth in the Huntington

Beach Tournament and advanced to the CIF tournament, though lost to

Chaffey High.

The cage star for Harbor was a tall, lean player named Armand Nettles,

who earned first team All-League honors. He scored a school-record 30

points against Fullerton and was named the Tars’ Most Valuable Player.

Jim Roberts was elected captain and Fred Nesbitt was named most improved.

One of the major highlights out of the ’52 season was taking note of

Coach Jules Gage leading the Dee basketball team to the league title

(first time since 1941). Gage’s club closed with a 17-1 record.

In time, something more remarkable would happen -- two of the Dee

players would become the top players in the pro and college ranks.

One, Paul Neumann, would enter Stanford and later shift to the

professional ranks, starring for the Syracuse Nationals. Dennis

Fitzpatrick became an ace guard for the California Bears and helped the

school capture the NCAA cage championship.

Under Coach Al Irwin, the varsity and Bee swim teams won league

championships. The varsity, led by Bruce Baird, Don Preston, Don Aarvold,

Rex Bell, Irmin Stawicki, Tom Holtz, Dennis Mason and Lee Hambroo,

outscored opponents, 412 1/2 to 129 1/2.

The Bee swimmers, winning its third title in three years, were paced

by captain Bob Ibbotson, who was also most valuable and the team’s high

point man.

The Tar gridders defeated Bonita, 13-7, and Lynwood, 19-0, but fell in

seven other contests, though Harbor slipped behind and lost tough games

to Santa Ana, 28-20, and Anaheim, 14-6.

All-league first team honors went to center Bob Eggert and Aarvold, a

fullback. Tackle Tony Pridham was named to the second team and honorable

mention salutes went to halfback Rex Bell and quarterback Rolly Pulaski.

Other impressive players were tackle Gino Boero, end Ted McMasters,

tackle Ted Lange, end Don Pettit, guard Jim Pascoe, fullback Austin

Smith, end Mickey Retmier, tackle Lou Abbott, guard Dudley Heller and

guard Terry Gibson.

Athletic Director Ralph Reed also introduced cross country in 1951,

which was then a 1.8 mile run. Twenty-five turned out and Roy Stafford

became undefeated during the season.

The three track teams labored hard, but none could capture a title.

The varsity had won 26 dual meets during the three previous years, but

finally Santa Ana and Fullerton took the crown away.

The deceased from Class of ‘52: Jack Felker, Phyllis Dellacqua, Lee

Page, Doug Bouvey, Nancy Millett, Lynn Brown, Char Six, Don Pettit, Dick

Johnson, Bonnie Harris, Jim Frankl, Bruce Baird and Marilyn Hamm.

Also, John Shigaki, Bob Hinkens, Dale Coleman, Bill Cottle, Jack

Kutter, Dean Gilbert, Suzie Brocket, Jerry Shannon, Jack Turley, Jim

Perenti, Ian Godsoe, Bob Cubbison, Evie Williams, Jim Mendon, Gleaves

Lowe and Tracy Godfrey.

Also, Mark Scofield, Romaine Corbin, Dallas Devinney, Pat Brooks,

Frank Soule, Joe Peterson and Mickey Meredith.

The following are missing classmates from ‘52:

Lewis Abbott, Sandy Babbitt, Dace Bailey, Audrie Berg, Gladys Berry,

Mildred Blackwell, Charles Bridges, Ronald Briggs, Bruce B. Brown, Beth

Christensen, Margie Densmore, Georgiana Dick, Shirlee Ellis, George

Greene and Frank Hansen.

Also, Frances Harrison, Geraldine Hayden, Roger Henrick, Barbara

Hennings, Marilyn Hilliker, Russell Hoffman, Bob Holland, Peter Hood,

Archie Horvath, Evelyn Hughes, Bill Iliff, Margaret Johnson, Dick

Johnston and at Katterick.

Also, Bill Kindell, Mary Kraft, Patricia Mahon, Robert McCracken, Jan

McGill, Mac Morgan, Jack Morris, Esther Navarro, Joan Parisen, Shirlee

Pickens, Tony Pridham, Chuck Ralston, Anna Reynolds, Billie Ross, Lois

Scharpegge, Diane Stratton, Dixie Thaden, Ron Tharp, John Toolin, Bobette

Wade, Melba Walker, Conrad Walton, Bob West, Joan Weston, Christa

Willmanns, Jack Wirtz, Don Whittaker and Freida York.