Blog — Page 3

Milestones made for Colonist football in historic season finale

April 23, 2021 by AHSAA

The 102^nd and most unusual season in Colonist football annals came to an end on Friday, April 16 at Glover Stadium. But even more important than Anaheim’s resounding 51-12 win over Santa Ana Valley in the Orange League finale for both teams, senior running back Adam Luna and head coach Lanny Booher both reached impressive marks that put them among the all-time greats in team history.

Luna ended his Anaheim football playing career with one of the greatest nights ever played. Demonstrating his trademark speed and elusiveness, the outgoing senior tailback carried the ball 18 times for a whopping 341 yards, the second-highest single-game total in team history (behind only Reuben Droughns’ 373 yards vs. Arroyo in the First Round of the 1993 CIF-Southern Section playoffs).

Additionally, Luna (who finished with 936 yards in just five games), scored a team-record seven rushing touchdowns on runs of 10, 14, 54, and 14 yards in the first quarter (also a new team mark), a 58-yarder in the second quarter, another 58-yard run in the third quarter, and then a final 9-yard scamper early in fourth quarter. This broke the team single-game mark of six set by Matt Contreras in a 2007 victory over Katella. The seven scores gave Luna 20 rushing touchdowns for the season, the first Colonist back to do so since George Perdickez in 2006. Luna averaged 18.9 yards per carry in the game, evoking memories of Mickey Flynn, while his running style recalled other historic Anaheim running backs like Joel Ramirez and Joaquin Garcia who did not let their lack of size get in the way of dominating the field of play. With a career total of 1,350 rushing yards and 26 total TDs, there is no doubt that Adam Luna’s name now goes along with the very best who have ever played for Anaheim High School.

Watching from the sidelines as he has done for so many years, head coach Lanny Booher guided his team through the chaos and hardships of this season, which was turned upside down by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Even when the prospects for having a season during the 2020-21 school year seemed grim, Booher kept his players focused and motivated. And when the danger abated and the season was allowed to commence, Anaheim was ready.

The Colonists’ rout of the Falcons gave Anaheim a 4-1 record to end the season and bettered the team’s overall win total for 2019 (when the Colony finished 3-7). The win over Santa Ana Valley was also the 85^th career victory for Coach Lanny Booher, pushing him past Dick Glover, who won 84 games over 16 seasons during two stints from 1931 to 1942, and then again, from 1946 to 1949. Booher’s career win total now ranks as the second-most in team history behind only Clare Van Hoorebeke, who won 189 victories over 23 seasons from 1950 to 1972. Booher, an Anaheim High School graduate (Class of 1981), completed his 17^th season as head coach, having led the team since 2004.

Filed Under: AHS Football Legacy, AHS History, Alumni Spotlight

Anaheim Loses Oldest Graduate Elmer Thill

November 19, 2020 by AHSAA

Elmer Thill – April 19, 1914 – November 17, 2020

Lifetime Anaheim resident Elmer Thill passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at age 106. He was at home surrounded by family. Thill was Anaheim’s oldest resident and the oldest known living graduate of Anaheim Union High School (AUHS).

Elmer was born to August and Anna Thill on August 19, 1914, at 219 S. Olive Street in Anaheim. He was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church, attended elementary school at St. Joseph’s Academy, junior high school at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fullerton, and graduated from Anaheim High School in 1932.

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Filed Under: Alumni Spotlight

AHS Alumni Veterans Project

November 11, 2020 by AHSAA

Anaheim High School veterans are asked to print and fill out this form and email to anaheimalumni@yahoo.com to be a part of the AHSAA Veterans Project. Thank you for your service!

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Filed Under: Colonist Wall of Valor

Stay Safe With New Donor Incentive

July 15, 2020 by AHSAA

The AHS Alumni Association has come up with a great way for staying safe, while still displaying your Colonist Spirit, Pride & Tradition!

Join or renew your membership (at any level) by July 31 and we will mail you a collectible AHS facemask.

