I first met Don in Mrs. Unruh's 6th grade class at El Centro Elementary, in Sept. 1953. Don and I grew up a block apart - he on Diamond Ave. and me on Meridian Ave. We became very good friends over the last 3 years. Don was friendly, straightforward and a very nice man. He served as Commissioner General for the 1959-1960 school year and was a member of the first SPHS CIF Championship football team. RIP, my friend.
Don sat in front of me in study hall. My two favorite memories are
I asked him how we were going to beat San Marino. They had a quarterback named O'Keiff who had thrown for a lot of yards, and they were 4-0 in league as were the eventual CIF Champion Tigers.
"He's going to have a hard time throwing the ball on his back." SP 40 SM 0
The last week of Don's senior year, he said to me. Don't ever get discouraged, discouragement is defeat." I didn't think he even knew me well, but at that time his words, and obvious concern, touched me and I carried the memory and the advice many times over the years. RIP
Steve Ledder (1960)
I first met Don in Mrs. Unruh's 6th grade class at El Centro Elementary, in Sept. 1953. Don and I grew up a block apart - he on Diamond Ave. and me on Meridian Ave. We became very good friends over the last 3 years. Don was friendly, straightforward and a very nice man. He served as Commissioner General for the 1959-1960 school year and was a member of the first SPHS CIF Championship football team. RIP, my friend.
James Tomlin (1961)
Don sat in front of me in study hall. My two favorite memories are
I asked him how we were going to beat San Marino. They had a quarterback named O'Keiff who had thrown for a lot of yards, and they were 4-0 in league as were the eventual CIF Champion Tigers.
"He's going to have a hard time throwing the ball on his back." SP 40 SM 0
The last week of Don's senior year, he said to me. Don't ever get discouraged, discouragement is defeat." I didn't think he even knew me well, but at that time his words, and obvious concern, touched me and I carried the memory and the advice many times over the years. RIP