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Every high school can point to at least a handful of its graduates who have gone on to successful and outstanding careers. Oceanside High School has more than its share.

In no particular order, this year's OHS Hall of Fame inductees, who will be honored at 10 a.m., Saturday on campus, are Robert "Bob" Frazee, class of 1946; Barbara Penrod, class of '51; Alec Cory, class of '31; Barbara Gabriel George, class of '49; C.R. Roberts, class of '54; Russell "Rusty" Grosse, class of '53; Jack White, class of '57; and the late Irene Kinne Englund, class of '34.

One of the least known among this year's inductees has the most interesting story.

Encinitas' Irene Kinne traveled north each day to school at a time when Oceanside had the only high school in the North County coastal area.

After graduation, Irene learned to fly while studying at San Diego State and later, Pasadena College. In 1943, during World War II, she joined the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) organization. She was one of 1,047 women (out of more than 25,000 applicants), who earned her wings as part of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Irene spent 18 months ferrying military aircraft and transporting war casualties, as well as piloting planes towing aerial gunnery targets.

Irene was one of the very few WASPs qualified to pilot the big four-engine B-24 "Liberator" bomber, many of which were built in San Diego.

She died of a stroke in 2002 at the age of 85.

Irene's daughter, Julie E. Englund, a retired dean from Harvard Law School, points out her mother's death actually paved the way for her and her sister WASPs, along with 36 other wartime veterans groups ---- including the U.S. Merchant Marines and the famed "Flying Tigers" ---- to receive military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery. For years, those particular World War II veterans were considered "civilians," therefore not eligible for honors at a national cemetery.

After Irene's death, this indignity was rectified. She was the first member of the WASPs to receive military funeral honors. Her ashes were placed beside the grave of her husband, former Navy Lt. Carl Englund, at Arlington National Cemetery.

As her mother lay dying in 2002, Julie flew to New York to be by her bedside.

Julie told Irene the airliner upon which she arrived was piloted by two women.

Unable to speak, Irene simply smiled broadly, satisfied in knowing she played a historic role in pioneering equal treatment for female aviators.

O'side 100 year Celebration, Bob Selby, Class of 1960, submitted February 5, 2007

Hello again; Wow, two messages in one week, I think I'm going to hit a system overload and explode. This much time on one of these computer machines is just draining. But, it's the only way I can clear my conscience. So here it is, the full report of the events that transpired in Oceanside. The 100th year birthday celebration of our high school. Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you...........blah.....blah......Happy birthday to you.

There were so many people that worked on this event, I'm not talking hours or weeks, I mean months. It was a heck of an undertaking and you know what? They are still meeting and working on ways to get in touch with more people and get more particapation. It ended up as a really good show. Originally planned for a Fri. football game and a banquet on Sat. It became another week long get together. For some of us it was even longer. So for those of you who couldn't make it and even for those of you who did, let me shake the cobwebs out of the human CPU and tell you about it.

For me it started on the 4th of Sept. Rushing around finishing up on a fire job for State Farm, then packing every thing into my new service vehicle, a Monte Carlo. I used to drive my van across the country, but because I'm inheritably cheap, not wishing to spread the wealth ( ha ha) too much in the direction of the struggling oil companies, I bought this neat car. With some modifications to the ignition system, some new lubrication and tires, it would get 31-35 mpg on the highway. It actually did better than that on the trip out. The 5th, 6 AM ,my time, away I went. Plenty of CDs to play and a bag of sandwiches, 2 gal of energized and purified well water,(from the kitchen sink), 1 gal. of real milk, ( raw) and down the road I went. Drove only about 800 miles first night and camped out at the Comfort Inn, close to Texas border. On 6th, made it to Holiday Inn, Gallup New Mexico. Still had two sandwiches left. The 7th, Motel 6, Kingman, Arizona. Out of sandwiches. 8th drove in to Oceanside and checked into my home away from home the Holiday Inn. Getting hungry! The first party was planned for that day at Grant and Sally Knox's house for 2 PM. It was the gathering of the South Oceanside Boys, you know the ones who went to South Oceanside Elementry. It was great, Grant was cooking fish taco's. They were really great, I was really hungry. As it was, Grant who also is frugal with his money had this bunch of fish left over from a trip to Baha a couple of years earlier, been in the freezer awhile. Well why let things go to waste??? Feed them to your old friends, what the heck. I didn't care I was hungry. As it went there was also some great beer, left over from that same fishing trip. Don't know the brand tho, lables were all worn off. Caps were sort of rusted. They weren't twist offs, I think they were made before that technology came along. No one had a bottle opener so we resorted back to opening them with our teeth. Darn, as things would have it they just kinda squirted everywhere and got me wet. I didn't care tho, I was thirsty too. The party ended, all had a great time,Sally came home from work, said," who's going to clean up all this fish and beer? Grant, stayed the night at the motel.

