Terry Lee Maple

Bob Beckwith was the most industrious boy I knew in school. To earn money for colleage (he was eleven years old when he told me about his plan), he also mowed lawns and swept out a business on third avenue every night at 6:00 p.m. As far as I can tell, he saved every dime because he was lazer committed to going to college in Idaho. I also mowed lawns in the neighborhood. Another good job was serving as an umpire in the ten-inch recreation leagues. Parks & Recreation hired high school kids for this purpose and we earned $1.00 per hour. I don't know what the after-school coaching jobs paid. My neighbor on Carla Avenue, Syl Fulwiler, was the director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Chula Vista and later became City Manager.My guess is he helped me get hired as an umpire. Syl was a wonderful neighbor and loved to entertain. Most of the neighborhood was comprised of men who worked blue-collar jobs, but Syl was a graduate of the University of Washington. He later became City Manager of the City of Spokane, Washington. And thanks for the inside look at my bike. A few years ago I presented my brother Brian with a  small replica of his black phantom. I wonder if they make a model of the corvette?

Phillip Smith (Smith)

I remember entering Hilltop JH in the 8^th grade it was 1959.  I spent the 8^th and 9^th grades there and we graduated in 1961.  By the way thanks Karen for posting that 9^th grade homeroom picture.  The ones I had have been lost in time and many moves.  It brought back memories.  I followed on in the 10^th and part of the 11^th grade at Hilltop High.  We lived at 57 east I street, two houses down from Terry.  My father moved us in the middle of the 11^th grade and I finished high school at a very different place that where I was accustomed to.  My parents returned to Chula Vista in 1965 and bought a house at 39 East Palomar Drive. They lived there until 2009 when my mother died.  My sister (a Hilltop graduate) now owns the house. 

Some quick thoughts,  I thought Carolyn Coats lived on either El Capitan or San Miguel and Judy Nutz (sp?) whose father was a dentist lived on 1^st street a short distance from where Country Club intersected 1^st street. 

Dean Butterfield had an older brother, who was in the Hilltop band, and he had an old Plymouth with a push button transmission he would give Dean and some of us a ride occasionally, and would shift the car with those buttons.  It was funny.

Terry and I had a family that lived between his house and my house that had some kids that were older and younger than us but I can’t remember their names.  I’m sure Terry can recall them though.

Lastly, I think Nancy Kuebler lived on Pepper Tree lane back behind HHS, and she and Judy would ride horses after school around and behind HHS.

Bruce Wilson

Hi Phil:

Long time no see. There's a cute photo of you in the Hilltop Junior High book posing back to camera. It is the centerold of the 1961 Falcon. These two pages are worthy of posting, so I'll try to get a scan. The shot of Jeanie Booth and Rick McCormack is priceless and David Gray makes an appearance. Dave lived on Sierra Way and I believe he has moved back into his old house. I never see him on the CV running circuit, but Michele ran into him at a store. We have his email somewhere..There was a dentist at 803 First Ave (First and Upper  K). I remember going to pool parties there related to The Exchange Club to which my father and the dentist both belonged. Could this have been Nutz? I've been thinking that the name was Cook.

In the basketball team shot Phil is right next to Terry  and I'm right next to Frank Fernandez and Coach Roberts looks young enough to be on the squad. Maybe worthy of a scan and upload. The entire front row of the track team is flexing their triceps.

I wonder who lived in the big Spanish style house at 89 Country Club Drive when we were in junior and senior high.

Kueblers could have moved (Mr. Kuebler after all was a big developer), but at one time I'm pretty sure they lived on First near Butterfields but on the west side of First. More CC gang Patty Jenkins (Country Club Drive).

My family had a 57 Dodge with those same push buttons and huge fins. I drove it once I was old enough.

