For people who attended Crawford High School or would have attended if they hadn't
moved -- or just have fond memories of San Diego in the '40s, '50s and '60s.

Check out the Crawford High web site.

Friday, July 19, 2024

July 19, 2024

 


Don't ask me for a hint.



We used to visit my father's aunt in Long Beach, California.  I think I remember Noah's Ark on the right side of 101 as we returned to San Diego.  Click HERE for a larger view.




I spotted this in a 1949 newspaper article on growth in San Diego.  It shows homes going up somewhere along 54th Street.  Click HERE for an enlargement.  Maybe you can tell where the photo was taken.



What are the chances?  Last week I spotted a Channel 8 Throwback that featured my old councilor Walt Harvey.  Here's a recent interview with San Jose State's retired Professor of Choral Music Charlene Archibeque.  I'm sure a whole lot of Colts have fond memories of her at Crawford.  Click HERE to watch the interview.




I spotted this photo of coaches and athletes in the 1967 Centaur when I was snagging a shot of Bob Petretta (see below).  It appears that the coaches are wearing blue blazers and the athletes are sporting uniforms.  I'm guessing the naked guys are swimmers.  Click HERE for an enlargement.



Jerry Brooksher ’64 died April 26, 2024, surrounded by the love of his life, Kathlyn and family.  He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, moving at age 6 to San Diego.  Jerry's distinguished academic career began at Crawford, graduating as Salutatorian. He then completed his Master's Degree in English Literature and Art at San Diego State University. After serving as a civilian employee with the US Navy as the Technical Director of the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Pacific, he was transferred to the Naval Underseas Warfare Center based in Hawaii, where he retired after completing 25 years of service.  After “failing retirement”, Jerry continued for 25 more years as a Test and Evaluation Engineer with private companies. In 1996 Jerry met Kathlyn McDougal Erickson at Bully's Steak House. They married in 1999 and lived a full, happy and loving life overlooking Lake Murray.  Jerry will be remembered for his generous, kind heart, his quick wit, his deep love and commitment to his family, friends and country.


Please contact Lila, at lilamcd@gmail.com for information on the Celebration of Jerry's Life to be held July 20, 2024. 


Jerry was a faithful supporter and donor of 2 scholarships to SDSU. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the annual SDSU Brooksher Memorial Scholarship. https://tinyurl.com/zv4pad2s Jerry was also a Benefactor of the San Diego Zoo.  Donations may be made in his name to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. sdzwa.org/memorial





SAVE THE DATE. Bob Petretta ’67 passed away December 11, 2022.  His sons Tim and Bobby are hosting a Celebration of Life at the Brigantine Restaurant in La Mesa on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 6-9 PM.  





Friday, July 12, 2024

July 12, 2024

 

I couldn't wait until Halloween to share this.


Click HERE for an enlargement of the best fireworks photo ever.  It was taken last Thursday from Point Loma.




Here's a 1962 photo of a Rugby match at San Diego State.  I didn't even know there was a Rugby team, but I loved the view of the college as I remember it.  Click HERE for a larger view.



A recent Channel 8 News Throwback featured a long-ago interview with 1936 Hoover graduates Roy Engle and Walt Harvey on a return visit to the school.  Coach Harvey was my counselor at Crawford.   Click HERE to watch the interview on YouTube.



In 1950 some early models of the Convair B-36 were flown to San Diego to have jet engines added.  Click HERE for before and after photos.




Turns out it was an autosuggest malfunction.  I thought it strange that my childhood pal Ken Ptack -- a Naval Academy graduate who still lives in Maryland -- texted me to find out how old Annapolis was.  Turns out he'd seen a recent Facebook photo of my friend Anna and wanted to know how old SHE was.  Click HERE to see why.





Friday, July 5, 2024

July 6, 2024

 

Did you watch Fourth of July fireworks?  I was asleep and didn't hear a thing.


I've enlarged this cartoon to make sure you can read the inscription on Harry's gravestone.


I've just discovered a rare photo of me in Mr. Billings' Chemistry class.


I love old photos, but wanted to share this 2015 shot of the Hotel del Coronado.  Click HERE for an enlargement and a link to John Bare's other photos.