SATURDAY the 9th First real day of parties. This was the Pine School re-union in Carlsbad for anyone who went there as a student before it was bulldozed, that is. Those who went there afterwards just had a heck of time finding their room. Actually it was a huge success. Organized by a very dear friend, Carol Hasselo French, class of 53, she and some friends just thought it would be cool to try and get together as many people who went to Pine Street School and just visit. Over 200 showed up, it lasted most of the day. I heard many compliments on the event. It is also something that may be able to be done again in the future.

SUNDAY 10th. Gail Engebrtsen Paulson arrives with the wonder dog. Husband Richard will follow, he has to look after a family friend and will be down to join us in a few days. Karen Tucker arrives, John Eakes and others too, we gather at the Motel. The visiting begins. Later we make our way to Round Table Pizza, ummmmm, I'm still hungry. It was a good night. But the next day was the beginning of the schedual that everyone had got in their E-Mail.

There were some people that wanted to attend but because of prior vacation plans could not make it. Grant and Sally Knox could not attend because of Grant's unexpected demise. Just kidding. Actually they went on a Med. cruise just as things were getting started. Both had a terrific time. Sherry Hansen (61) and husband went on a 6 month, RV tour of this country. How cool is that. This country is so beautiful and there is so much to see that it would be the only way to go if it was affordable. I called them at about the half way point, (either Akron or Dayton Ohio) and they were going into a museum of something, Sherry said it was a super trip at that time. They were suppossed to be back in January, maybe. Diana Vittelo (62) and her husband went to Italy for the month. Talked with her and they also had a fabulous time. Barbara Jantz (63) took the month to visit Ireland with friends. Also a great time. Diane Killourhy and husband spent a whole month touring Europe, haven't heard but am sure they had a terrific time also.

MONDAY 11th. The Breakfast Club meets. The Breakfast Club is a group of people who like to eat breakfast. No dues, no initation, just eat. We started this with out knowing it during The Last Blast. Yeah, one morning I said, I think I will go to breakfast. Gail Engebrtsen overheard me. She said, " can I go to breakfast also"?? I said, "Only if you pomise not to stick your fork into my eggs". She said, "OK", and the Breakfast Club was born.

The first meeting of the Breakfast Club is at the Beachbreak Cafe in South Oceanside. Where the old PepperTree Inn used to be. Best food around, my brother said it is a 5 star establishment. Many agree. First day, just a small group arrived. We had to double up on a table but otherwise no problems, just satisfaction

That night was Pizza night at That Pizza House in Carlsbad. The year before for The Last Blast we had between 30 and 40 there. This night was a better turn out, over the course of the evening over 80 showed up. The fact that the Charger game was on the overhead screen for Monday Night Football helped I'm sure. Most there only paid scant attention to the game however, it was visiting time again. The Chargers were playing somebody, probably the Red Sox. Chargers never win. But wait....hold it one minute....they....ah...is this real?????......they actually won. Hoorah for the Chargers. They would go on to win some more over the season, but so sad in the final games the Chargers would only do what the Chargers do so well and that is lose. Actually I normally make fun of the Houston Titans. The Pizza was good, the wine was good and those who drank beer said it was good too. But best of all was seeing everyone.

This day also was the beginning of the Holdem, Foldem tournament over at Tracy Millers, competition would be aaahsome, in the end, after 6, yes 6, thats six long days a new champion would emerge to hold the title until the next time......... at Tracy's Place.

TUESDAY 12th. Breakfast Club meets at the 101 Cafe. On the corner of Wisconsin and Hill St. More people show up than on Monday. Our force is beginning to be a force to be reckoned with. We will have BREAKFAST!!! Let no one be denied. Accomadations were crowded, but we got thru and with stomaches full we look forward to tomorrow.