Karen Etsuko Tachiki (Savel)

Hi Phil, 50 years is such a long time and having memories from more than 50 years is a miracle. And contact with people after all these years is unbelieveable. Kueblers did live on First right next door to the Schnorr's and I lived behind the Schnorr's on Alpine. We rode to school together to HHS and the Kueblers did move to Carvalos Drive in the Pepper Tree area I think near the end of high school. Mrs. Kuebler lived in the Carvalos Dr. house for many years, don't know if it remains in the family. Mr. Kuebler and one of Nancy's older brothers died in a small plane accident a few years after graduation. My last contact with Nancy was a year or so after college graduation when she lived in San Francisco and I lived in Berkeley so around 1968-9. And I think Nancy had a horse they kept on the property on Carvalos Dr., long before I-805, as the lot slopes almost to the freeway and it was open land back then. And I believe the Schnorr's house remains in their family. The Butterfield family has not lived in that house for a lot of years, but it is still there and looks pretty much as it was when they lived there.

Bruce Wilson

Does anyone know if videos can be posted here directly, without going through Youtube?

For those who can remember riding their one speed bikes out to Lower Otay Lake and remember not seeing any structures except for that one house about 1/2 way  out, here is the corner of Wueste and Otay Lakes Rd. now, as we were returning from Morena Butte. Anybody else ever been there? ]

The hike is on part of the Pacific Crest Trail.

George Bracey Gillow

My Bikes

Here are pictures of my bikes.  First I had a Huffy then a Schwinn.  But no paper route because I was born and lived the first 12 years of my life in an isolated American copper mile 10,000 feet in the Andes mountains in Chile--picture below. This was in the Atacama desert.

We had no newspapers, TV or radio.  Motion pictures came in the last year I was there (1957).   So riding the bike was my main activity.  There were only two American boys my age, me and Tom Feeney shown in the right of the picture with the Huffy.  We did not play baseball, football or basketball and in fact I did not own a bat or ball until we moved to Chula Vista in 1958.   My first large school experience was Castle Park JHS and my initiation in gym class proved to be difficult since I knew nothing even of the basic rules of the sports.  I did learn a lot of swear words though when I was trying to play.   Tom came to a military academy in NY and had similar problems.

Some videos of the mining camp are on my website at www.gillow.com

Phillip Smith (Smith)

Bruce:

I hope you can post some of the scans you have found and the basketball team picture.  It would be fun to see.  My wife saw some of the posts on this site and said, "oh, I have some of your old stuff".  So, I am putting a picture of the Northern All Stars in the Pony League up.  I am next to the coach on the left, Frank is next to me, and Terry is next in line.  I believe that Gary Earls is on the first row on the far right end.

She pulled out another folder and said, "here are some old ribbons".  So, here are some "old ribbons".

Bruce Wilson

After fooling with it for a while, it doesn't appear that you can do videos directly. So I guess y'all are gonna miss our waterfall and Otay Lake movies.  I have been experimenting though and may have some interesting stuff later, especially for those who haven't visited sunny CV in years.

Phil:

 So Mr. Hollister was the coach.. He was our Little League team coach when we won the championship (photo back downstream). I see Larry Arney two over from Gary Earls. Who is that next to number 12 (CV Elks)? He looks very familiar. Next to him appears to be Paul Hall. Terry looks different in this one. I might have missed him if you hadn't pointed him out.

Top Row

xxx, qqq, Danny Bullen ,ZZZ, rrr, Jimmy Eschbach, Mike Hollister ...

xxx could be Mike Hamilton

ZZZ could be Steve Baity

Could CV Elks be C.J. Hboson?

Another mystery man.

Hilltop Junior High School Basketball team, 1961. I got everybody's name on the first pass, except #15, who Terry had to help me out with. I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but I will. If you slipped a jersey on Coach L. Roberts, nobody would know he wasn't just another player (IMO). Notice that Earls, Wright, Maple, Smith & Townsend are smiling (maybe Holmes). Com'n somebody fess up, what's the story?

(ex axtris scientia, scientia ac labore, nolo contendere).

