Tars’ reunion taking shape

An energized Class of 1953 from Newport Harbor High that featured

three championship swimming teams, a third-team All-CIF quarterback

named Rolly Pulaski and star basketball player Bob Gallivan, who

would become a Superior Court judge, are set to stage a 50th reunion

Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

It has been projected that either Judge Gallivan or Pulaski, a

noted architect, or both, will probably handle the emcee duties for

the night.

Classmate Barbara “Trusty” Scharnell is handling the challenging

work of keeping the event organized at (949) 640-2398.

Gallivan, who was also a high jumper and cheerleader in prep days,

was the student body president in 1952-53.

Pulaski stunned grid fans one Halloween night when he ran for

three touchdowns against Fullerton, then added a fourth passing score

to Denny Mason. The Tars lost, 52-26, but the CIF was astonished as

Pulaski chalked up 477 yards of offense for Newport that night.

The Tars won three and lost six that season, but missed two other

victories by narrow margins against Sweetwater and Excelsior.

Orhter noted Sailor gridders that season of ’52 included

all-leaguer Tom Lange, backs Eloy Martinez, Bob Ibbotson, Ted

Beltran, Rod LaShelle and linemen Bob Cantu, Lee Hambrook, Ken Nack,

Terry Gibson, Dick Mirkovich, Ted McMasters, Mickey Retmeir, Jack

Meeks, Charley Reich and Phil Mirkovich.

Jules Gage’s basketball team included a number of standouts, such

as Bill Inloes, Fred Nesbitt, Gordon Sutterfield and Bob Wetzel, who,

in time, became a highly regarded volleyball coach at Orange Coast

College.

Al Irwin’s varsity swimmers were paced by numerous stars,

including Buddy Coane, Buster Hammond, Graham Gibbons, Hambrook and

Dennis Mason. The Cees were undefeated from 1950 through 1956.

Outstanding for Coach Emil Neeme’s baseball team were pitcher Jim

Newkirk, Bob Wetzel, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Randy Peyton, Dick

Mirkovich, Pete Morris, Austin Smith and Pulaski. Bill Wetzel, a top

horsehider, went on to become an assistant principal at Estancia High

and served once as a coach.

In time, Pulaski, a versatile athlete out of Balboa Island,

advanced to play quarterback for four years at USC. At Harbor High,

he ranked high in total gridiron scoring and finished his prep career

with 102 points running. His completion rate was also close to 50%

since his sophomore year.

On the deceased class member list: Chuck Babbit, Billy Bearden,

Lynn Billman, Nancy Bunge, Diane Comer, Sam Cooper, Roger Fake, Mike

Keeler, Margaret Marshall, Denny Mason, Ronnie Means, Ray Middaugh,

Ellen Owen, Carl Oquist, Fred Shannon, Lynn Smith, Ralph Stansberry,

Sylvia Wilcox and Felix Martinez.

Those missing: Virgie Alton, Sylvia Baines, Sharon Baxter, Phyliss

Beardsly, Ted Binder, John Burton, Sally Bush, Lorraine Call, Harry

Carter, Elvah Castillo, Judith Chaplain, Shirley Comer, Lorraine

Crandall and Norma Crump.

Also, Irene Dalgorda, Carvel Davey, Carolyn Dielman, Paul Dunlap,

George Fleming, Ilene Findley, Jetta Gannon, Judy Gannon, Jean

Gillern, Terry Gloege, Jim Graeff, Richard Grauer, Ed Grochow,

Juanita Gustafson, Brent Haney and Pete Hansen.

Also, Dorothy Hatfield, Dixie Harris, Leonard James, Bill Johnson,

Doug Kirkpatrick, Penney Knight, Joey Laurie, Annette Lenhardt, Doris

Leavill, Ken Leach, Roger Loring and Jim Lowe.

Also, Falcon Lunney, Karen Mason, Nancy Mason, Bill McCartney,

Beverly McDaniel, Josephine McKee, Marilyn McKenzie, Sue McKeown,

Joanne Melchior, Ted Miller, Sharon Moores, Peter Morris, Carolyn

Parrish and Barbara Peterson.

Also, Glenn Pickens, Ralph Pringle, Rebecca Quiroz, Francis

Rhodes, Richard Rider, Jerry Saunders, Wayne Schenkel, James Scruggs,

Dot Seely, John Sharp, Shirley Sinclair, Lowell Slater and May

Standage.

Also, Irene Stewart, Winston Sullivan, Ronald Surmon, Peter Tatum,

Norman Van Hall and Joan West.

The yacht club is located at 720 W. Bay Ave. in Balboa. The

no-host cocktail event begins at 5 p.m., while dinner follows at 6.

One early projection indicates more than 100 people are expected

to attend.