That night we returned to one of the most amazing resturants I've been to. It was the Oriental Buffet in front of May Company. The year before none of us could believe what was presented to us. At that time we only had about 40 people with us. Boy did people miss out. This year we had nearly double that, hey if you get a chance this is one place you have to visit. The food is fabulous. There is selection that you can't imagine. We all visited, we all ate, and ate and ..............

A side note: almost every night of this week except Fri. and Sat. night, friends would gather up at my place to just talk and remember the old days. This year we didn't have to keep going down to the ice machine. I brought my own out from home. It's a small one but managed to keep up with as many as 20 people.

WEDNESDAY 13th. Breakfast Club meets at the Surfrider Resturant. Now this place turned out to be a real treat too. After it had been published that this was going to be the place for Wed. breakfast we had several people say that it was bad, no good, foul, don't go there you will die!!!! What were we to do? It was determined to trust that the Health Dept. would have closed it down if a lot of people had died there. Having no death certificates and no bodies or grave stones out front, we took our chances.

Note: At this time I would like to remind my readers that all of us, well not all, but most of us were in our costumes. You know the Old Peoples costumes. These costumes give younger people that uneasy feeling. Especially young waitresses. They are sort of.....shall we say......UN....COMFTOR.....TABLE. Now in these costumes one can have a lot of fun when out amongst the masses. Guys can flirt with cute teenagers,girls, and they are just taking it in, they love it. Girls can flirt with teenage boys, and they just mess themselves. All in fun of course. The only problem with these costumes is that, if you haven't been seen by your friends from high school in say 45 years, well they haven't got a clue to who you are. They say who is that old man, anyway???????? Other than that tho, its a real kick. OK, now back to the Surfrider.

We gather slowly, I'm the first one there. There is only one other man in an old man costume seated. I want to say something but no, I'll wait for him to say something to me. Others start coming in, our group grows and this cute little waitress determines that we are the expected allumni party she had been waiting for. She states that there has been a room in the rear reserved for us. The guys start hitten on her, she studders and tries to act professional. The other man out front in costume makes no move to join us so I figure he didn't go to O'side High. I was wrong. As I would find out on the coming Sat. night, he was an old friend of mine. Don Snyder (57), sister Nedra(60), my class. Don was in my boy scout troop. Troop 117, which met at the Moose Lodge. If only I would have seen thru the disquise. Don was and is still a great guy but it wouldn't be until Sat. nite that I would recognise him. To top it all off we had been corresponding on the net.

The little waitress comes in and tries to take our orders, both boys and girls are giving her a rough time. Asking questions about the legality of the cooks immigration status, does he use real butter or transfats, poor girl wants quit her carreer and become a life-guard instead. Things calm down, she starts to realize that we are just playing with her. She is still up tight but beginning to loosen up. By the end of the meal, which was really good. None of us had the same thing as any one else and everyone said it was goooood. Little waitress got a hugh tip, she smiled. There was only one panic moment for me at the breakfast. This was the 13th, RIGHT? Well something came up in my conversation with Carole Calhoun(she being one of those who refused to wear an old person's costume), that put a very dismal and failing feeling in my stomach. This being the 13th of Sept. meant that I forgot to say happy anniversary to my wife Maria of 35 years. The anniversary being the 12th. ooppps! I mentioned this to the group, hoping for sympathy. None would come. Carole, still not in costume, leans over and quietly, yet very distinctly says, "You're in trouble nowww"!! It kind of had that muscial rhythm like.....NAH..NA..NA...NA......HAH..NA..NAH. I looked into her eyes and said quietly, "yep". To add more to my woes, Gail, says, "No one does that." Donna enters and says, "How could you". Hit-em again, harder, harder!! What could I do? How could I tell the truth, that I do this all the time, some times I wish her a happy anniversary on her birthday which is the 10th of Dec. or wish her happy birthday on our anniversary, usually tho the kids have to call me and remind me of whats coming up. This day tho, I'm up that proverbial waterway with out the paddle. But, wait! I, yes I have a plan. Where is the closest FTD Flourist???? I ask the cute little waitress, she says, "why there is one just across the street, over there she says." I must be living right. Yeah. Get it on. I run.... no I don't do that... I hasten across the street. Running does not befit my costume, hastening is more convencing. I ask the attentent for the catalogue. Red Roses, lots of Red Roses, Send them all, now!!!! I hastily, that goes with my hastening, yes hastily did I write the card. With the usual anniversary greetings and salutations came the excuse, truly a stroke of genius. I explained that the flowers were sent on our anniversary, but do to the time zone differedce she would not get them until the 13th. Back to the group, not hastening, but walking with that smug look of success. There will be no comment in this document that reveals what was said by my loving wife when I got home.