We send our best wishes to all and look forward to when we will be able to meet again! We hope that date is Sept. 18 for Homecoming 2020.

Thank You! – The AHSAA Board of Directors

Filed Under: Colonist News

2020 Spirit Award Winners!

June 29, 2020 by AHSAA

Congratulations to our outstanding 2020 Spirit Award winners. These students are scholars, school leaders, athletes, musicians, dancers, and community volunteers who have consistently given back to their school and community throughout their four years at Anaheim High. Congratulations to these 2020 graduates, who had their senior year cut short, but will go on to successful futures as they continue their higher educations.

Miguel I. Aguilar will be studying physics at UC San Diego. Miguel was highly involved at AHS as a student leader and athlete. He said his time at AHS taught him what it is like “to be part of something special.”
Sahar Alfatlawi will be attending UC San Diego to student sociology with an emphasis in international studies. Sahar served as editor-in-chief of Anaheim’s bilingual newspaper. She also participated in athletics and was a member and leader of several school clubs and service organizations.
Omar Barba will be studying business economics at UC Berkeley. Omar enjoys nature, playing sports, playing the guitar, reading, and spending time with his family. He looks forward to the day when he is able to give back to his community.
Alejandro De La Cruz will be attending UC Irvine to pursue a degree in business administration. A critical thinker, Alejandro was a member of both the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He also enjoys playing volleyball, reading and staying current on politics and the news.
Emma Flores will be attending UCLA to study cognitive science. On the Principal’s Honor Roll all four years at Anaheim High, Emma was a top AHS scholarship and a volunteer with many community service organizations.
David Frias will be studying music performance at CSU Long Beach. A top student who achieved Principal’s Honor Roll all four years of high school, David is a trumpet player who served as the AHS Band & Pageantry Drum Major. He also represented Anaheim High as one of the nine trumpeters announcing the Tournament of Roses 2020 Royal Court and was chosen for the AUHSD All-District Honor Band.
Miguel Jimenez will be attending CSU Fullerton as a music education major. An honor roll student all four years of high school, Miguel was selected as the principal tuba player for the SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Band. He also played tuba for the Tournament of Roses and the AUHSD All-District honor bands. He was also involved in other school clubs and programs.
Valeria Lopez will be studying psychology at UC Santa Cruz. Valeria was a student leader, a community volunteer and an accomplished mariachi artist and dancer. She said her years at Anaheim High were “some of the best that I could have hoped for.”
Paola Lumbreras will be studying criminal justice at CSU San Bernardino to fulfill her goal of becoming a police officer. It is her desire to become a cop who is a leader that brings safety and justice to the community she serves.
Anthony Miguel is the first of his family to graduate and go on to college. He excelled in dance as an AHS Performing Arts student and also was involved in mentoring his underclassmen. He will be studying dance at Orange Coast College.
Olivia Moreno will be majoring in pre-global studies at UC Santa Barbara. An honors student, Olivia was an accomplished member of the AHS Dance Team and took 1st place for dance choreography.
Kithzia Munoz will be attending UC Santa Barbara to study sociology. A first generation student who was born and raised in Anaheim, Kithzia was a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and the AHS Band. Kithzia said being a part of the band strengthened her love of music and gave her the opportunity to become a leader.
Rachel Opyrchal will be studying physiology at CSU Fullerton. A well-rounded student, Rachel served as ASB Senior Class President, took advanced classes, participated in three sports, including the championship Girls’ Basketball Team, and participated in multiple clubs and community service projects.
Bryan Pineda will be attending CSU Fullerton to study communications with an emphasis in broadcasting. Bryan was an athlete scholar at AHS who played on the Boys' Soccer Team and served as an ASB leader.
Carlos Ramirez will be attending Rochester Community Technical College in Greenville, Tennesse, as a recruit for the school's baseball team. An honor student, Carlos has played organized baseball since age 3. He was also a member of AHS Band and was selected for the Southern CA Ambassadors of Music program, which allowed him to play clarinet during a European tour. He has served as a volunteer for many community organizations.
Michael Rojas will be studying computer science at CSU Fullerton. A top scholar, Michael was involved in many school programs, including National Honor Society, played on the Boys' Baseball Team and served as a school leader.

