Mighty Eagles

50 years ago a bunch of students from working class families outside Los Angeles, got their education in Bell, California at BELL HIGH SCHOOL. Oh, there were some bright and talented members of that 1960 class. But sociologists weren't convinced we'd amount to much. But as we returned to Bell High on homecoming and 50 year reunion day, that sure wasn't the way we felt.

The entire high school band stepped out of class to greet us. As fellow offensive lineman on the football team, Warren Sapp (different Warren Sapp) quipped, we never got this kind of salute when we were playing. Of course none of us could remember a football game we won.

Here's that football field. It has changed very little in 50 years. One change you can't see well in the picture is a fast-food restaurant that's taken over the site of Bell Plumbing and Heating. That's where my Dad used to work on his days off as a fireman.

That's Bell's Warren Sapp down there with a little less hair than he owned in 1960. That's his wife Mary on the right. Classmates Loretta and Elaine on the left.

We ran into a number of jaw dropping revelations on campus. This one really blew our minds. See all the names on the back of that Tee Shirt down there? They are names of Bell High Graduates who are now employed at Bell High School. The man wearing the shirt, a math teacher, graduated in 1969.

I'm pretty confident we didn't have anyone working in Bell willing to reside within ten miles of the place.

We were really impressed that pretty much the same physical plant could hold twice the number of students it held in 1960.

We were overwhelmed with the politeness, the self confidence and the pride this new student body carried with them.

Oh, we've had our life successes. That's Larry Ramos vocal lead and CEO of the Association. One of his group's songs, "Never My Love," is still the third most played single in radio history. I was a big fan of their hit "Wendy." The students revealed a mural in honor of Larry on the cafeteria's Wall Of Fame during our visit.

That's Steve Snyder on the left below, member of a very successful San Francisco law firm. He is sitting next to Rich Case, my college room mate. Rich was trained as an engineer, but has since gotten his Masters degree in environmental science, and is a consultant to agencies wanting to preserve their forests.

He is most famous amongst us for taking a copy of the "Whole Earth Catalog," traveling to British, Colombia in the late 1960's, finding some land he could homestead, and building his cabin from hand. It still exists, and he spends a lot of time there. A warning to anyone wanting to visit. It involves a two hour canoe trip with portaging to get there.

That's Paula Prewitt Perich on the right, who has had a very successful marketing and public relations career. She flew in from Texas to hug Alice (Purcell) Goecke, as we all did. That's because Alice, once again demonstrated some incredible skills at bringing us all together, and getting us to behave.

It is not the best shot I have of Tim Ewing, but I wanted to show him in his comfort zone. Tim was a starting forward on the basketball team. They fared much better in competition than the football team. He is standing right underneath the same basket that captured his jump shots 50 years ago. (They have a new gym, but have kept the old one.)

Tim is retired from careers in steel and pharmaceuticals. He owned a company in one field, and was national sales manager in the other.

John Shilling (not shown) is a prominent attorney in Newport Beach. Tom Wariner (not shown) is a Superior Court judge in Northern California. Kenny Long (not shown), carved a great career in journalism. And that is just a sampling.

But I've buried the lead a bit. If those sociologists, and statisticians were to look at the futures of today's Bell High School students, they'd likely conclude, as they did with us, their chances of thriving in this society are slim. This town is currently rife with scandal. With language barriers, poverty level incomes, and crippling costs of living, you'd guess success would be the last goal on these students minds. But WE now know different.

As we cheered together, shared tales of yore, and new student adventures in 2010? As we sang the fight song and Alma Mater together, we found an instant bond. We share a pride. We know they are going to make it. And one of the reasons they are going to make it is that same pride we all had in ourselves....that when were told we couldn't do it? We said, and this new student body says, "WATCH US!!!"

"ON BELL HIGH SCHOOL." "WE UNITE TO SING THY PRAISES, PLEDGING WILLING HEART AND HAND." "GET THAT BALL AND FIGHT." "GO BELL!"