Today also is the re-union party for the class of 61 out at Joan and Jim Randalls house, where the Grand Finale' was held last year. Every one was invited and all had a great time. As usual the food was terrific and someone I don't know who brought 2 liters of real White Lightning, I think that stuff is illegal isn't it? Any way there it sat in the barn. Well do you know that after only a little time, the level kept going down, I can't imagine who would pour it out, the level just kept declining and by about 8PM, it was gone. Maybe there was a leak in it or something. Maybe somebody can get somemore of that stuff and put it in a bottle that doesn't leak. In that old barn it just sort of fit the decor and should be a permanent decoration, don't you think????

THURSDAY 14th This would be one of the more busy days. The Club went to the Harbor House. One of our favorites. Good crowd. Good food and service always. The plan today is to get on the train after breakfast and head down to Old Town. Only about 8 of us plan to make the trip. Out of all the years living in O'side (30) I had never been to Old Town. In fact, the last time I was on a train was 1962. We had a great time. The other passengers didn't know what to think about us. We were rowdy,no we were embarrasing. To think that people of our age would need one of the train guards to watch over us on the return trip. Certainly for our safety but actually I think that they thought we were terrorists. High school children, getting out of school on the way home, boarded the train with us. The lessons children learn from their elders. Shocking, simply shocking. Yes, this day promised to be a banner day. After the guards escorted us to our cars and the local police made sure that we left town promptly and directly. At least no one was thrown in jail. Another benifit of the costumes, the authorities don't really know what to think of you, so you just keep them guessing and if looks like they're catching on, you start talking to yourself and act like you don't know where you are.

This evening is what is hoped to be a super gathering at Hennesy's in Carlsbad. Last year we had a good crowd, enough to take over the whole back room. This year would be somewhat different. I got there early or so I thought. There was already people of all ages there maybe 40-45 at most. Within an hour this place, front, back, sides was stuffed. You had to twist thru the crowd, if on the far side from the restrooms, it could take several minutes just to get there much less wait for entry. The manager said that this was the largest group they had ever had in their history. That is saying something because this is a very very popular place, always busy. I met a lot of new people there that night. Met a whole table of kids from the class of 98. We'd meet again the next night too.

I ran into some girls that didn't wear their costumes. Heck I knew them immediatly. We have a couple of them in my own class too. We even have a guy in our class that won't wear one, Kenny Parsio. It must be in the genes or something of that sort.

FRIDAY 15th. Football Friday Its the big game between Oceanside Pirates and the Escondido Wart Hogs.

Breakfast Club meets..........ah?? I know we met somewhere, I think it was back to the Harbor House. Not sure tho. Well you can't remember everything right???? No, we didn't. It's all coming back to me now. Friday morning it was South Oceanside School visitation day. Thats right. Skip Franklin arranged a tour of the campus that morning at 8 o'clock. Right after the kids had gone into Lock-Down. Around 12-15 people showed up. The Principal was very nice, I mean courteous. She seemed to have a solid grasp of where every thing was and what everyone was expected to do. This, I'm sure made her job easier to perform. The school sure has changed since any of us were there. You know that kids have to be taught how to climb stairs. Yeah, they have teachers aids at every level as the little tykes try to figure out what to do with those little feet, sorta like me failing Calendar 101. If you don't get it right when you're young, you'll just be falling down stairs everytime you get on them. Or what could be worse, the little one's don't really get the concept of the proper moves on the stairs engrained into their pyche. Then later is life when they may have not had to be challenged by the steps for say several years and out of nowhere, with no warning there comes the big unexpected test. A STAIRCASE. You can just imagine the horror in their hearts , half way up and then fear, then panic and possible heart failure. 911 is there but will they have the ability to overcome the terror that has beset them and respond with a scream for help. Yes stairs are there to be conquored by only the most serious and dilegent of little tykes. Our schools have certainly come a long way.