Old pals from Horace Mann Richard Bouman and Larry Brackett got together a couple weeks ago and sent a photo.  They haven't changed a bit!  Click HERE and see for yourself.



Did you hang out at Funky Quarters on El Cajon Boulevard?  I saw George Carlin there.  Click HERE to see some souvenir programs -- and some newspaper articles I dug up.



Friday, June 28, 2024

June 28, 2024

 

I hope my Jewish friends enjoy this.  I hope the rest of my friends get it.  Scroll to the bottom of the page for a bonus.






WHAT!!  June is practically over and NOW I find out it was Mens' Mental Health Month?  Somebody's gonna pay for this.



WHAT!!  MGEN Mike Borgschulte is turning over command of the 3rd Marine Air Wing at Miramar on July 2nd?  I didn't even know he was in charge -- or a general.  The last time we talked was when Nancy and I visited HMLA-367 at Camp Pendleton in 2010 and he was a Lieutenant Colonel.  Click HERE to see some pictures.



Desperate for something to do with Crawford, I'm reposting a trifecta of early aerials.  Click HERE and buckle your seat belt.



It's not the Carnation that was near and dear to the hearts of Crawford Colts, but the ice cream store at 3036 El Cajon Blvd served the public from 1941 to 1986.  Click HERE for a bigger picture and some additional information.



I've added another photo to the Balboa Stadium auto races page.  Click HERE to take a look







Friday, June 21, 2024

June 21, 2024

Today's the longest day of the year and the first day of summer.  All I know is that it's still light when I slip under the covers at 8 each night with a smile on my face.  A far cry from 70 years ago when I HAD to go to bed at 7 and I was upset that I could hear the other kids still in the street playing Three Flies Up.


Today's Far Side


Did you watch the US Open Golf Tournament las weekend?  That third hole was the undoing of some of the best golfers in the world.  It took me back to my playing days at Par Tee Miniature Golf on University Avenue.  The Ant Hill was MY undoing every time.  Click HERE to check out a couple of pieces of Part Tee memorabilia.



Terra American Bistro closes today after nearly three decades serving San Diego,  Started by my classmate Mike Rossman, it's been operated by his son Jeff for some time.  Click HERE to go to their web site and make a reservation.  It's located at 7091 El Cajon Boulevard if you just wanna stand in the parking lot and wave a handkerchief.




Here's a 1941 photo of the Star of India when it used to sit across from Navy Field on Harbor Drive.  Click HERE for an enlargement.




Georgia Wilson Hunter '60 passed away unexpectedly on May 31, 2024.  Her husband Steve is a 1957 Hoover graduate.


Marcia Solomon LeVitt ’64 passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Sacramento, California.  Marcia was born and raised in San Diego, California where she lived a care-free life, much to the chagrin of her parents Samuel and Hope Solomon.  Besides the tamer tennis and swimming, she often rode the bus by herself to the beach eight miles from her home.  She was also known to sneak out of worship services to meet up with her friends doing the same at a local soda shop.  She and childhood and lifelong friend Donna even hitchhiked to Mazatlán when Marcia was just nineteen.  Marcia, known by some classmates as “Mushie”, graduated in 1964 after skipping a grade a few years earlier.  She went on to nursing school in Los Angeles at 17, but some of the realities of the profession led her to pursue a teaching career.  She attended Long Beach State and graduated from Chico State in 1972.  Marcia taught briefly at schools in inner-city Los Angeles and later in Foresthill, California.  She switched gears again, however, and worked for the Nevada County and Placer County Human Assistance Departments. She later transferred to the Sacramento HA Department where she worked for 26 years in the Welfare Fraud unit, making additional friends for life. She retired in 2004.  A hippie at heart, Marcia met Ed Zajac during communal living in an old Victorian house in Long Beach.  They shared a decade of travel and college-hopping before parting ways.  After moving to Sacramento, her next door neighbor introduced her to yet another set of friends for life, whose passion was exploring old mines and ghost towns in Nevada. She became a staunch believer in “life begins at 40” when she met and married Raymond LeVitt.   Marcia and Ray soon began volunteering and gathering more friends for life at several of the monthly community breakfasts on the Divide. Marcia also volunteered her talents at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park in Coloma.  She especially loved teaching gold-panning to visiting fourth graders and other tourists.  She even won a second place in the California State Gold Panning Championships!  Marcia is survived by, among others, her heartbroken husband Ray, sister Lynne Solomon Ballman and forever friend Donna Glazier.  




