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HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY APRIL 23, 2017

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HALL OF FAME WELCOME

On behalf of the CIF Los Angeles City Section Board of Managers I would like to welcome you to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Class of 2017! It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that we honor these very elite athletes and individuals who exemplify the Los Angeles City Sections’ diversity and spirit. The individuals represented here today are some of the greatest high school athletes and contributors who have performed in interscholastic, intercollegiate, professional and world class arenas. Some have made careers in support of sports, to become prominent in their selected specialty. All have had a significant impact on interscholastic athletics helping to provide a uniqueness that has set new standards and direction of performance, and pioneered the vision that allowed the rest of the world to understand sports from a different lens. Among our inductees here today are contributors, athletes, coaches and athletic administrators. Their contributions have also been well documented and their vision and influence to the design of high school sports and their ability to influence and increase the opportunities for participation and exposure of high school sports was essential to the Los Angeles City Section’s growth, vision, and inspiration to many who followed their path. The athletes to be inducted into the Class of 2017 represent every level of competition and each possess tremendous qualifications and extraordinary achievements and accomplishments. The Class of 2017 represents men and women from every generation spanning the past 100 years participating in the sports of Aquatics, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, Wrestling, and four other sport related categories. Due to the limitations the committee must comply with, many deserving candidates were left off this list who may have been just as worthy and therefore will continue to be considered in future years. Tonight, the Los Angeles City Section takes great pleasure in honoring the 44 Hall of Fame inductees for the Class of 2017. I wish to thank the inductees for their participation in this ceremony as we celebrate their legacy and incredible moments of achievement on the field or court and in their chosen careers. Finally, I wish to thank the Hall of Fame Committee that envisioned honoring those who found their introductions to athletics during their adolescent years in Los Angeles. Our committee members include: Barbara Fiege, Dr. Willard Love, Rick Obrand, Rick Prizant and Trent Cornelius. Now let’s all enjoy as we reminisce the stories and accomplishments with our inductees and as we salute the Hall of Fame Class of 2017! Commissioner, CIF Los Angeles City Section


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Banquet Presider Fred Roggin Introductions 2017 Hall of Famers National Anthem Louisa Tampi Granada Hills Charter High School Dinner Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Induction of the fourth class of 44 members Closing Comments Commissioner John Aguirre


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CONTRIBUTOR Al Michaels Hamilton 1962

A five-time Emmy Award winner and three-time National Sportscaster of the Year recipient, Al Michaels has done it all in the field of sports broadcasting. He began his illustrious career in the major leagues as the play-by-play man with the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. Following stints with CBS Sports and announcing UCLA basketball games during the John Wooden era, Michaels joined ABC Sports where he broadcasted a wide variety of major events such as Major League Baseball, the NBA and ultimately Monday Night Football for two decades. He worked for ABC Sports from 1977 through 2006. He is presently the voice of Sunday Night Football and has been a part of NBC Sports since 2006. Along with fellow NBC colleague Bob Costas, Michaels has become synonymous with the Olympic Games as a host. He is perhaps best remembered for the 1980 Winter Olympics when the United States pulled a stunning upset over the U.S.S.R. in ice hockey. His words, “Do you believe in miracles?” will live on forever. The baseball field at Hamilton High School is named in his honor.

Rick Obrand Washington 1964

When Rick Obrand was eight-years-old he was listening to a radio broadcast of the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. The announcer mentioned that Hugh McElhenny attended Washington High School in Los Angeles, the same school Obrand would attend in a few years. That sparked an interest in Obrand about where notables in all areas of life attended high school. With the mentoring of Bill Schroeder of the Helms Athletic Foundation, Obrand has compiled the high schools of more than 300,000 notables, including over 12,000 LA City athletes. Obrand played “B” basketball and ran “C” track at Washington High School. Upon college graduation he began a 39 year career as a teacher at Carson St. School in the LAUSD. He has won such teaching honors as “Hero in Education,” City of Carson Teacher of the Year and has been included in numerous editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Rick is a 2015 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the CIF Southern Section.


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COACHES Jeff Fisher Taft 1977

An All-LA City end at Taft in 1975, Jeff Fisher continued playing football as a USC Trojan. A defensive back at USC, he was also a fine student earning Pac-10 All-Academic honors in 1980. He then played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears from 1981-85 and was a member of the Super Bowl XX champions. Since his playing days ended, Fisher has enjoyed a lengthy career as an NFL head coach spanning 22 seasons. He began with the Houston Oilers (who became the Tennessee Titans in 1994) and remained there through 2010. In 2012 he was named head coach of the St. Louis Rams (now the Los Angeles Rams). Through the 2016 season, Fisher had 173 NFL wins (11th all time). Fisher's most successful season was in 1999, when he led the Titans to the franchise's first (and only) Super Bowl appearance in XXXIV.

Ed Azzam Gardena 1972

Ed Azzam recently finished his 38th season as head coach at Westchester High. He has led the Comets to 13 City Section championships and six CIF State Division I titles. A year ago, Azzam surpassed legendary Crenshaw coach Willie West for the most all-time wins in LA City Section history. He now owns 846 career wins through the 2017 season. His 2004 team was named the Cal-Hi Sports State Team of the Year and Azzam earned the 2002 Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year. Former Comet greats that played for Azzam include Trevor Ariza, Amir Johnson, Sam Crawford, Zan Mason, Dwayne Polee Jr., Brandon Granville, Hassan Adams, Ashanti Cook, Bobby Brown, Gabe Pruitt, Brandon Heath, Tony Bland and Elijah Stewart. Azzam received the 2016 CIF Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the CIF LA City Section.