Bruce Wilson

Terry Lee Maple

The mystery man is Tom White who was an outstanding all around athlete at Chula Vista High School. He broke my nose in a high school basketball game my senior year. Just a wild elbow, nothing intentional I'm sure. The man who is standing beside him is Mr. Kany, Frnak's stepfauther. This team had a nice mixture of athletes who were later distributed to the three high schools, so we later played against each other. I guess Hilltop got the best ones since we won the Metro champtionship in 1964 and did wll in 1963. Larry Arney was a terrific player, and all of our teams had great pitching; Olmsted, Perry, Van Dyke come to mind. Phil and I played on the CV Hospital team. Phil was an outstanding catcher and an excellent basketball player. He lived a few doors away and we spent a lot of time at the Boys' Club when it opened. When we tried out for the basketball team, Mr. Roberts was looking for kids who could drive into the paint. The only one who knew how to do it was Phil so he played a special role on that team. It's funny that we perceived basketball as a game of point and shoot. We had some good shooters on that team; Fernandez and Earls were deadeyes from the corners. Longerbone was a great ball handler and shooter. A strong memory of mine was playing basketball on Saturdays at the CV gym. As we got older, we were able to form three-on-three teams to challenge the winners on the main glass court.  

Bruce Wilson

From the currrent Hilltop High School webpage.

This comprehensive high school serves an ethnically diverse population of students: 77.3 % Hispanic, 14.7 % White, 1.8% African American, 3% Filipino, .3% Asian, and 2.9% other. In English Language Development (ELD) classes we have 63 students (3%). Hilltop’s 266 English Learners comprise 13% of the school population. The special education program serves 220 students (11%), including services for the visually impaired. The Resource Specialist program has 146 students (6%) and there are 71 students (3%) in Special Day Class. The moderate/severe program includes three teachers and 39 students (2%), utilizing three converted classrooms and a specially renovated restroom. There are 416 students (18%) identified for the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program.

Place holder, hopefully I'll come back to this. Al Skalecky, Copp, Tschogl, Lee.

For state meet track & feld records:

http://www.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm

Phillip Smith (Smith)

Terry:

 I guess that one of the things that I also remember the most is those 3 on 3 basketball games.  We would sometimes walk from our houses down to the CV gym and spend hours playing pickup games then walk back home.  It was there that I developed a great appreciation for basketball.  I loved the competition.  I also remember it was there (at the gym) that we started lifting weights to develop ourselves for football.  You had more determination at lifting than I did.

 What I remember about the CV Hospital team is the hot afternoons that we played our games.  My father and your father would sometimes be in the stands watching us.  Funny how you forget those things until memories are tweaked by pictures and others talking about those days.

Barbara Sindelar (Seagren)

Back on March 15th, Terry asked about my baseball playing brother-in-law. Tom went on to pitch at Southwestern and San Diego State. He said "No" to a pro contract with the Twins before giving up the game. John says Tom "just got tired of the long bus rides and the grind of playing." He much preferred golf; in fact, all four Seagren siblings still play. Once Tom recovers from having his knees replaced, he's planning to serve pay-back to the others! After college, Tom putchased hospital supplies for the hospital on H Street (forgot the name) and wound up travelling the globe working for an international hospital management firm. Later he went into business for himself flipping house in and around Newport Beach. He was twice married and divorced and is now enjoying retirement near Boise, Idaho. John's last baseball comment about Tom dates back to their Little League days. John says he himself was a competent first baseman but, as a hitter, was less than lousy. However, when facing Tom, John consitently hit off him. The coaches couldn't understand that and neither could John or Tom! Tom says "Hi, Terry," and is glad to know that you recall him so kindly.

And, now a message to LaBerta. I, too, date back to Castle Park Elementary. Your sister, known as Kathy back then, was the first classmate to befriend me. At recess on my first day, she grabbed a 4-square ball and my arm, took me onto the court and introduced me to the other kids and the game. (4-square was unknown in my native Nebraska.) This was in fifth grade when the class was memorizing the state capitals. I recall quite well studying in your living room -- the three of us challenging one another! During junior high, Kelly and I were on the syncronized swim team together. With her tiny stature, she really got a lot of attention in her Yellow Bird outfit. I notice Kelly hasn't signed in to this site yet. Could you help me get in touch with her? Thanks.

