Anchor away

Deirdre Newman

The sailor pride at Ensign Intermediate School swelled to full mast on

Wednesday when a group of dads joined forces to bring a 10,185-pound

anchor to the school.

The massive anchor replaces a smaller version that has graced the

Newport Beach school’s property for about 50 years.

The nine dads are part of the Navigators, a group of fathers that

supports the school. Under the lead of Michael Lawler, the group obtained

the anchor from a Navy base in San Diego.

The dads say the bigger, bolder anchor enhances the campus and

reflects the school’s selection as a California Distinguished School last

year.

“It’s definitely needed,” said Telford Cottam, who has a son and

daughter at the school.

The idea to upgrade the anchor was conceived at a Navigators meeting

earlier this year. Principal Mike McGuire asked if any of the dads knew

where to get a new anchor to replace the old 175-pound one. When no one

responded, Lawler spontaneously volunteered, even though he had no idea

how he would deliver.

So the resourceful attorney started working the phones and contacted

the commanding officer of one of San Diego’s naval bases. He said he

embellished a little bit to bolster his appeal.

“I told [his secretary] the school’s song was ‘Anchors Away,”’ Lawler

said. “I made that up.”

Lawler’s persuasive pitch paid off when Capt. L.R. Hering agreed to

the request. So Lawler and John Sturgess drove down to San Diego to check

out the Navy’s inventory. After looking at all the anchors available,

they chose the biggest one.

Their only concern was not to upstage the stately anchor at their

neighbor up the street, Newport Harbor High School.

The gray anchor was installed at Ensign using a crane. The dads took

turns directing exactly where the crane should be positioned.

Once the anchor was firmly embedded in the grass, the dads celebrated

with high-fives, some jumping on the anchor to test its sturdiness.

“Now that’s an anchor,” Lawler said proudly.

Then some of the dads in their khakis and tasseled loafers worked to

position the rusty chain attached to the anchor.

While half of the anchor was painted before it was installed, the rest

will be painted before Friday morning’s official dedication.

Cottam’s daughter, Marisa, a seventh-grader at the school, said she

was impressed with the larger anchor.

“I think it’s better than the little one and shows more school pride,”

Marisa said.

McGuire said the old anchor will be auctioned off at the school’s

first fund-raiser next year.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .

FYI

The anchor dedication ceremony will take place at 8 a.m. Friday at

Ensign Intermediate School, 2000 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach.