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 12^th in the 10-meter and 37^th 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 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.
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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.

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Bob Salerno, former head football coach at Anaheim, and a longtime assistant coach at several county schools, was born in Trinidad, Colorado, and attended Holy Trinity High School, where he was a two-time all-state tackle. At the University of Colorado, Salerno earned three varsity letters and was a team captain as a senior and earned all-conference honors. Although he was drafted by both the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) and the Boston Patriots (1959) injuries prevented a professional football career and he ended up doing a stint in the U.S. Army before moving out to Southern California.

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Arizona State / Green Bay Packers 1985-1993

As a star football player for the Colonists in the late 70s, Brian Noble twice earned All-Freeway League honors on two playoff teams and was named an All-CIF punter following his senior season. He continued on to play at Fullerton College, then at Arizona State. In 1985, Noble was a fifth-round choice (125th overall) of the Green Bay Packers in the 1985 NFL Draft.

Establishing himself as a starter during his rookie season, Noble would start 110 of 117 games that he played in, becoming a stalwart on the Packers defense during the late 80s and early 90s while facing off regularly against Pro Football Hall of Fame running backs Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.

His nine-year NFL career (in which he led Green Bay in tackles four times) came to a premature end with a knee injury suffered early in the 1993 season. Following the end of his playing career, Noble spent several years as a television sports reporter in Green Bay, while also hosting an outdoor sports show. He later became head coach and later owner of the arena football franchise the Green Bay Blizzard.

A love of country, the City of Anaheim and his alma mater has directed this outstanding citizen through a lifetime of leadership and community service.

Bud led his classmates while at Anaheim in student government and sports, his fellow soldiers as a Naval office during WWII, his community as a business man and member of numerous boards, commissions, and as a non-profit volunteer, including a stint as president of the Anaheim’s High Football Booster Club.

Bud is truly a product of the Anaheim school system. Born in 1923 in Anaheim, he attended Horace Mann Elementary, Fremont Junior High and Anaheim High School, where he was freshman class president and student body president in his senior year. After his junior year at AHS, he was selected to the California Boys State in Sacramento and voted in as Attorney General.

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Paul and his son at Ruby's grand opening

Looking back at Paul Kott’s activities as an Anaheim High student, it comes as no surprise that this life-long Anaheim resident would become a community leader and active volunteer in many philanthropic organizations.

A prominent businessman and owner of Paul Kott Realtors, he was a member of the varsity basketball team, elected the squad’s most inspirational player. A member of the AHS Ski Club, Paul also served on the Associate Student Body as Safety & Welfare Secretary, responsible for keeping the Colony’s campus clean and attractive. Along with those duties, Paul’s and his Colonist committee undertook an annual clothing drive and canned food drive, rallying the entire student body to support the city’s needy citizens.
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Jim Oregel – Class of 1972

Jim Oregel, a life-long Anaheim resident who has served his community from an early age, and even more so since graduating from Anaheim High School in 1972.

Born August 5, 1953, Jim has always been a key leader for his alma mater and for St. Boniface Church, where he has been a member for seven decades.

Jim has taught catechism, conducted youth programs, and filled many other volunteer positions for his church community.

He also represented St. Boniface on the interfaith Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), which he helped found. OCCCO develops leaders from a diverse multicultural, interfaith community who work together to shape equitable public policy in Orange County.

Jim has been a blessing for Anaheim High, Home of the Colonists. In the 1950s and beyond, Anaheim High’s football program was a powerhouse, winning numerous league titles and championships. The Colonist football games were broadcast on radio and the entire town turned out for pep rallies and filled the stadium. His father, siblings and cousins always attended games and took Jimmy along. Without a doubt, Jimmy holds the record for attending the most Colonist gridiron contests. In fact, since 1969, he has only missed five games.

Jim became a Junior Colonist upon entering 7^th grade at Fremont Junior High, located across the street from Anaheim. When he began attending high school, he immediately became involved with the football program by serving as a team manager.

Always sporting the school’s colors of Blue and Gold, Jim is certainly the best example of the famous Colonist “Spirit, Pride & Tradition,” which earned him a position as yell leader.

His volunteer work for the school included decorating the gym and team locker room for every game and pep rally, creating unique awards and décor for football banquets that were major celebrations attended by hundreds of players, booster club members, business sponsors and others.

In fact, his work for the high school has never stopped. Upon graduating, Jim joined the Football Booster Club and took over the presidency in 1976, which he recently relinquished.

Jim has supported the football team by raising funds with Colonist merchandise sales, running the snack bar, recruiting parents as program volunteers, providing the traditional pre-game team dinners, organizing the annual post-season banquet, and more.

Jim is a founding member of the AHS Alumni Association and serves on the Board of Directors.

Inducted in the Anaheim High Hall of Fame in 2008, Jim truly bleeds Blue and Gold and has dedicated his life to his alma mater by keeping Colonist tradition alive. Please join the Colonist community in recognizing his life-long service to the Anaheim community.