Class of 1961 graduate Jerry Stephenson lived the dream of many young American boys when he signed with the Boston Red Sox on June 17, 1961, only days after graduating from Anaheim High. As a senior at Anaheim, Jerry was named the Sunset League’s Most Valuable varsity baseball player.
Jerry was a major league baseball pitcher for nine years, playing for Boston, the Seattle Pilots (later becoming the Milwaukee Brewers) and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Born Sept. 12, 1949, Chic Burlingame was one day short of celebrating his 52nd birthday when he died fighting hijackers who caused American Airlines Flight 77 to crash into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
An aeronautical engineer and honors graduate from the Navy’s Top Gun fighter pilot school, he served eight years flying F-4 Phantom fighters and 17 years as a reservist. A Persian Gulf War veteran, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. [Read more…]
One of Anaheim High’s most successful athletes is Class of 1963’s Loy M. Petersen, the only graduate to play in the National Basketball Association.
Petersen, a 6-foot-5 forward and guard, was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round (17th overall) of the 1968 NBA draft. He played 69 career games over two seasons for the Bulls from 1968–1970.
He was a much sought after following his outstanding career with the Oregon State University Men’s Basketball Team from 1965 to 1968 [Read more…]
The largest group of golfers and dinner guests in the five-year history of the AHSAA Golf Classic ensured the repeated success of the fund-raising event that supports scholarships, school clubs and programs and campus improvement project. The 5th annual event included the induction of Don Liebhart ’45 and Loy Petersen ’63 into the Anaheim High School Hall of Fame.
Several Hall of Fame athletes will be among players in the 5th Annual Anaheim High School Alumni Association Golf Classic slated for Monday, Feb. 17 at Western Hills Country Club.
Jim Fassel – Class of 1967
The day will include AHS football legend Mickey Flynn from Class of ‘57 driving the course to serve beverages to golfers ranging from former N.Y. Giants Super Bowl coach Jim Fassel from Class of ’67 to Loy Petersen, a ’63 grad who played pro basketball with the Chicago Bulls.
Petersen and his award-winning coach, Don Liebhart, a Class of ’45 Anaheim High grad, will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame during the dinner portion of the event.
Other former pro athletes playing or participating include:
Clint Stark ’59, a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals; Ron Davini ’65, College World Series MVP and Chicago White Sox; and Dick Baney ’65, who played for the Cincinnati Reds and was the World Series pitcher who beat the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium to win the pennant for the Reds. Baney is donating some of his personal Cincinnati baseball possessions.
Also golfing is Jeff Severson, who was a defensive back with the Washington Redskins & L.A. Rams.
Golf Chairman Phil Anton ’63 and a former player with the Dallas Cowboys, announced that the stakes just got hotter thanks to Paul Schulte of Miller Toyota of Anaheim. Golfers lucky (or skilled) enough to make a hole-in-one will win a brand new vehicle, among other gifts provided by the dealership.
Many other auction items have been donated by area businesses, as well as Anaheim alumni. At last count, there was an impressive assortment of live and silent auction items ranging from suite tickets for the Ducks and Angels, admission to nearly ever major Southern California attraction, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates and much more.
Anton stressed that the event is open to golfers and non-golfers. With a shot-gun start, scramble format, and the availability of Mulligans, all stand a chance to win contests and prizes.
Cost to golf, including cart, range balls, lunch, dinner, goodie bag and other prizes, is $150. Dinner only is $35. Forms may be downloaded from www.anaheimcolonists.com. Reservations may also be e-mailed to anaheimalumni@yahoo.com. Contact Anton at 714/815-9562 for more information on sponsorship opportunities.
Destined to be a Colonist, Don Liebhart was born June 15, 1927 in Anaheim, and grew up dreaming of becoming an Anaheim High athlete. However, those dreams were dashed when he was stricken with polio in early childhood. With encouragement from his father, who would not let his son use his disability as an excuse, Don exercised his withered leg daily and, by the grace of God, was able to maintain use of his leg.
And what legs they became! They grew to carry Don at a height of 5-foot-10 and on to an amazing journey as an athlete, an award-winning basketball coach and dedicated teacher, father and grand-father. [Read more…]
Former Colonist and Marine Corps Brigadier General Nolan J. Beat passed away at age 95. He served his country from October 1942 through April 1976. Brigadier General Beat had the distinction of achieving the highest rank of any Colonist to serve in the United States armed forces. He was buried with full military honors at Riverside National Cemetery on Dec. 20, 2014.
During his nearly 34 years of service with the U.S. Marine Corps, Nolan Beat saw tours of duty in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, earning the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” with two Gold Stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with a Silver Star. [Read more…]
George Fraser – Class of 1970
George Fraser has the distinction of being Anaheim High’s first player in CIF history to make the CIF selection three years in a row, twice on first team. He was also on the 1967 Colonist football team that won Anaheim’s first outright CIF championship in the 4- A Division.
A natural athlete, Fraser was a stand-out player from the beginning. He played football, basketball and ran track as a boy in New York with a Catholic youth organization before moving to Anaheim in 1964. [Read more…]
Jerry Shipkey – Class of 1943
Legendary Hall of Fame athlete Jerry Shipkey has the distinction of being the only person to play in the Rose Bowl for both USC and UCLA. But his accomplishments as an athlete include much more. Shipkey went on to a standout career in professional ball with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was also a record-setting track and field star in high school and college. [Read more…]
