September 25, 2026

MOM!!!! Get the tweezers!!

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Evening Tribune • September 25, 1961 -- 65 years ago!  My rear end still hurts from the concrete seats at Balboa Stadium.  Click HERE to peruse all 20 pages of the program

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Crawford Pacer • March 18, 1958 -- Click HERE to see this enlarged on the new "Heap of the Week" page.

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Let's take another look at the almost-mythical Carnation at 6663 El Cajon.  I used ChatGTP to spiff up Jean Peacock Graham's screen grab of the City of San Diego's 1973 street videos.  Click HERE and be amazed.

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Click HERE to revisit Joe Schlader's night shots of the Aztec and Westward Ho motels in the same neighborhood as Carnation.

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and HERE to see Diana Morawitz Schlader Kruse astride a llama in the parking lot of the A & P Market on 54th and El Cajon.  I previously had all of the Schlader shots on one page.

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Lee Harris ’59 passed away in Dunwoody, Georgia on September 4th, following complications from pneumonia and dementia.  He graduated from San Diego City College and attended San Diego State. In 1972, Lee's job transferred him to Atlanta, where he and his wife, Donna, came to appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the people they met. They later made their home in Dunwoody, where they lived for more than 30 years.  Lee had a successful career in medical sales spanning more than 50 years. He and Donna were fortunate to travel to many countries, including many wonderful family trips to Mission Beach.  He stayed in touch with several of his Crawford High classmates and served on the reunion committee for their 60th reunion in 2019.  

September 18, 2026

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This Class of '68 coed says hello from The Love Boat. No, I ain't telling you her name, but this was from last week. 

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Jack Tempchin's image in the '65 Centaur, on the web, and on a mural in Leucadia showing some of that town's music notables.  Jack wrote "Peaceful, Easy Feeling" for the Eagles.  I'm thinking his royalty check last year was a lot more than the $12.38 I got for writing "USS Saratoga: CV-3".  Thanks to Wayne Zucker for sending the mural photo.  Click HERE to check out Jack's web site.

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Here's the cover of the program for the November 13, 1959 football game between Crawford and Saint Augustine AT Hoover.  I think the Colts were no longer a football powerhouse when they finally got a stadium.  Click HERE to see the rest of the program and the lineups for each team.

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The November 25, 1959 Pacer shared the sad fact that the Colts lost the Friday the 13th Game against Saint August 26-12.  It also had the above snippet about Jim Gilmer's Model A, which -- through the magic of ChatGTP -- I was able to buff out pretty nicely.

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I spiffed up a tinted postcard from the old Oscar's at Euclid and El Cajon.  Click HERE to see what's there now, and read some comments.

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Click HERE to revisit the Sears Hillcrest page and see more photos, plus ads and comments.  I smell popcorn.

September 11, 2026

My late gal-pal Nancy Watson always complained about being picked last for "everything".  I don't think she'd have gotten much sympathy from Joe Zyriek '69.

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69 years ago YESTERDAY was Opening Day at Crawford.  Click HERE to see the newspaper article, buffed out and enlarged with ChatGTP.

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Here's an aerial shot of the newly-opened school, taken on September 30, 1957.  Click HERE to see it, and two others, enlarged.

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The rich kids from Alvarado Estates purchased cool book covers at the Financial Office.  Some of us used paper bags from Piggly Wiggly.  Click HERE to check out a selection donated by Dietra Anderson Davis '62.

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Boy, one of these would look cool in the back window of a hot rod.  Click HERE to see decals saved by Sally Brett '63

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Click HERE to peruse all 40 pages of an early Colt Handbook.  I wonder if it specifies girl's skirt lengths.