Bruce Wilson

There were a few (I remember at least one) 3 on 3 tournaments at the CV gym. I do not remember if there was an entry fee or what the prize was, if any, or how many. Bob Gray, Fred Workman and I played in the one I remember. We didn't win, I think the winner was a squad (Bill Walton's favorite term) from San Diego.

I came down from Irvine in the early seventies and lo and behold Dirk Van Dyke was still there playing. Dirk against me every game. Dirk had always shot that fade-away and I had developed mine. It was a fun shoot-out.

Back further, Tom Lee came down from UCSB and he was a great player to have on your team or vice versa. We held the court all afternoon. The story I got from Bob Proctor at one of the reunions was that Tom got a tryout with the Lakers, but near the scheduled date he was either sick and/or injured and thereafter his pro career was over. As I recall, the only two others from Hilltop to hit the pro ranks in b-ball were Tschogl and Copp. I believe Dirk spent some time with a pro baseball team and there is a list over at the baseball field at the high school of others. Perhaps I'll take a run over there and get a photo.

Al Skalecky was from Helix when they won championships in 1964 and 1966 and burned up the court at San Diego State after. He's still up there in the SDSU charts. In the 1964 title game against 28-0 La Jolla, the Skalecky led team won (76-56). La Jolla was small and played a Wooden style  game, but Helix had the size, winning the rebounding battle (46-22, sorry no offensive/defensive breakdown).  I can't find anything on Al's pro career if any.

I read an interesting story about the Wooden style, which might more appropriately be called the Norman-Wooden style.

http://www.si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108718/1/index.htm.

Gail Goodrich and Lynn Shackelford both worked for the same company I did and "Coach" Wooden came by one day and gave his pyramid talk. Mr. Wooden used to speedwalk the upper reaches of Pauley and sometimes I ran up there if it was really rainy outside. He was indeed a very methodical man. You could set your watch by his circuits. His shoelaces did not come untied once.  (Some might not know that Wooden started off the first practice of the year with a lecture and demonstraton of the proper way to put on socks and shoes and tie shoe laces).

Another new feature of the landscape out by Otay Lakes.

George Bracey Gillow

Russ Alsobrook

In message 21, Susan Frise mentioned that Russ Alsobrook (one of our classmates)  was in the film industry. 

He has been a very successful Director of Photography in Hollywood.  There is lots of information on him on the Internet including some clips on YouTube of him talking about the film industry. 

One is as follows: 

Bruce Wilson

Russ(ty) never made it to the "whatever happened to" list, because he was pretty easy to find, as you point out George.

I'm not sure whether any of his work has addressed the situation out at Otay Lakes, so for what it's worth (good name for a song). This is dedicated to all you song lovers and single speed Otay Lakes Road riders out there.

Speaking of the road, there have been some very nasty accidents out there beyond or at the Lakes: bikes, mc's, cars, trucks. Lots of impromptu markers along the road.

LaBerta King (Forys)

Does anyone know where Kay Ochi is these days?  She was the 1964 editor of the HHS newspaper? 

Bruce Wilson

Michele spoke with Kay O. the last get together and she said she was living in Chula Vista (2009?).

This was from the fateful year of 1984. If anyone wants to read it and can't let me know and I'll see if I can clean in up.

Jerry Pedrotti

Just thought I would finally add my thanks for all the postings in the forum.  It has certainly brought back some memories and given me some updates on Chula Vista since I left in 1963.  While I happily have a 1964 Hilltop High School diploma, I actually completed my senior year through a corresponden course from UC Berkley while living in Nigeria!  Thus no picture in the 1964 annual.   My main social circle at Hilltop was the band and I have many fond memories of parades, football games and concerts.  Hope to come to the September reunion.