Myra Einberg Hamilton 1969

Myra Einberg is a native of Los Angles and a product of the LAUSD school system, who after completing her BA and Master’s degree from Cal State University Long Beach returned to LAUSD for the next 37 years as a teacher and coach. After eight years of teaching at Belmont and Huntington Park High Schools she found her permanent home at Venice High School. She coached a variety of sports including gymnastics, girls’ basketball, girls and boys volleyball, and girls and boys golf. Her Venice teams won City championships in volleyball (1991) and golf (2009 and 2011). Since retirement she has served as the volleyball liaison and golf sports coordinator for the LA City Section. Currently Myra is involved with Friends of Golf, an organization that raises money to support area high schools and college golf teams.


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Ernest “Bud” Kling University

Bud Kling’s career as head coach of the Palisades boys and girls tennis team is as distinguished as any other coach in the country. He has led the Dolphins to 41 City championships; 24 with the boys and 17 with the girls. He has accumulated more than 1,100 wins during his 37 years. Bud began his career at Pali High in January 1977 as a substitute teacher and became a full time staff member in September 1977. Prior to that, he had been substitute teaching and coaching football at University High School. He has also coached varsity football, girls basketball, and sponsored the cheerleaders - spirit squad. He has coached the boys from 1979 through the present. He has coached the girls for two different stints: 1984-2008 and returned in 2015. Notable former boys’ players include Scott Davis (pro), John Davis (pro), Kelly Jones (pro), Howard Sands (pro) and Danny Westerman (pro). Notable girls include Heather Willens (pro) and Anya Kochoff (pro). Bud attended Emerson Junior High in L.A.

Ralph Tilley Dorsey 1969

Ralph Tilley has established Dorsey track and field as one of the elite programs year in and year out in the City Section. Under his guidance and leadership since 1988, Tilley has led the Dons to 15 City championships, 29 league titles and a State championship in 2005. Tilley was a track standout at Dorsey, West LA College and Langston University where he was captain and competed in the NAIA Nationals in the long jump and 4 x 100 relay. As an assistant coach at Locke, Centennial and ultimately as head coach at Dorsey, Tilley has coached such talented athletes as Beno Bryant, Calvin Jackson, Ron and Kevin Copeland, Lamont Warner, Kenny Fisk and Rashard Clarke.

AT-LARGE

Ralph Bunche Jefferson 1922

An early civil rights fighter, Ralph Bunche overcame many hardships to achieve greatness. His parents died when he was very young and came to Los Angeles to live with his grandmother. He worked as a janitor through high school and college, but graduated valedictorian from Jefferson High School and Southern Branch (now known as UCLA). Even with working and excelling in his studies, Bunche also was a fine athlete. At Jefferson High School he competed in football, baseball, and track and was a second team All-LA City basketball player. At UCLA he was a two-year basketball starter. Bunche earned a Masters and Doctorate at Harvard and then taught at Howard and Harvard. With the formation of the United Nations, Bunche began work there and negotiated peace treaties in Cypress and the Congo. In 1948 he mediated an armistice between Israel and the Arab States, for which he earned a Nobel Peace Prize. Ralph Bunche was also awarded the Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy.


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AQUATICS Bob Bennett Birmingham 1961

Bob Bennett became a swimming star at an early age, winning the 1958 LA City 100-yard backstroke as a ninth grader. He repeated as the 100-yard backstroke champion in 1960 and 1961. Bennett was a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic swimming team as a high schooler and won a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke. Attending USC, Bennett was the 1963 and 1964 NCAA 100 yard backstroke champion. He was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team and again earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke. In 1961, he set the world record in the 100-meter backstroke. Bob Bennett was a three-time All-American at USC from 1963 to 1965.

Don McKenzie Grant 1965

Don McKenzie placed third at the 1965 LA City Swimming breaststroke finals. When he traveled to attend Indiana University for college, he really came into his own, winning the 1969 NCAA 100-meter breaststroke. McKenzie’s greatest achievements came at the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City where he received a gold medal for winning the men's 100-meter breaststroke. He won a second gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay. He held numerous records: Regional, National Junior College, Big Ten, NCAA, American, Olympic, U.S. Masters and World Championships. Don McKenzie is a member of the International Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame.

Donnalee Wennerstrom Carlson Chatsworth 1978

Donnalee Wennerstrom began her swimming career with the West Valley Swim Team. At the age of 15, she was the Pan American Games 200-meter backstroke champion. She then competed in the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, as a high schooler, placing sixth in the women’s 400-meter individual medley. She also competed in the preliminary heats of the 200-meter butterfly, recording a personal best time. Wennerstrom was the 1976 female recipient of the Robert J.H. Kiphuth Award recognizing the high point scorer at the Conoco Phillips National Championships. She attended UCLA and became a NCAA All-American in 1979.


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Georgia Coleman Polytechnic 1929

Georgia Coleman was a highly rated diver long before girls were allowed to compete in interscholastic athletics. Competing at the 1928 Summer Olympics as a 16-year-old, she earned a silver medal in Platform Diving and a bronze medal in Springboard Diving. Her success continued as she was the U.S. National Springboard Diving champion in 1929, 1930 and 1931. At the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games, Coleman won the gold medal in Springboard Diving and earned a silver medal in Platform Diving. A real diving pioneer, she was the first woman to attempt dives previously only attempted by male divers. Most famous of those dives was the forward two-and-a-half somersault. Tragically, Coleman was stricken with polio in 1937 and died three years later at the age of 28. Georgia Coleman is a member of the International Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame.

