Paul Bruce, who passed away in September 2000, was a role model to his five children, as well as to the hundreds of students whose lives he touched as equipment manager for Fremont Junior High, a volunteer with the Anaheim High football program, as well as a successful businessman and active community leader.
After graduating in 1939 from Anaheim High, where he lettered in four sports, plus played in the band and orchestra and appeared in the junior play, he went on to Fullerton Junior College. But then the United States entered WWII and he joined the U.S. Marines and served as a rifle instructor. He stayed in the military and also served his country in the Korean War.
After 1953, he was Bruce of Bruce & Runyon and Paul Bruce Chevron Service (Broadway at Los Angeles Street now Anaheim Boulevard), employing many AUHS students and alumni.
But in 1961 things changed. He became “Mr. Bruce” the field and equipment manager at Fremont Junior High. He touched many lives while in this position. His classmate and close friend Bud Fassel served in the same position at Anaheim High. Paul worked on instilling the same qualities of pride, devotion, truthfulness and self-worth in his Junior Colonists.
In his 24 years with the Anaheim Union High School District, Paul also worked at Lexington Junior High and John F. Kennedy High School. Aside from his time at Kennedy, Paul spent most fall Friday nights on the sidelines for Anaheim football.
Paul supported both the community and his alma mater. There was more than one trip to Las Vegas for the Anaheim High football series of the 1950s. For many years, he also did the job of following the horses with a shovel and wheelbarrow during the Anaheim Halloween Parade. Paul’s service station always sponsored youth teams in the City’s Summer Leagues. In the Sixties, he was a volunteer fireman. Later in life he was an officer for Anaheim’s 20-30 Club and the Elks Lodge. He was also an instructor and officer in the OC Baseball Officials’ Association.
But his greatest achievement was raising five official outstanding citizens and Colonist alumni. His children, who include Paul Jr.-’63, Virnell-’64, Vernalee -’67, Richard -’70 and Jim -’72, shared him with hundreds of other young people and his contribution to Anaheim’s youth is immeasurable. Although he wasn’t an official teacher or instructor, those students with whom he interacted still recognize his name and remember his support and encouragement. Many children besides his own flesh and blood thought of Mr. Bruce as Dad.