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I've just learned of the passing of Bruce Jaffe in Dayton, Ohio on November 23, 2025, after a short battle with cancer.   After graduation from USC, Bruce began his career at Price Waterhouse, earning his CPA before joining Bell Industries in 1967. He spent nearly 30 years there, serving as CFO and later President.  At 41, Bruce started running, and once he started, he didn't stop. He completed 24 marathons and carried the Olympic torch in 1984. When his knees finally quit, he bought a bicycle and kept going. Later in life he found a 2nd home at Yankee Trace Golf Course spending nearly every day hitting balls, playing a round, or volunteering. The best gig of his life.

September 4, 2026

 

Seriously?  Clark Kent (or is it Superman) is checking for spare change in the pay telephone coin slot?  Oh, dear -- I just realized there are only a few of us left that know what it feels like to stick your finger in that coin slot and hear the jingle of coins.  Wait -- do coins even exist anymore?

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I don't know Paulette Donnelon but I thought the photo she took last week in the Anza-Borrego Desert was worth sharing

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I'm not sure what they're selling -- but I'm buying.  This appears to be a Waymo (driverless) '57 Chevy.

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A perfect time to revisit the Esquire Motors page.  Click HERE.

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I'm on a roll!!  Click HERE to see some photos from the August 21, 1960 drag race "riot" on El Cajon Blvd.

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65 YEARS AGO
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Evening Tribune • September 5, 1961 -- Click HERE to read Rick Smith's preview of the 1961 football season.  Spoiler Alert: We went undefeated (sort of)

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San Diego Union • September 9, 1961 -- It said Gigi went to Crawford, but I can't find her in my records

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55 YEARS AGO
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Evening Tribune • September 9, 1971 -- "Big Jim" was a '68 Colt

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IN MEMORIAM
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Dennis Grey ’64 was an athlete, craftsman, and entrepreneur. He passed away on August 9, 2026. Known for his tenacity on the basketball court, his restoration of old homes in Sacramento, and his conservative principles, Dennis leaves behind a legacy of athletic achievement, creative excellence, and cherished memories for his family, friends, and community.  There’s a full obituary on the Class of ’64 Obituary Page.

Tony Udvarhelyi ’70 passed away at home with his wife Vicki by his side in Lakeside on August 18th.

August 28, 2026

Those look like Old School Lunch Boxes.  I wonder if the sandwiches were wrapped in waxed paper.

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Train pictures come first.  I've added this 1973 Mike Schafer shot of the Surfliner headed south out of San Clemente to the Santa Fe Page.  Click HERE to see it -- and others -- enlarged.

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Terry Gorin Williams '66 and her surfer husband Tom are now living in the Azores.  Click HERE to read all about it in the Union-Tribune.  If you have trouble with the link I can send you a PDF version.

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I guess there WAS a Pat Brillo's in Colt Country.  Click HERE to see what Larry Wahlgren discovered.

That's right -- Pat Brillo's Julio Arreola went on to open Julio's, a fact previously brought to our attention by George Glover.  Click HERE to see an enlargement of this photo and some of the other shots John Suitts took in 1975.  You'll recognize most of them, but I've spiffed them up with ChatGPT

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65 YEARS AGO

Evening Tribune • September 2, 1961

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60 YEARS AGO

Evening Tribune • August 29, 1966

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San Diego Union • August 31, 1966 -- Gary got his MD, served in the Air Force during Vietnam, established his anesthesiology practice in Tucson, retired and recently passed away.  We were the best of friends from 8th grade on.

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San Diego Union • August 31, 1966

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San Diego Union • August 31, 1966 -- Click HERE to read the entire article about Walt Harvey and the star-studded football team he returned to coach.

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San Diego Union • September 2, 1966 -- Dave and Ed Herrmann, mentioned above, were two of "Those catchers from Crawford" who went on to major league careers.  

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55 YEARS AGO

San Diego Union • August 29, 1971 -- Well, THAT'S not a happy story.  Susan actually graduated in 1967.  Click HERE for a little more information.

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Dennis Aiken '62

San Diego Union • August 30, 1971 -- "Denny" was a '62 classmate and good friend.  I had no idea he played guard for the Aztecs.  Not a lot of high school cheerleaders go on to be college football linemen.

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