BASEBALL Earl Battey Jordan 1953

A great basketball star in high school who became an All-Star major league baseball catcher, Earl Battey was the LA City Co-Basketball Player of the Year (along with Willie Naulls) in 1952. He repeated as an All-City Basketball Player in 1953. He was so talented that the Harlem Globetrotters wanted to sign him out of high school. Battey, however, was also a second team All-City baseball catcher in 1953 and chose to sign a baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. He reached the big leagues in 1955 with the White Sox, but his major league glory days were with the Minnesota Twins. An amazing catcher with a powerful throwing arm, Battey was a three-time Gold Glove winner and a five-time All-Star. Battey played more games at catcher than any other player in Twins history. His finest season was in 1963 when he batted .285 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs.

Charles “Chili” Davis Dorsey 1978

One of the few major leaguers born in Jamaica, Chili Davis began his high school career at Fremont, but transferred to Dorsey, where he was discovered by legendary scout, George Genovese. He came up with the San Francisco Giants in 1981 and also played with the California Angels, Minnesota, Kansas City and the New York Yankees through 1999. Davis was an All-Star in 1984, 1986 and 1994. His finest season was 1994 when he hit .315, with 31 home runs and 81 RBIs. Chili Davis collected 2,380 career hits, had a lifetime batting average of .274 to go along with his 350 home runs and 1,372 RBIs. More importantly, he is a three-time World Series champion winning titles in 1991, 1998 and 1999. Chili is the current hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox.


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Dwight Evans Chatsworth 1969

Dwight Evans began high school at Granada Hills, but transferred to Chatsworth where he was an All-LA City baseball player in 1969. He signed with the Boston Red Sox and enjoyed a 20 year major league career (1972-91). Evans had an amazing throwing arm from his right field position and earned eight Gold Glove Awards. Also a great hitter, he led the American League in home runs during the strike-shortened 1981 season. His finest season was 1987 when he hit .305 with 34 home runs and 123 RBIs. Evans was an All-Star selection in 1978, 1981 and 1987 and is a two-time Silver Slugger award winner in 1981 and 1987. A member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, Evans ended his career with 2,446 hits, 385 home runs (10th most career home runs hit by an American League right-handed batter) and 1,384 RBIs.

Bob Watson Fremont 1964

When you talk about someone who has done it all in baseball, Bob Watson’s name usually gets mentioned. He began at Fremont High School as the catcher on the 1963 City Championship team. Watson attended Harbor College out of high school and signed with the Houston Astros. He began his big league career in 1966, converting from catcher to first base. He played in the big leagues through 1984 and had a lifetime average of .295, with 184 home runs and 989 RBIs. An All-Star in 1973 and 1975, Watson had some major achievements following his playing days, becoming the second African-American General Manager (Houston Astros) in major league history. He later became the General Manager of the New York Yankees and became the first African-American GM to win a World Series championship. Watson continued his rise and became the Major League Baseball Vice President in charge of discipline and rules where he retired in 2010.

BASKETBALL Gilbert Arenas Grant 1999

The greatest basketball player in Grant High School history, Gilbert Arenas was an All-LA City Basketball choice in 1998 and 1999. He then attended the University of Arizona, where he was an All-Pac 10 selection in 2000 and 2001. Joining the NBA following his sophomore year, he played for four NBA teams from 2001-12. Arenas was named the NBA Most Improved Player in the 2002–03 season. His finest seasons were at Washington where he was a three-time All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007). He was an All-NBA second team pick in 2007 when he averaged 28.4 ppg. He once scored 60 points against the Lakers breaking the all-time Washington franchise mark. Arenas ended his NBA career with 11, 402 points scored and a 20.7 per game career scoring average.


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Steve Kerr Palisades 1983

A decorated career that began as a talented sharp-shooting player at the University of Arizona, Steve Kerr has quickly become one of the most highly respected coaches in the NBA. He led the Golden State Warriors to the 2015 NBA championship; giving him six NBA rings. He won five NBA championship titles as a player with the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs. His 2016 Warriors’ team set an all-time NBA record for wins in a single season with 73 earning him NBA Coach of the Year honors. While playing at U of A, Kerr became a second team All-American in 1988 where he set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage in a season (114–199, 57.3%). He then went to the NBA where he played for six teams from 1989-2003. Kerr holds the NBA record for highest three point shooting percentage (45.4%) for any player with at least 250 three pointers made in NBA history. Following his playing career he served as General Manager of the Phoenix Suns as well as serving as a broadcast analyst for Turner Network Television (TNT) on two different occasions.

Freeman Williams Manual Arts 1974

A Los Angeles playground legend, Freeman Williams was an All-LA City Basketball selection in 1974. A scoring machine, Williams played college ball at Portland State and twice led the nation in scoring (38.8 ppg. in 1977 and 35.9 in 1978). In 1978, he beat out Larry Bird for the NCAA scoring title. He was a second team All-American in 1978 and scored 81 points in a single game that year. Williams played for four NBA teams over six seasons: the San Diego Clippers, Atlanta, Utah and Washington. His finest season was 1980-81, when he averaged 19.3 points per game. He finished in the NBA top 10 for three point field goals in three consecutive seasons. To this day, Freeman Williams is the second all-time leading scorer (3, 249 points) in NCAA men’s basketball history only behind another hardwood legend, “Pistol” Pete Maravich (3,667 pts).

