Boies more than just an athlete

DON CANTRELL

Glynn Boies, one of Newport Harbor High’s most valuable athletes from

the mid-1940s, died of leukemia at 75 Tuesday at 1 a.m.

It was disclosed by his cousin, Bob Nettles of Carlsbad.

Boies had labored courageously in recent years to overcome

numerous setbacks and was always left smiling, Nettles said.

“He was one of the finest gentlemen one would ever meet,” said Joe

Muniz, a ’44 grid mate.

Muniz said Boies had lived in Costa Mesa most of his life, but was

born in Louisiana. The family arrived in the local area in 1939.

Boies was a sharp signal caller for the ’44 Newport varsity

football team from his right end position, an exceptional pitcher on

the 1944-45 baseball teams and a valued guard on the championship ’44

basketball team that captured the Southern Counties tournament.

The ’44 star was All-CIF forward Bud Attridge, who was also a

cousin to Nettles and Boies.

The late Les Miller coached Boies in football and baseball. Miller

always had immense praise for Boies relative to team determination

and leadership.

Boies served as the student body president at Newport in 1944-45.

He was only injured once and that was against Fullerton during an

away contest when he was kicked in the face and Miller joined him for

the hospital trip.

The ’44 football season ranked high in his book due to the team’s

outstanding play, despite the loss of several highly talented players

who were drafted for military service during World War II.

He recalled once that the team started by winning the first four

games of the season, which included Laguna Beach, Tustin, Anaheim and

Huntington Beach. The Sailors tied Orange, 7-7, but lost to Santa

Ana, 7-6, and Fullerton, 12-6.

An overwhelming crowd of 7,500 turned out for the Newport-Santa

Ana clash at the Santa Ana Bowl, which was a remarkable turnout for a

prep game in the early days.

The Tars were 4-0 while the Saints were 3-0-1, having tied, 6-6,

with Fullerton. Boies had remembered that the Saints had scored first

and was leading 7-0 until the Tars rallied back in the second quarter

and took advantage of a fumble by the Saints. The turnover led to a

touchdown by quarterback Donnie Miller.

Boies said the conversion try was a different story. Although many

felt Don Vaughn’s kick for the extra point was good, it was ruled

wide. Boies said he had to disagree with many fans.

“It didn’t go through,” he said.

Les Miller said he favored Vaughn’s kick despite the controversial

storm over the issue.

Boies also recalled that the Tars had an opportunity to score

again after Muniz intercepted a pass and returned it to the Saints

23-yard line.

Unfortunately, the Tars attempted a new T-formation play, but it

failed after Miller turned to handoff to Muniz. The ball wound up on

the ground and the Saints recovered.

He also regretted the Orange game since the Tars had the edge,

7-0, near the end. But a driving rain storm at Davidson Field allowed

Orange to set up a deceptive touchdown pass play. Newport, despite

the efforts of Dick Harper and Rod MacMillian rushing up against the

kicker’s boot, slipped through the PAT, making it, 7-7.

Boies later worked 40 years for the McKesson-Robins drug firm

before he retired to a home in Fountain Valley with his wife, Alene,

who preceded him in death.

They had one child, Robin Johnson, who lives in Los Angeles with

her husband, Mike.