Some wizened sailors

Newport Harbor High School students were given a new place on campus to sit and relax Wednesday, when the class of 1949 dedicated the planting of several new trees in what they have named the 49er Grove.

About 37 members of the class of 1949 were on hand for the dedication, part of their 60th reunion.

Some came from San Diego or Northern California; others traveled from Arizona to be with their classmates again.

“We were the first class to come to Newport Harbor High School after World War II ended,” alumnus Don Knipp said. “We’ve stayed very close, this entire group.”

Organizers said they have been planning the event since March. Five box trees were planted in August in front of the school gymnasium, and were dedicated Wednesday.

“We wanted to plant these trees in honor of our old campus,” Knipp said, as so much attention was being paid to remodeling and adding newer facilities like the Robins/Loats buildings.

Two more trees were planted elsewhere on campus, in honor of Al and Lois Irwin.

Al Irwin, of the class of 1936, was the first Harbor alumnus to return to coach varsity football, in 1948.

“The school was smaller in those days,” Irwin said. “This class was probably the happiest group I ever worked with. They were just outstanding.”

He said he was impressed by the construction.

“They did an outstanding job in a short amount of time,” he said.

After spending many years at Harbor, Irwin moved to Orange Coast College and then UC Irvine, coaching aquatics and earning countless titles and honors.

Alumni toured the new campus buildings and had dinner after dedicating the seven trees.

“This is a wonderful gesture, and we’re just really thrilled to have them,” Assistant Principal Tina Case told the alumni of the trees.

“Hopefully you’ll nurture them to grow straight and strong, just like your students,” Knipp told school officials.