Traveling Trombone Returns to AHS

June 5, 2011 by

It took a 63-year journey, but Robert Watter’s treasured trombone has returned to “Old AU” to be played by a new generation of Colonists. When Bob, a former Anaheim High band member from Class of 1949, heard the 160-member Colonist band was looking for instruments, he decided to take his trombone out of retirement.

Bob, who is married to Janet Vincent from Class of 1951, first played the instrument when he joined the Anaheim High Band in 1948. His talent for playing the trombone caught the ear of band director William Cook and Bob was recruited to play in the popular nine-member swing band that performed for the school’s Military Ball, dances and other  functions.  (Bob is pictured fourth from left in this photo of the Swing Band from the 1949 yearbook.) Bob was also a member of the Varsity A Club, swimming and water polo teams.

After graduating from Anaheim, Bob’s trombone traveled with him to his next three gigs, which included the Fullerton Junior College Band (1950), the Santa Ana College Band (1951), then the U.S. Air Force Band (1952). Once he left the military, Bob retired the trombone and it was safely stored in his attic for the next 40 years.

The beloved instrument made an encore appearance at the June Anaheim Alumni Breakfast, when Bob presented his trombone to Anaheim’s new band director Breysi Garcia, a Class of 2000 AHS grad. Breysi brought along five of his top trombone players to entertain the breakfast crowd, many of whom were former band members.

Breysi also informed his fellow alumni that the band, known today as the Colonial Regiment, is working to raise funds for a trailer to transport instruments to its many performances. Alumni who care to donate to this effort are encouraged to contact Breysi at  garcia_br@auhsd.k12.ca.us  or emailing anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.

Filed Under: Alumni Spotlight, Colonist News Tagged With: , , , ,

Story of Lost Letterman Jacket Has Happy Ending

December 22, 2010 by

Jan Domene, Tom Bateman and Angel Zavala present Jim Langford with found letterman jacket.Little did Jim Langford know when he lent his Class of ’70 letterman jacket to a friend participating in a ’50s night that it would take more than 20 years to be reunited with a favorite high school memento that held so many memories for him. Jim was a lineman on two CIF Semifinalists teams in 1968 and 1969.

Jim figured the jacket was a goner, like his friend who disappeared after a divorce. (Apparently, the ex-wife donated the jacket to a thrift store.) But the fates were with him when Class of ’87 Colonist Angel Zavala happened to be shopping in at Goodwill in Lake Forest and spotted the classic Colonist jacket from the corner of his eye. He swooped it up for $5.99, knowing he purchased a piece of Anaheim High history.

The jacket remained hanging in Angel’s garage for nearly six years. Then one day last summer he received a call from friend and fellow alumnus Tom Bateman, a Class of ’89 grad and immediate past president of the AHSAA. During their phone call, Angel mentioned finding the jacket and the two decided to put their heads together to find the owner.

It took several more months, but they finally learned that the jacket belonged to Jim by searching yearbooks and football programs to trace the jersey number from the jacket. From there, they contacted Linda Fast Cooper, a Class of ’69 grad who is also an AHSAA board member. Linda had Jim’s phone number and called him to inform him that his jacket had been recovered, to ask if he wanted it back and to find out how it got separated from its owner.

Jim was ecstatic and it was arranged that he would retrieve his jacket at the Dec. 4 Alumni Breakfast, where AHSAA President Jan Domene assisted Tom and Angel in sharing the story of how the jacket was lost and found with the nearly 100 alumni who attend the monthly breakfast at Jagerhaus in Anaheim. In a happy ending to the story, Jim gave Angel back the $5.99 he had spent on the jacket, causing their Colonist classmates to give a big cheer.

Photo caption: Jan Domene, Tom Bateman and Angela Zavala present Jim Langford with found letterman jacket.

Filed Under: Colonist News Tagged With: , , ,

Albert Rodriguez named as Honorary Colonist at All-Class Reunion

October 24, 2010 by

Colonist football has been a fall tradition in the Rodriguez family for more than 50 years. It all began when Albert and Estela met when they were in high school. After graduating in 1954 from rival Valencia High, where he was a star athlete, Albert continued attending the AHS football games with Estela and her many family members who attended Anaheim High.

Someone in the family was always playing football or cheering or playing in the marching band. Albert and Estela, always wearing Colonist spirit wear, attended all these events.

Along with his support of Anaheim as a booster, Albert also served as a track coach for Anaheim High and other local schools. Some of the athletes he coached while at AHS became state and national champions, including Ylena Carrasco, a Class of ’86 grad who will the first female Orange County athlete to clear 6 feet in the high jump. He also coached students who were members of his Anaheim Atoms AAU Track and Field club.

With two daughters who graduated 12 years apart, he had ample opportunity to be an active parent booster in sports and band during that time. He has literally driven thousands of miles transporting his daughters and their friends to numerous sports and performing arts events.

Whatever was needed for the school he was always willing to pitch in to promote student activities and excellence. He understands the value in helping in any way he can to support the sons and daughters of Anaheim High School, said his daughter Angela, who was an Anaheim High athlete, band member and a cheerleader.

Albert’s brother-in-law Albert Miranda, a Class of 1965 grad, was also the recipient of “Big Al’s” support. The younger Albert, a tennis star at Anaheim and a Vietnam veteran who is helping establish a memorial for his fallen classmates on the school campus, credits many of his life accomplishments to his mentor who he said has been a “friend and the best role model a person could ask for.” He praised his brother-in-law as a person who “always set the bar high and has challenged those around him to participate in life rather than to just sit around as on-lookers.”

Angela summed up the reason her father was deserving of the award: “Though my dad may have married into the Colonist family, he has always demonstrated a strong commitment to family, friends and community, a zest for living life and for striving to challenge one’s self to reach new heights. He is part dad, part coach and ALL Colonist!”

Nominations for this award can be sent to anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.

Filed Under: AHS In The News, Colonist News
« Previous Page