Filed Under: Alumni Spotlight, Scholarships

AHSAA Financial Statements 2020

June 8, 2020 by Janet Brown

AHSAA May 2020 Financial Statement

AHSAA April 2020 Financial Statement

AHSAA March 2020 Financial Statement

Filed Under: AHSAA Financial Statements

AHSAA Board Minutes

June 8, 2020 by AHSAA

March 09 2020 AHSAA Board Minutes

February 2020 AHSAA Board Minutes

January 2020 Board Minutes

Oct. 14 2019 AHSAA Minutes

Sept. 09 2019 AHSAA Minutes

Aug. 8 2019 AHSAA Minutes

Filed Under: AHSAA Board Minutes

Corona Virus Quarantine Motives Grad to Unpack Historic Photos

May 5, 2020 by AHSAA

When Class of ’56 grad William “Bill” Foster began his Covid-19 quarantine, he knew it was the perfect time to tackle boxes of packed away photos that date back to the early 1900s and start organizing albums.

His project has unearthed some treasured photos of his mother, Arline Mary Foster (nee Bobst), also an Anaheim High grad from 1920.

Arline was born in Anaheim in 1902, and her family owned a small dairy and farm near Manchester (Santa Ana Freeway) and Crescent Avenue. Bill said the farm was “long gone” by the time he came along and he has no recollection of it.

Bill has an older brother, Richard, who also graduated from Anaheim High in 1944. Bill, Richard and their mother all attended and graduated from Loara Elementary School. Richard also had children who graduated from Anaheim, but Bill moved out of Anaheim by the time he was starting a family.

So, thanks to the quarantine, we’re able to share some photos and old newspaper articles from Arline’s albums, as well as Bill and Richard’s senior photos. He hasn’t finished going through all the boxes, so maybe he’ll find more treasures to share! Once A Colonist, Always A Colonist!

Filed Under: Alumni Spotlight, Featured Articles

AHS Class of ’32 Grad Elmer Thill Celebrates 106th Birthday with Quarantine Parade

April 19, 2020 by AHSAA

Class of ’32 Colonist Elmer Thill

Despite the Coronavirus quarantine, AHS Class of ’32 graduated Elmer Thill celebrated his 106th birthday on Sunday, April 19, 2020, with a drive-by parade. This is the second pandemic Elmer has lived through, the first being the Spanish flu in 1918 when he was 4 years old.

Led by the City of Anaheim Police and Fire Departments at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Faessel, a lifetime friend of the Thill family, the parade made its way down Citron Street, past Anaheim High School, to the house Elmer built, and has lived in, for more than 60 years. Councilman Faessel is married to Susan (Warden) Faessel from AHS Class of ’67. Both Steve and Susan were part of the parade!

Other vehicles, include several classic cars and trucks, joined the parade to celebrate Anaheim’s oldest resident and the oldest living graduate of Anaheim High. Elmer sat on his front porch playing “Happy Birthday” on his clarinet and waving to the well wishers. Several neighbors gathered across the street from his home with “Happy Birthday” banners.

A musician his entire life, Elmer played in the Anaheim High orchestra and band. Elmer, whose parents owned Anaheim’s Central Hotel, made his living as a real estate agent and broker. (He still has his real estate license.)

Thill’s wife, Genevieve “Jean,” passed away Dec. 12, 2016, at age 101. The couple raised five children, and traveled around the world during their 78 years of marriage. Elmer lives with his son, Richard, an Anaheim High Class of ’57 graduate.

The Anaheim High School Alumni Association helped organize the surprise parade after Elmer’s birthday party was cancelled due to CV-19. When Elmer celebrated his 104^th birthday, the AHSAA arranged a surprise performance by the Anaheim High School Marching Band on his front lawn.

Enjoy these photos documenting this special occasion: