Anaheim High’s beloved head football coach Clare Van Hoorebeke led Colonist football teams to repeated victories from 1950 – 1972. Known as the “Dutch Master,” Hoorebeke forever changed the face of high school football. To this day, coaching principles pioneered by Van and his loyal staff have served as the model for football programs in Orange County and across the county. [Read more…]
Archives for May 2010
Coach Clare Van Hoorebeke
May 23, 2010 by
Steve Mora – Class of 1986
May 13, 2010 by
Steven Mora, M.D.
Anaheim High School
Class of 1986
Inducted into AHS Hall of Fame in 2005
Dr. Steven Mora is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon practicing in Orange County, California. He’s a founding partner at Restore Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Group. He has a unique experience that led him to choose Orthopedic Surgery as a career.
He completed his undergraduate studies at California State University Fullerton, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiological Sciences and minor Biochemistry. He then pursued his medical education at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Dr. Mora believes that his personal experience as a trauma patient helped him to become a better, more empathetic physician. Both of his legs were run over by a commuter bus while living in Peru. He underwent multiple complex surgical procedures and continues to suffer with pain. He feels this experience has helped him empathize better with his patients. This near tragic experience also introduced him to orthopedic Surgery.
Dr Mora also credits his experience in wood-shop class at Anaheim High School as an introduction to the tools that he fell in love with and continues to use as an Orthopedic Surgeon. He later found out that his experience at AHS under his teacher, Mr. John Rush, made a big difference for him during his surgery training.
His areas of expertise include sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, knee and shoulder surgery, and orthopedic trauma. He’s a world-renowned expert for treating chronic Pectoralis Major Tendon tears.
He routinely goes on medical missions Peru where he had spent the first 7 years of his life. He feels that he can make a huge difference in the health of others, especially those with little resources. On these missions he also strives to motivate young students to pursue college and a career in medicine.
He is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences on the where he shares his knowledge and experience with fellow healthcare professionals topic of chronic Pectoralis Major Tendon reconstruction.
Dr. Mora is active on social media. In 2020 he was named a top Orthopedic Surgeon influencer on Twitter. He frequently posts on Instagram under @SteveMoraMD.
More information about Dr. Mora can be found on his website MyOrthoDoc.com
Senior Class portrait – 1986
Foreign Language Major
Computer Programming
Steve Mora was an important part of the Class of 1986.
He was greatly active in various clubs on campus.
Steven Mora, M.D. – Class of 1986
Reuben Droughns – Class of 1996
May 13, 2010 by
Class of 1996
The most prolific running back in Anaheim Colonists football history, Droughns is one of only five players to have his jersey retired. As a sophomore, he rushed for a team-record 2,083 yards and propelled the Colonists to the quarterfinal round of postseason play. He followed that performance with 1,752 yards as a junior to break Mickey Flynn’s career rushing record. Droughns is the only Anaheim running back to surpass 1,000 yards rushing three times, and ended his career with 4,958 yards, the second highest total in Orange County history up to that time. He was a three-time All-Orange League first teamer, and twice earned All-CIF recognition. His excellence was not limited to the gridiron, as Droughns was a CIF champion wrestler in 1996 for the 189-pound weight class.
Renee Therese Kenneth-Sams – Class of 1981
May 13, 2010 by
Renee Therese (Kenneth) Sams – Class of 1981
Joe Anton – Class of 1937
May 13, 2010 by
Joe Anton was born in Anaheim, July 14, 1918, to Lebanese parents Abdulla “Tony” and Noora Anton. An only child, Joe was partially raised by a Hispanic man, while Tony and Noora worked in their store. (Anton’s Market was the first supermarket in Anaheim, and maybe Orange County.) Because of this babysitting arrangement, Spanish was Joe’s first language.
Joe attended St. Boniface Elementary School in Anaheim and then transferred to Anaheim Union High School, graduating in 1937. He moved on to Santa Ana Junior College, then upon his graduation in 1939, enrolled at San Diego State University, earning his degree in 1941.
Gerry Mullins – Class of 1967
May 13, 2010 by
A star player for Clare Van Hoorebeke’s renowned 1966 varsity football squad, “Moon” Mullins continued on to have the most distinguished football career of any Anaheim graduate. He was a member of three Rose Bowl teams as a tight end for John McKay at USC before being selected in the fourth round (86th overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Playing under Chuck Noll, Mullins established himself at left guard, and was an integral part of the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s. He started in all four of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl victories, blocking for the Pro Football Hall of Fame backfield duo of Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris. Mullins spent his entire eight-year career with the Steelers, retiring after Pittsburgh’s victory in Super Bowl XIV. He settled in Western Pennsylvania, where he currently is in business.
Kit Salness-Howser – Class of 1972
May 13, 2010 by
Kit Salness-Howser from Anaheim High Class of 1972 was a nationally ranked platform diver and was a member of the 1980 United States Olympic team.
While at Anaheim High, Kit participated in cheerleading, swimming, diving, track, volleyball, basketball and archery. Runner up for the G.A.A. Girl of the Year in 1972, Kit competed in the Indoor National Diving Competition and placed 12th in the 10-meter and 37th in the 3-meter board.
Kit’s family members were all Colonist, either as students or ardent supporters. Head of family Gordon Salness, a practicing physician in Anaheim for numerous years, was Anaheim’s football team doctor.
Matriarch Betty worked for the Anaheim Union High School District starting in 1964, first as a Braillist at Fremont and Anaheim High, then as a special education teacher for Oak, Los Alamitos and Lexington.
Her brother Ty is a doctor of internal medicine in the Indian Service Hospital in Kiletrken, Alaska. Ty was a USC teammate of OJ Simpson and was on the 1967 National Championship football team. Now part-time doctor and spends his retirement hours at him home in Panama. For 22 years he was a high school football coach at six schools.
Another brother, Kym, is a doctor who had a fellowship at UC Irvine and studied pulmonary diseases. He became UCI’s medical director and later held the same position at Pennsylvania State in Hershey. Now retired and living in Pennsylvania.
Sister Jo Salness Waldman, now retired was a physical education teacher in the Fullerton district and for 25 years was a high school volley ball coach at University High School in California. She’s now retired on a 70-horse ranch in Elk Washington.
Brother Lad is a high school teacher and head coach at Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon.
Tom Daly – Class of 1972
May 13, 2010 by
Tom Daly has literally spent his life in public service, including as Anaheim’s mayor for 10 years and, currently, as Orange County’s Clerk-Recorder.
Starting at age 8, he walked door to door, helping his father hang doorknob flyers for Thomas Kuchel’s (AHS Class of 1928 graduate) State Senate campaign. His first county job was as an intern for then Supervisor Ralph Clark.
While at Anaheim High, where his father taught history, Tom was yearbook editor, a member of the California Scholarship Federation, a pitcher for the varsity baseball team, in addition to being a math and science major.
[Read more…]
Frances Martinez – Aug. 10, 1937 – March 5, 2009
May 13, 2010 by
Beloved Anaheim High School staff member Frances Martinez was a unique, strong-willed individual who always inspired, gave, motivated, and believed.
Her love of life was only exceeded by her love of work. She gave 28 years of her life to the students and families of Anaheim High as a community liaison, translator, secretary, parent, mentor and role model. No matter what hat she was wearing, Frances touched countless lives.
The impact she had on the lives around her is a testament to love and kindness she shared with the people who surrounded her. She was always one to give without ever expecting to receive anything in return except for maybe a smile or a thank you.
