Two long-time educators, Louise (Hitt) Booth and Minard Duncan were inducted into the Anaheim High Hall of Fame during a reception held Friday, March 4, at the AHS Library as part of a Read Across America “Celebration of Anaheim High Authors & Colony Inspired Literacy.”
Barbara Mahaffie ’58 with AHS President Gerald Woodward ’59 and the Booth Family, husband Donald and son David.
Booth, a English, drama and speech teacher at Anaheim High for two decades, was a noted author who left behind a literary legacy upon her passing at age 95 in 2012. Her husband of 68 years, Donald Booth, and son David attended the event, along with her close friends Barbara Mahaffie from Class of ’58, a long-time English teacher at AHS, and Marion (Caracasa) Thompkins from Class of 1953, who taught drama at AHS for several years and is still working as a drama teacher in Pasadena. Many of Booth’s former students were in the audience, including AHSAA President Gerald Woodward from Class of ’59, who had the honor of inducting Mrs. Booth in the Hall of Fame. Click here to see more photos from her induction.
Many family members, friends and classmates were on hand for the induction of Minard Duncan into the
Minard and his classmates and life-long friends.
AHS Hall of Fame. Duncan has been highly involved in the North Orange County community for more than 58 years serving children in the Fullerton School District, as well as his country and his 1950 classmates. Click here to see a collection of his induction photos.
Prior to the reception, an Authors’ Forum was held in Cook Auditorum from 2 to 5 p.m. featuring Anaheim authors Sheila Lowe ‘67, Dennis Bateman ’89, Gustavo Arellano ‘97, and Tom Zaradich.
Monica Ortez was also on hand to share her co-authored book on the Mexican American Baseball Leagues featuring her father Ray Ortez from Anaheim High Class of 1937.
As part of the celebration, the AHS Alumni Association identified 20 graduates who have published books, three books written about Anaheim High alumni and a batch of books that include references to Anaheim High. To read more about Anaheim High’s rich literary legacy, click here.
Enjoy these additional photos from the event:
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- Display of alumni books in AHS Library.
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- An Authors’ Forum was part of the celebration.
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- Author and forensic handwriting expert Sheila Lowe in the Anaheim High Library next to a display of her books.
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- OC Weekly editor from Class of ”97 encouraged students to read, read, read!
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- Tom and Dennis Bateman from Class of ’89.
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- Dennis Bateman with his book on the history of football in Orange County.
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- Dennis Bateman is also the author of “A History of Anaheim High Football – A Century of Tradition.”
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- Ray Ortez from Class of ’37 is featured in a series of books on the history of the Mexican American Baseball leagues.
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- Daughter Monica Ortez co-authored a book in the series highlight her father and other top Colonist players.
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- Longtime AHS teacher Louise Hitt Booth was honored for her literary legacy.
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- Mrs. Booth’s history of the AUHSD.
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- AHS Librarian Tommy Kovac accepts a gift of Mrs. Booth’s books from her family.
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- Colony resident Tom Zaradich talked to AHS students about his “Anaheim’s Dead: Ghostly Encounters with the Passed.”
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- Event included book signings .
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- The 150th anniversary of the classic “Alice In Wonderful” inspired the Library reception decor.
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- A tea was cateered by the Cypress H.S. culinary program.
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- Guests were treated to a Mad Hatter tea in the AHS Library.
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- Barbara Allee, mother of AHS Librarian Tommy Kov ac, was honored for her work as a Library volunteer.
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- Jeanette was honored for her 28 years of service as treasurer for Friends of the Anaheim Library.