Cardte Hicks San Pedro 1973

Cardte Hicks was one of the pioneers of women’s professional basketball. Following her days at San Pedro High School, she attended Long Beach St. and was an All-American selection in 1976. She then transferred to Cal St. Northridge and was an All-American there in 1977. With no pro ball available in the U.S., Hicks played professionally from 1977-1980 in Italy, Sweden and France. When the WBL was formed in the U.S. she played in that league from 1980-84 as a member of the San Francisco Pioneers. Following her playing days, Hicks has been involved with non-profits benefitting children, particularly autistic children. As a volunteer motivational speaker and CEO/Founder of a non-profit organization called “The Legends Kids First,” the organization works to empower children, foster families and individuals by building healthy bodies, strong minds and productive lives.


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Ebony Hoffman Narbonne 2000

A true LA City basketball star, Ebony Hoffman was a three-time All-LA City selection and the City Most Valuable Player in 1999 and 2000. She also was a high school All-American in 1999 and 2000 and participated in the 2000 WBCA High School All-America Game. Hoffman led the Gauchos to the California state championship and mythical national title in 2000 and the lofty No. 1 end-of-season ranking by the USA Today Super 25 Poll. She set school records with 2,118 career points, 1,851 rebounds and 496 blocks as Narbonne went 111-10 during her high school career. She attended USC and was an All-Pac 10 selection in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Hoffman also became the first USC player since Cheryl Miller, and the first Pac-10 player to ever tally more than 1,500 career points, 1,000 rebounds and 245 steals. She was selected by the Indiana Fever of the WNBA as the ninth overall pick in the 2004 draft. In 2008, Hoffman was selected as the WNBA's Most Improved Player. She played in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun from 2004-14.

FOOTBALL Nnamdi Asomugha Narbonne 1999

One of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history, Nnamdi Asomugha was All-LA City and All-State in 1998 for Narbonne. Following high school he played at the University of California and was an All-Pac 10 pick in 2002. He began his NFL career in 2003 and played with Oakland, Philadelphia and San Francisco through 2013. Asomugha made three Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro during his eight seasons with the Raiders when he was considered as one of the league's top cover cornerbacks. He only had 15 career interceptions because opponents feared to throw his way. As marvelous as his football skills were, Asomugha is also widely praised for his Asomugha Foundation which offers great help to orphans and widows.

Keyshawn Johnson Dorsey 1992

Keyshawn Johnson began his high school days at Palisades High School, but transferred to Dorsey High School. He then attended West Los Angeles College, before moving on to USC. Johnson was a two-time (1994 and 1995) first-team All-American wide receiver for the Trojans. He began his NFL career as the first pick of the 1996 draft and played through the 2006 season with the New York Jets, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Carolina. Johnson was a Pro Bowl selection in 1998, 1999 and 2001 ending his career with 814 receptions, 64 touchdown catches and 10,571 yards gained receiving. Since his retirement in 2007, he has worked as an NFL analyst on ESPN and now is a morning talk show host for 710 ESPN in Los Angeles.


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Ken Norton Jr. Westchester 1984

The son of former World Heavyweight boxing champion Ken Norton Sr., Ken Norton became an All-LA City fullback at Westchester High School in 1983. Earning a scholarship to UCLA, he became an All-American linebacker for the Bruins in 1987. He entered the NFL in 1988 and played through 2000 with Dallas and San Francisco. Norton was an All-Pro pick in 1995 and a Pro Bowl selection in 1993, 1995 and 1997. He is the only player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl ring in three consecutive years (Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX). Norton also earned a ring as a coach in Super Bowl XLVIII. Following his playing career he went into coaching at USC and then became the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and presently serves in the same role with the Oakland Raiders.

GOLF Frank “Sandy” Tatum Los Angeles 1938

Although he never was a professional golf star, Sandy Tatum devoted a lifetime to the sport of golf. Tatum, raised in Los Angeles on the fairways of Wilshire and Bel Air country clubs, became a Stanford man, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate and a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. He was a member of Stanford's back-to-back NCAA golf championships in 1941 and '42, and during the latter year he also captured the NCAA individual title in which he called winning a mystical experience for him and his finest competitive event. Sandy also was the first American to play golf for Oxford. He was the President of the United States Golf Association from 1978-80 and served on the USGA executive committee from 1972-1980. Sandy Tatum is a member of the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

GYMNASTICS Ron Barak Hamilton 1960

Ron Barak was the 1960 LA City Schools horizontal bar champion. A member of the 1964 United States Olympic Gymnastics Team, Ron Barak captured National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) championships in the all-around, horizontal bars and parallel bars events in preparation for that year’s Olympic Games. In 1961, Barak won the Combined Events title (12 exercises) at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel, as well as capturing gold medals in the horizontal bars, parallel bars and flying rings individual events. In 1962, he was a key member of the University of Southern California Trojans’ NCAA Championship gymnastics team. From 1965 to 1968, Ron was head coach of the USC gymnastics team. Ron Barak is a member of the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame.