Friday, June 14, 2024

June 14, 2024



I don't think this needs a caption.  No surprise that both participants are male.


GRADUATION


1961 classmates Bob Richardson and Carole Smithson pose for a snapshot before heading off to commencement at SDSC.  Click HERE to read once again about the great graduation controversy from the year before.



Wow!  I forgot how many goodies Pam Burroughs shared having to do with her graduation in 1963.  Click HERE to see photos that include the bookcase at La Casa Frito (my house).



Did you graduate in 1972?  You're probably in one of the many photos shared previously by Ken Burton.  Click HERE and get out the magnifying glass.




Click on the links below to read Pacer Graduation Issues from






 

Friday, June 7, 2024

June 7, 2024


 

My pilot friends LOVE this Far Side cartoon.  They call them Cumulogranite clouds and say it's important to fly around them.

I thought I'd posted this photo before, but I can't find it.  It's a postcard photo of San Diego State around 1957.  Click HERE for an enlargement.


Scott Shaw posted this photo of an Oscar's Drive-In sign on Facebook.  I think it was taken at Midway and Rosecrans.  Click HERE for a larger view and see what you think.



Julie Eskew recently rediscovered her Choir Pins from Horace Mann and Crawford.  Click HERE to see them up close.



Click HERE to read all six pages of the June 6, 1973 Pacer.  Spoiler Alert!  Mrs. Tidwell and Mrs. Archibald announced their retirement.



William Simpson ’63 passed away May 30, 2024.  As a Crawford Colt, Bill lettered in track and wrestling.  He joined the San Diego Fire Department in 1966 and rose through the ranks to become a captain.  He served as a firefighter for 35 years.  Bill loved to hike the Sierras with friends and family and made annual trips which together covered over one thousand miles of mountain trails. He also loved to snow ski with his family near Lake Tahoe and travel with his wife Margaret to many places around the world.  He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Brigette, son Travis, stepson Justin, grandchildren Ryan, Gage, Sophia, Jacob, Max, and Cael and brother Ron.




Friday, May 31, 2024

May 31, 2024


Looks like the Coyote has once again come up short in an encounter with the Roadrunner



I didn't want to wait until Winter to share this postcard of snow in Julian. Click HERE for an enlargement.



Looks like the Class of '69 is planning a daytime reunion in Allied Gardens on Thursday, July 25th.   I've posted a slightly larger version of this ad on the Reunion Page.   Get back to me if you still can't read the names, phone numbers or email addresses of the folks in charge.



Richard Bennett ’61 passed away March 17, 2024.  He grew up in San Diego and lettered in basketball and tennis while at Crawford.  He went on to get a meteorology degree at San Jose State.  He lived in Walnut Creek, California and worked at the East Bay Municipal Utility District for thirty years, retiring as their water conservation administrator.  Richard was a devoted family man and enjoyed coaching his daughter and granddaughters’ soccer teams.  He loved to hike with his wife and dogs, cloud watch, storm chase, ski, and hang out with his friends and family.  He was a rabid San Diego Chargers fan.  He was preceded in death by his brothers John and Bill, as well as his fraternal twin Bob.  He is survived by his wife Bonnie, daughter Elizabeth, granddaughter Ella, and his younger brother Dave. 




 

Friday, May 24, 2024

May 24, 2024

 


Wow!  Memorial Day Weekend already?  Enjoy your barbecue and take a little time to remember those who paid the ultimate price.   Click HERE to revisit the Colt Memorial Page.


I love this cartoon -- and may have posted it previously.  I hope it brings back pleasant memories of childhood Monopoly games.



But, wait -- there's MORE!!  Colt Map Maven Dick Cloward shares the reverse side of last week's 1935 California Expo map.  Click HERE and scroll down.



Click HERE to peruse the KCBQ Top 30 from May 17, 1964.  Oh, dear -- that's 60 years ago.  



The May 21, 1964 Pacer is also 60 years old.  Click HERE to read all 6 pages.