Paul Myrehn, a nugget from the Long Grey Line

Paul Myrehn, an outstanding halfback for the 1942 championship Newport Harbor High grid team, has passed away at age 77 in

Indianapolis, Ind.

His longtime friend from school days and a ’42 teammate, Bill

Neth, indicated that Myrehn had suffered from a stroke recently and

was placed on a machine, but with no optimism over his recovery, the

family chose to release him from the machine.

The Myrehn brothers, who ran a service station that once stood as

a landmark on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa, were always a

respectable fixture in the community.

Paul was also a noted photographer who took pictures of the entire

‘42 grid team and many photos for the ’43 school yearbook. He had

considerable talent in the field, but eventually turned to the

insurance business as a career in Indiana.

He had many friends, which included ’43 classmate Ruthelyn

Plummer, who later became a noted mayor of Newport Beach. In fact,

she paid a visit to see him and his family two years ago. Neth also

chose to visit him a year ago.

Myrehn was an alternating halfback with Ed Miller on the ’42 team.

A second-team All-Sunset League choice, Myrehn was a hard runner.

After the end of World War II, Myrehn and five other Newporters

made first team at Santa Ana Junior College and led the dons to the

‘45 Eastern Conference title. Fullback Myrehn added impact to the

offense and led the team in scoring, according to Neth.

* Reflecting back on the ’42 grid period, it was a “positive” to

gain a clear assessment of players and positions on the team, coached

by Wendell Pickens.

Confusion over the years has found many never recalling another

Tar end to match starter Carl Oberto. Bill Neth said he was the

defensive end and offensive tackle, while Manuel Muniz became the

offensive end opposite Oberto. However, Muniz was officially listed

as a tackle when named to the All-CIF second team. Defensively, he

was a tackle.

Neth said the confusion came years later when he played guard for

Santa Ana JC. “Many assumed I played guard for Harbor High, but I

didn’t,” he said.

The two main guards for the Tars were always Don Tripp and Tom

McCorkell. The other tackle was Bob Gaynor.

Neth said there were actually three centers for Newport. The

first-stringer was Don Bingham, who was backed by John Shafer and

Wendell Crawford. Some fans often assumed Crawford was first because

he was often called on to kick conversions.

Loren Langmade was the blocking back, one who would be named to

the second team, All-CIF in ’43.

The deceased from the ’42 first team are fullback Harold Sheflin,

quarterback Vern Fitzpatrick, halfback Myrehn, tackle Muniz, and

guards Tripp and McCorkell.

* Cheering news came to George Yardley, an NBA Hall of Famer,

recently relating to the celebrated man who coached him years ago in

a drive for an AAU basketball championship and that was one-time

basketball great Hank Luisetti, who made high college marks at

Stanford.

Actually, Yardley came to break Luisetti’s college scoring record

in 1950 at the end of the season. Unfortunately, USC, sparked by Bill

Sharman, chose to send Sharman back into the UCLA game to break

Yardley’s record since he was near the mark. And it worked.

Nonetheless, Yardley always had a high regard for Sharman.

Luisetti, now 83, still lives in the San Francisco bay area and

says he still “thanks God” for all the blessings over the years.

He said he is pleased to be away from being interviewed by the

media.

Yardley said AAU basketball was a big thing 50 years ago, not pro

basketball. The hardwood world has definitely changed since the early

days.

At any rate, Yardley was pleased to learn Luisetti is in good

health and bright about the future.

* Looking back brings Yardley’s brief recall of his one football

experience in ’45 at Harbor High.

He tried out for end in good spirits, but took a number of rough

bumps from heavy blockers and fell to the turf. When he looked up he

was surprised to find his basketball coach, Ralph Reed, urging him

off the field before “he got killed.”

It always draws a laugh.