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Frank Endo San Pedro 1941

Frank Endo was a gymnast, soldier, judge, guide and interpreter. He started in gymnastics at 14 when he saw a high school student doing a handstand on the parallel bars. This experience created a lifetime career in the service of gymnastics in many capacities. After demonstrating his enthusiasm for gymnastics at San Pedro High as a 10th grader, he became a team member and an important point winner for the team as his AA skills improved. In his high school league finals, Frank won gold. In 1941 he placed in the Los Angeles City Schools gymnastics finals in the floor exercise and parallel bars. Following World War II, Endo became a teacher and coach in the LAUSD. He was a gymnastics judge for over 50 years, including the 1984 Olympic Games. Frank Endo is the only individual to be a member of the Japanese Gymnastics Hall of Fame and the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Steve Hug Chatsworth 1970

Steve Hug dominated the 1968 LA City gymnastics finals, winning the parallel bars, the pommel horse, the floor exercise and the all-around. As a 16-year-old he was a member of the 1968 United States Olympic team and the team placed seventh in the team all-around. In 1972 he was again a member of the U.S. Olympic team that placed tenth in the team all-around. He earned 11 All-American honors in gymnastics, winning the NCAA all-around title from 1972-74, and twice winning the parallel bars at the NCAAs. Hug was U.S. Champion in all-around in 1969, 1972 and 1974. Steve Hug is a member of the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame.

SOCCER Arturo Torres Banning 1999

Arturo Torres was an All-LA City soccer player for Banning in 1998 and 1999. He then attended Loyola Marymount and was an All-West Coast Conference choice in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. He was the conference Player of the Year in 2002. The most prolific scorer in LMU history, Torres was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft and signed to a developmental contract. In his first year, he appeared in nine games, starting three. In 2004, he appeared in 18 games, scoring a goal and two assists. Chivas USA made Torres the first official player in club history, drafting him first overall in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft.


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Joe Zomar Hamilton 1939

Joe Zomar played “B” football at Hamilton High School. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was heavyweight boxing champion of the Coast Guard. He then tried his hand at pro wrestling and professional football with the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the American Football League, before turning to soccer. He joined the Los Angeles Magyars, the dominant club team in Southern California, and became the biggest star in local soccer ranks. Zomar was selected for the 1948 U.S. Olympic Soccer team, but was not allowed to participate due to his earlier professional sports activities.

SOFTBALL Cara Blumfield El Camino Real 1999

Cara Blumfield was a three-time All-LA City shortstop (1997-99) and was the City Player of the Year at El Camino Real in 1999 and a First-Team All-State selection. She also was an All-City basketball player twice. Blumfield led El Camino Real to the City Section 4-A Division softball championship, batting .513 with 31 runs batted in. In basketball, she led the region in scoring her senior season with a 23.3 average. Blumfield went on to Boston College, where she was a second team All-American shortstop in 2002 batting .445 and ranking among the nation’s top 10 hitters. As a result of her outstanding efforts, she became Boston College’s first All-American athlete in the sport of softball. Blumfield set numerous Boston College career softball records including games played, batting average, runs scored and RBIs. She is a member of the Boston College Athletics Hall of Fame.

Louise Figlewicz Quick San Pedro 1979

Louise Figlewicz earned Most Valuable Player honors in basketball, volleyball and softball in each of her three years at San Pedro High School and, in softball, was named to the All-Los Angeles City team three times (1977, 1978 and 1979). In her senior year, she led San Pedro to an undefeated 31-0 season and to the City Softball Championship. She was selected as the Southern California Softball Player of the Year and cemented herself as one of the most dominant softball pitchers in LA City history. She continued her excellence when she moved on to Chapman College, where she was an All-American pitcher in 1980, 1981 and 1983. In 1988, she became the first female to be inducted into the Chapman College Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1995, Louise became the first female athlete from San Pedro High School to be inducted into the city’s Sportswalk of Fame.


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TENNIS

Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez Manual Arts, Jefferson, Fremont

The first Hispanic to win a Grand Slam tennis title, Gonzalez attended three high schools, but played no interscholastic tennis. He began playing tennis at the age of 12 when his mother gave him a $.50 tennis racket for Christmas. He was a self-taught player who began playing at Exposition Park. After being banned from tennis for truancy, he spent time in a reform school and then joined the Navy. Shortly after, in 1948 Gonzalez won the U.S. National Championship (now the U.S. Open). In 1949, he defended his title and helped lead the U.S. to a Davis Cup victory. He turned pro in 1949 and was the best player from 1952-61. In 1968, at the age of 40, when pros were allowed to participate at the Grand Slam tournaments, he was a semi-finalist at the French Open and quarter-finalist at the U.S. Open. He is the oldest player to win an ATP professional event, almost 44-years-old. A powerful server and fierce

competitor, Richard "Pancho" Gonzalez was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1968, while still an active player. Larry Smith Manual Arts 1954

A five-time collegiate champion, Larry Smith won California Collegiate Athletic Association singles titles in 1958 and 1959. He also teamed with Dick Capello to win conference doubles titles for two consecutive seasons. Smith helped lead Cal State L.A. to top-10 national rankings in the Major University Division in 1957 and 1958. He was a three-time finalist in the Ojai Invitational in doubles in 1957 and 1959 and in singles in 1958. Smith served as an assistant men’s tennis coach at Cal State L.A. from 1960-63 and coached the Dorsey High School tennis teams to a City Section record 80 consecutive Southern League victories from 1971-78. Smith started the Scholastic Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012 and is a member of the Cal State Los Angeles Athletics Hall of Fame.

