Joe Anton was born in Anaheim, July 14, 1918, to Lebanese parents Abdulla “Tony” and Noora Anton. An only child, Joe was partially raised by a Hispanic man, while Tony and Noora worked in their store. (Anton’s Market was the first supermarket in Anaheim, and maybe Orange County.) Because of this babysitting arrangement, Spanish was Joe’s first language.
Joe attended St. Boniface Elementary School in Anaheim and then transferred to Anaheim Union High School, graduating in 1937. He moved on to Santa Ana Junior College, then upon his graduation in 1939, enrolled at San Diego State University, earning his degree in 1941.
Joe returned to Anaheim and, for most of his life, worked in his family’s market located at the corner of Lemon and Anaheim Boulevard (then Los Angeles Street). He took over the management of the store when he returned from serving in the Air Force during WWII. Joe, with his wife Mary, as his secretary, was co-commander of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. He was also in charge of Mexico’s 101st Airborne Fighter Squadron training.
ANTON'S MARKET
With his fun personality, leadership abilities and multi-cultural background, community involvement was a way of life for Joe. He was commander of the Anaheim American Legion Post 72, president of the Anaheim Exchange Club, an officer in the Anaheim Elks Lodge 1345 and an active member of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.
As a business leader, Joe was also politically active. He worked closely with City of Anaheim politicians, including Mayor Charlie Pearson (also an Anaheim High grad), City Council members and the police and fire chiefs. He also worked with then Anaheim City Manager Keith Murdock in helping bring the first NFL game played in Anaheim Stadium as part of an attempt to bring a pro team to the city.
Joe loved athletics and played all sports in high school. In college, he specialized in baseball and football, playing against such greats as Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson. He was a standout guard and linebacker and played for the L.A. Bulldogs after his college years.
Dad’s boyhood chums included Bud Fassel, an AHS grad who became Anaheim High’s long time equipment manager. Bud’s son is former N.Y. Giants Coach Jim Fassel. He was also pals with Dick & Don Nixon, with whom he would play while their parents traded goods with Tony and Noora.
Joe married his wife, Mary, on Columbus Day, October 12, 1942. He and his wife celebrated 60 years of marriage before his death in 2003. Four children, all Anaheim High graduates, were born to this union. They include: Phil ’63, Al ’65, Lorrie ’68 and Ron ’73. His children followed in his footsteps and all of Joe’s sons were star athletes at AHS. Phil earned a spot with the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive tackle and place kicker.
As a lifetime Anaheim resident, Joe’s children attended the same elementary and high school as he did, and in many instances, were taught and mentored by same teachers and coaches. Joe was also a teacher and mentor to his children, as well as to their friends and teammates. They knew when they wanted real knowledge or strategies to go to Joe for advice.
Joe never boasted about his athletic abilities, but his former coaches, teammates and friends did it for him in admiration of his talents. Joe wore No. 1 on his jersey when he played for Anaheim High and was nicknamed “Sparkplug” because he was the team’s captain and leader.
Joe finally closed Anton’s Market in the late ‘50s when he became a stockbroker for Dempsey-Tegeler, a New York Stock Exchange member firm. (Joe said his kids ate him out of his profits, so he went from the food market to the stock market!) He managed NYSE member firms Francis I. DuPont; H. Hentz & Co. and Shearson Hayden Stone.
In 1970, he co-founded Securities West, Inc., one of the very first NASD independent broker dealers in California. He eventually became majority owner, president and chairman and ran the firm until it closed in August 1995.
Joe was most definitely an Anaheim Colonist supporter and generously gave back to his alma mater. He was co-founder and president of the Anaheim Union High School Football Booster Club. Among his many contributions to Anaheim High’s athletic program, he paid for the school’s football practice field lights, including cost of installation. (Prior to these lights, students and parents would park their cars around the field and turn on their headlights.)
Even as just a spectator, Joe loved football and rarely missed his kids’ practices or games and often drove long distances to watch his son’s at college-level events. His attendance record is eight games in one week, including junior- and varsity-level Cee, Bee, JV and Varsity matches, as well as a junior college, USC and Rams game. When age and health prevented him from walking up the steps to various games, his life-long friends (Jack Richelieu, Ed Baker and Mort Smith) would drag him!
Anaheim High School, its alumni, students and staff, salute Joe Anton for his outstanding contributions to his family, community and alma mater.