Bruce Wilson

Hi Jerry:

I'm glad you saw this site and have chosen to update us.  My sister Diane was good friends with your sister, Bonnie. If you are so inclined, you must have some interesting Padelford stories and I'm really interested in how you ended up in Nigeria.  What instrument did you play? It better not be the trumpet, I was, after all, first chair (for one week), in (as Newt has pointed out) Mr. Greeno's band at HJHS.

Bruce Wilson

I forgot where I found this. This editor seems to just indent, rather than box up quoted text.

1963 – Peter, Paul & Mary – Peterson Gym

Before Viejas Arena, the largest on campus, indoor venue was Peterson Gym. Dedicated on May 5, 1961, Peterson Gym served as the main, large scale concert venue on campus in the 1960s. Peterson Gym was built as a replacement to the old gym; it immediately provided the necessary venue for the Lectures and Concerts Board (LAC) to plan and book larger scale acts.

The gym had a rocky start as a concert hall in its first few ynew sound system and increased seating were installed. These changes to the gym were done in the anticipation of the upcoming Peter, Paul and Mary concert on November 7, 1963. This concert proved to be a major turning point not only for Peterson Gym as a venue, but also for music concerts at SDSU. The show was an early point in the band’s career; the SDSU show came on the heels of the release of the band’s third recording “In the Wind.” Released in October 1963, the album included the hits (and Bob Dylan covers) “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” The Peter, Paul and Mary show was the largest concert to be hosted on campus at that time, which sold out at 5,420 tickets. This was also the first time that students were specifically told that this was to be a casual affair and that it was not required for them to dress up for the event. The success of the concert enabled the LAC to essentially double their budget, and enabled the organization to book more concerts than before.ears, though by 1963 a

My PP&M concert, I think also in 1963, was at the Starlight in Balboa Park

I went to this Dylan show, then we headed down to TJ afterwards.

Susan L. Frise

Jerry Pedrotti:  so happy to hear about you, and know you're still out there, on the message forum.  I so remember your Dad, and you, from our Presbyterian Sunday School.  My Mom was a Sunday school teacher (as well as a regular school teacher) at our old Presbyterian Church on Hilltop Drive for 19 years.  She loved your Dad as our Pastor so much.  I recall when you all moved to Nigeria--thru the church, wasn't it?  I played the flute at CPJS with both Padelford (in 7th grade before he moved to Hilltop) and with DeLuis in 8th grade.

Bruce Wilson

George Bracey Gillow

Rohr Aircraft and Fred Rohr

I would be interested in knowing how many of you worked for Rohr Aircraft or if you had any relatives or parents who worked for the company.

Below is some history of Rohr that came from a presentation by Peter Watry:

This picture is of Fred Rohr with one of his patented drop hammers. 

Fred Rohr moved to San Diego in the early 1920s and was a sheet metal worker.  He made the fuel tanks and nose cowlings for Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis   

Peter Watry worked hard to get one of the drop hammers moved for display next to the Chula Vista Heritage Museum (near 3rd and Parkway)

This is an aerial view of Rohr shortly after WWII.  Notice most of western Chula Vista was lemon groves.  The airplanes are PB2Y Coronado seaplanes that were being reconfigured by Rohr.  They were towed down the bay and hauled out of the water.

In 1954 there was concern by some some citizens that Rohr had too much influence in the community.   As a show of how important Rohr was to the economy of the City, the company paid all employees with silver dollars on one payday.  Cash registers all over the city were filled with silver dollars even though a lot of the employees took the silver dollars to the bank in exchange for paper money.  Rohr made its point.

The gentleman on the left front of the picture is Bob Campbell who served as a Port Commissioner in the 1970s and served on the City Council in the early 1980s.

I would be interested if anyone recognizes any of the other men in the picture.

Kathryn Ann (Kay) Kirkendall (Lippincott)

I worked in Manufacturing Engineering, F-14, DC10 projects.  I was a secretary for the Mahogany Row execs as a fill in!  I loved my job and Rohr was a wonderful place to work. 

Kay Kirkendall Lippincott, Class of 64