Barbara Breit Gordon North Hollywood 1954

One of the top female tennis players during the 1950’s, Barbara Breit was United States Girls’ 18’s National Hardcourt Singles Champion in 1954 and 1955, and U.S. Junior Outdoor Doubles Champion in 1954 and 1955. Barbara made the World Singles top 10 rankings twice: #8 in 1955 and #7 in 1957. Breit and her partner were rated number three in the United States in doubles in 1955. She holds a victory over International Tennis Hall of Famer, Darlene Hard. Barbara is the author of a noted tennis book, “Improving Your Tennis Game” and was a tennis columnist in the 1970’s.


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Mary Arnold Prentiss Manual Arts 1934

Mary Arnold had a lengthy career in tennis. She was a member of the Wightman Cup team in 1939 and was ranked in the U.S. top ten from 1939-47. Her highest rankings were in 1942 and 1944 when she ranked fifth. In 1946 she reached the doubles final of the U.S. Open and in 1948 she reached the doubles final of the French Open. She continued for many years playing in U.S. Senior events and in 1964 lost in the finals of the U.S. Women’s Senior’s. Arnold won 30 national tennis titles between 1957 and 1972, including 12 national public-parks singles titles and seven national public-parks doubles titles. She also won the United States Women's senior hard-court doubles nine times between 1958 and 1970. In 1974 she won the USTA Service Bowl Award for her service to the sport. Mary is a member of the Southern California Tennis Association Senior Hall of Fame.

TRACK AND FIELD

James Butts Fremont 1968

The event James Butts achieved his greatest fame (triple jump) was not an LA City track final event in 1968. Butts, at the time, was a long jumper for Fremont and placed sixth in the 1968 LA City long jump. He went on to UCLA and became a triple jumper and was the NCAA champion in that event in 1972. At the 1972 Olympic trials he just missed making the team, placing fourth in the trials. Then at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, Butts excelled winning a silver medal in the triple jump. He was the first American medalist in the event at the Olympics since Levi Casey claimed silver in 1928. Ranked No. 2 in the world in 1976 and 1978, Butts won the U.S. outdoor title and set the U.S. triple jump record with a mark of 56-6 ¾ at the 1978 World Championships and placed third in the 1979 Pan American Games triple jump. James Butts is a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ralph Mann Carson 1967

At Carson High Ralph Mann was a very good hurdler, placing fourth in the high hurdles and fifth in the low hurdles at the 1967 LA City track finals. When he arrived at Brigham Young University, he found a new event, the 400 meter (440 yards) intermediate hurdles. Mann was victorious in three straight NCAA finals (1969-71), three straight U.S. National AAU finals (1969-71) and was named a three-time All-American. Mann was honored as the 1970 Outdoor Track and Field athlete of the year. He won another AAU title in 1975 and set a world record of 48.24 in the 440-yard hurdles. His crowning moment, however, came at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games when he earned a silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles. Ralph Mann is a member of the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame and the BYU Athletics Hall of Fame.


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Bill Sefton Polytechnic 1932

One of the Heavenly Twins (along with USC pole vault teammate, Earle Meadows) Sefton dominated the world pole vault scene in the mid-1930’s. Sefton began his pole vault career at Polytechnic, where in 1932 he was the Los Angeles City champion, the California State champ and set a new national scholastic record in the pole vault at 13-5 ¼ . While at USC, Sefton either won or tied for the NCAA pole vault championship from 1935-1937. He also was U.S. National AAU champion in 1935 and 1937. At the storied 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, Sefton finished fourth, as his USC teammate, Earle Meadows earned the gold medal. In 1937 Sefton set a new pole vault world record at 14-11. A three-time Collegiate Honor Roll recipient, Bill Sefton is a member of the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Jarvis Scott Jordan 1965

Jarvis Scott was a member of the legendary Los Angeles Mercurettes Track Club. In 1968 she was the U.S. National AAU champion in the 400 meters and went on to the 1968 Summer Olympic Games, where she placed sixth in the 400 meters. The former American and world record holder was the first woman to qualify for the finals in that event. During the 1968 Olympic year, she held the fastest times in the world in the 400 and 800 meters. At the 1971 Pan American Games she placed eighth in the 400 meters. A graduate of Cal State Los Angeles, Scott began a coaching career at Texas Tech, where she was the women’s track head coach for 12 years as well as men’s and women’s cross country head coach. Jarvis Scott is a member of the Cal State Los Angeles Athletics Hall of Fame.

VOLLEYBALL Ricci Luyties Palisades 1980

A two-time All-LA City volleyball player (1979 and 1980), Luyties was LA City Player of the Year in 1980. He was a member of the U.S. National Volleyball team from 1985-1988 and earned a gold medal as a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Volleyball team. He was one of the most decorated setters in NCAA history for UCLA, leading the Bruins to four consecutive NCAA Championships from 1981-84. Playing at UCLA under the legendary Al Scates, he guided the program to an overall record of 126-7, including a pair of undefeated seasons. The only player to start on four national title teams, Luyties was a two-time All-American and named the NCAA Most Valuable Player in 1983 and 1984. Following his playing days he began a coaching career and is presently the women’s volleyball head coach at the University of California San Diego. In 2016, he was selected to the Pac-12 All-Century Men's Volleyball Team. Luyties is a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.


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Chris Marlowe Palisades 1969

Chris Marlowe’s athletic career began with three LA City volleyball titles at Palisades High School. He also won an LA City basketball championship and was named the LA City Tournament MVP in 1969. He continued playing both sports at San Diego State University winning a NCAA Volleyball Championship, as well as earning All-American honors in 1973. Marlowe was named USA Volleyball’s MVP in 1976 and 1978 while being a member of the U.S. National Volleyball team in 1975-78, 1982 and 1984. He also enjoyed success on the beach; winning eight titles including two Manhattan Beach Opens and the 1977 World Championship of Beach Volleyball. Marlowe’s volleyball career culminated with an Olympic gold medal as captain of the 1984 men’s volleyball team. Marlowe is a member of the California Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame and the San Diego St. Athletics Hall of Fame.

Jean Gaertner Washington 1956

Jean Gaertner developed an early interest in volleyball and joined the noted club team, the Santa Monica Mariners. She was a member of the U.S. National Volleyball team in 1959, 1963 and 1964. She was an eight-time U.S. Volleyball Association All-American earning the Outstanding National Player three times and Outstanding Regional Player three times. With all her volleyball success, she also excelled in track and field as a high jumper and is one of the few athletes who have appeared in the Olympic Games in two sports. Gaertner was a high jumper on the 1960 U.S. Olympic team that competed in Rome, Italy, and was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Volleyball team in Tokyo, Japan. Gaertner became the first female athlete to compete in two Olympiads in two non-related sports. She is a member of the U.S. Volleyball Hall of Fame and the International Volleyball Hall of Fame .

Tauna Vandeweghe Palisades 1977

An outstanding swimmer in high school, Tauna Vandeweghe was the 1974-76 LA City 200-individual medley champion, the 1974-75 100-backstroke champion, and the 1976 100-freestyle champion. She was AAU indoor national champion in the 1975 100-yard backstroke, placing second in the 200-yard backstroke that year, and she was second in the 1976 Olympic Trials in the 100-meter backstroke. At the 1976 Summer Olympics, she competed in the 100-meter backstroke and advanced to the semifinals of the event, recording a best time of 1:05.00 in the preliminary heats. Vandeweghe swam at UCLA (five NCAA titles) and then went to USC where she played volleyball and won an NCAA championship. She was an alternate on the 1984 United States Olympic Volleyball team.


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PAST INDUCTEES

THE INAUGURAL CLASS OF THE CIF LOS ANGELES CITY SECTION SPORTS HALL OF FAME

2011 Sammy Lee - Franklin ‘39 Aquatics Esther Williams – Washington ‘40 Aquatics Amy Alcott – Palisades ‘37 Golf Sheila Cornell - Taft ‘80 Softball Hugo Perez – LA High ‘82 Soccer Jack Fernandez – LA High ’48 Wrestling Pauline Betz Addie – LA High ’36 Tennis Pat Henry Yeomans - LA High ’35 Tennis Bob Falkenburg – Fairfax ‘42 Tennis Makoto Sakamoto – LA High ‘48 Gymnastics Jack Beckner - Franklin ‘48 Gymnastics Gene Selznick - Manual Arts ‘48 Volleyball Mary Perry – Birmingham ‘61 Volleyball Gail Goodrich - Polytechnic ‘61 Basketball Marques Johnson – Crenshaw ‘73 Basketball Willie Naulls - San Pedro ‘34 Basketball Cynthia Cooper – Locke ‘81 Basketball Ozzie Smith - Locke ‘73 Baseball John Elway - Granada Hills ‘79 Football Mike Garrett - Roosevelt ‘62 Football Hugh McElhenny –Washington ‘48 Football Willie West - Crenshaw ‘70-‘07 Coach Mal Whitfield – Jefferson ‘43 Track & Field Gayle Van Meter – Palisades ‘70-‘91 Coach Mel Patton - University‘43 Track & Field Tex Winter – Huntington Park ‘40 Coach Valerie Brisco-Hooks – Locke ‘78 Track & Field Bret Saberhagen – Cleveland ‘82 Baseball Denean Howard – Kennedy ‘82 Track & Field Sparky Anderson - Dorsey ’52 Coach Alex Hannum - Hamilton ‘42 Basketball Kenny Washington – Lincoln ‘36 Football Cornelius Johnson – LA High ‘33 Track & Field Don Drysdale – Van Nuys ’54 Baseball Mary Kay Brown – Polytechnic ‘09 Tennis Dorothy Poynton Hill- Fairfax’33 Diving Lillian Copeland – LA High ‘23 Track & Field Bob Waterfield – Van Nuys’38 Football Ricky Bell – Fremont ‘73 Football Ernie Smith - Gardena ‘29 Basketball Frank Lubin - Lincoln ‘19 Basketball Harry Edelson – Jefferson ‘26 Coach Tom Fears – Manual Arts ‘41 Football Bill Schroeder – Hollywood ‘23 Contributor Dick Bishop - Polytechnic ‘30 Gymnastics Emmett Ashford – Jefferson’34 Contributor Rod Dedeaux - Hollywood ‘31 Coach Les Haserot - Hollywood ‘23 Coach Larry Hansen – Jefferson ’46-73 Coach Jim Blewett - Manual Arts ‘17 Coach Lee Barnes – Hollywood ’24 Track & Field Jack Kemp - Fairfax ‘53 Football John Ferraro - Bell ‘42 Contributor/Football Tom Bradley - Polytechnic ‘36 Contributor Charles Dumas - Jefferson ’53 Contributor


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PAST INDUCTEES

THE 2013 CLASS OF THE CIF LOS ANGELES CITY SECTION SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Lenny Krazelburg - Fairfax‘93 Aquatics Sue Gossick – Taft ‘65 Aquatics Marjorie Gestring – Los Angeles ‘40 Aquatics Donna Caponi Byrnes- Granada ‘63 Golf Laura Espinoza Watson – Banning ‘91 Softball Kim Pickup – Chatsworth ’96 Soccer Briggs Hunt – LA High ’28 Wrestling Bobby Riggs - Franklin ’36 Tennis Craig Buck – Taft ‘76 Volleyball Ron Lang – Dorsey ‘55 Volleyball Sharon Shapiro - Monroe ‘79 Gymnastics Mitch Gaylord – Grant ‘79 Gymnastics Jeff Stork – Taft ‘78 Volleyball Nancy Owen- Narbonne ‘61 Volleyball Kim Ruddins – Westchester ‘81 Volleyball Sidney Wicks - Hamilton ’67 Basketball Joe Caldwell – Fremont ‘60 Basketball Billy McGill - Jefferson ‘58 Basketball Kiki Vandeweghe - Palisades ‘76 Basketball Anita Ortega – LA High ‘75 Basketball Robin Yount –Taft ‘73 Baseball Eddie Murray – Locke ‘73 Baseball Bobby Doerr – Fremont ‘35 Baseball Garret Anderson – Kennedy ’90 Baseball Joe Perry – Jordan ‘44 Football Warren Moon – Hamilton ‘74 Football Mike Haynes – Marshall ‘71 Football Florence Griffith Joyner – Jordan ‘78 Track& Field Kevin Young – Jordan ‘84 Track & Field Quincy Watts – Taft ‘88 Track & Field John Muir– Fremont ‘46 Coach Estel Johnson – Jefferson ’35 Coach Gene Vollnogle – Fremont ‘48 Coach Al Scates – Westchester ‘57 Coach George Toley – Los Angeles ‘35 Coach Carolyn Gunny – Granada Hills Coach Pat Harvey – LAUSD ’59-‘91 Contributor Bill Henry – Los Angeles ‘09 Contributor Harlow Rothert – Los Angeles‘26 At-Large Oscar De La Hoya – Garfield ’91 At Large James Lofton Football Sherri Howard Track & Field

THE 2015 CLASS OF THE CIF LOS ANGELES CITY SECTION SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Wally O’Connor – Venice ’21 Aquatics Dallas Bixler – Los Angeles ’28 Gymnastics Kristine Quance – Granada Hills ’92 Aquatics Armando Vega – Wilson ’53 Gymnastics Dora Dome – Fairfax ‘84 Basketball Waldir Guerra – Bell ’85 Soccer Trisha Odom – Westchester ’88 Basketball Chris Pezzulo – Narbonne ’85 Soccer Curtis Rowe – Fremont ‘67 Basketball Lisa Richardson – Verdugo Hills ’75 Softball Charrise Sampson – Washington ’92 Basketball Joe Hunt – Fairfax ’36 Tennis John Williams – Crenshaw ’84 Basketball John “Budge” Patty – Los Angeles ’42 Tennis Eric Davis – Fremont ’80 Baseball Helen Pastall Perez – Fremont ‘46 Tennis Willie Davis – Roosevelt ’58 Baseball Jodi Anderson – Washington ’76 Track & Field Bob Meusel – Los Angeles ‘14 Baseball Danny Everett – Fairfax ’85 Track & Field Darryl Strawberry – Crenshaw ’80 Baseball Johnny Gray – Crenshaw ’78 Track & Field Jon Arnett – Manual Arts ’53 Football Linda Chisholm – Birmingham ’75 Volleyball Aaron Rosenberg – Fairfax ’30 Football Ninja Jorgensen – Los Angeles ’57 Volleyball Charles White – San Fernando ’76 Football Kent Steffes – Palisades ’86 Volleyball Lee Elder – Manual Arts ’51 Golf Randy Stoklos – Palisades ’78 Volleyball Duffy Waldorf – Taft ’80 Golf George Retzer – Los Angeles ’01 Wrestling Howard Enstedt – University ‘50 Coach Gene Mauch – Fremont ’43 Coach Jim Mora – University ’53 Coach Pat Nordell Illinois ‘50 Coach Bill Thayer – Chicago ‘45 Coach Vern Wolfe – Gardena ’40 Coach Brad Pye Jr. – Jefferson ’49 Contributor Denny Crum – San Fernando ‘55 Coach Sam Balter – Roosevelt ’25 Contributor Barbara Fiege – Chicago ‘70 Contributor Dennis Gilbert – Gardena ’65 Contributor James Lu Valle – Polytechnic ’31 Contributor/Track

Sponsors

Reginald Mallard

Ingraham Trophies and Gifts

We wish to thank the Hall of Fame committee members and the CIF LA City Section staff who assisted with program planning and selection of inductees. We also want to recognize the tireless efforts of Rick Obrand, for his lifelong interest in recognizing notable persons in sports within the CIF Los Angeles City Section, and whose efforts have made this event possible. Congratulations to the Class of 2017!

2017 la schools hall of fame - edl€¦ · hall of fame induction ceremony ... miracles?” will...

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