Afternoon at the High School Here the little tykes have emerged as big tykes and their stringent early training on stairclimbing is certainly evident to this observer. Yes only a few of the several hundred that were present, fell off the steps.The university experience will certainly keep these slower ones from failing thru out their lives. Hopefully.

We have been gathered here to purchase tickets for the big game. They are cheaper here than at the game too.

It's almost game time and driving around trying to find parking, wow, what a trip. Gail's husband Richard is driving in their new SUV and because Gail is considered by some to be handicapped, a handicapped parking place would be nice. Sorry, all sold out. OK plan B. Try to find another parking place. Nothing close by so Richard lets us all out near the High School and has to park down town. He will join us if he can find us. We make our way to the football field, hasn't changed at all. Same bleechers, same game board, not the same kids. It's gangland. Finding seats also presents a problem, mainly there are none but after an intense search some places are found. The game begins. Pirates start the first quarter with 4 touch downs. No kidding. Oh by the way you know that score board that I said was the same. Well the same guy who was there when we were there was still operating the score board. Remember the time was always screwed up. This game was no different . The time was never right, even the score got messed up.

By the second Quarter, the Wart Hogs came back with 3 touch-downs. At half time, I was spent, just too much excitement. Lets head to the Jolly Roger in the Harbor. O'side ended up winning the game tho. Anyway, down at the Jolly Roger it was Kerioke time. Not to sure about the spelling, always thought it was a Japanese fish dinner. A lot of people from the game were there, very noisey. So noisey that we had to go down stairs to hear each other talk. Then more people came down stairs, all older people in costumes, none fell down the stairs. Class of 98 kids were there and so was class of 72. Then Cheryl Nuthall started to do Karioke, that looks a little better. Wow, she is really talented, I'm being serious. I'm not up on some the newer singing stars, but I recognise a newer song that sounds good. She was singing a popular song by a talented singer and she sounded just like the original singer sang the song. Cheryl you did good.

SATURDAY 16th.Today is the last day, almost. Breakfast Club to the Harbor House, I think. Well I know I ate some where. The plan was to be up to the High School for a tour of the school. Also a ceremony to honor those deemed to be great representives of Oceanside who went to the high school. Missed the ceremony. Bought a couple of Centennial T-Shirts. Very well done. There a lot of people just milling around, ran in to several friends that I didn't think would be there. All the lockers are gone, kids carry everything around on their backs in packs. Went down to the ole Senior Fountain. Its not much any more. A girl came up to me by the last name of Martinez I think. She asked me about the fountain and its history. She apparently is the historian for the OHS Foundation. I explained that when the fountain was first propossed, it was to be a place where only the seniors could be, there private campus hangout so to speak. Lower classmates could not be there unless invited by a senior. Also, the seniors had a place where they could smoke on campus. That blew her away. You mean kids could smoke on campus? Yes if they were seniors and were in the fountain area. I told her that for years everybody would smoke in the restrooms or go out to their parked cars or just walk across the street to have a cigarette. The teachers had their own lounge to smoke in and when the fountain idea was presented the staff went for it. The first class of seniors to use the fountain was the class of 59. Our class followed and at some point later the smoking thing was done away with. She then asked me my name, I told her and she about freaked. Wow, I've heard so much about you, I can't believe I'm talking to you. Then I freaked out. I didn't know what to say next, I got her card and told her that I would try to write some thing down for her. I think I put her e-mail address in my list, but there are so many names and nothing is in any order. I'm not even sure of her name. As far as writing things down, well as you all know this is the first thing that I have been able to do since I got home.

That afternoon some of us walked down town from the school and found a sidewalk cafe on Mission Ave. Really, a sidewalk cafe. We didn't eat but a few snacks, had some wine and bottled water, It was good. Later a couple of us went over to Robert and Rita Gray's house. It was a get to-gether for the out of towners in the class of 62. A most pleasant afternoon. I saw Gary Hare for the first time since high school. He is another one of those guys who forgot to wear their costume. I think he was feeling a little guilty about it tho. I think he shaved the top of his head so that he would fit in. Get this, he has a daughter, not granddaughter, but daughter that was 12 years old. Three cheers for Gary.

The gathering at the base: A lot of people got there early, me included. The usual sign-in stuff then the usual picture taking stuff, but there were a lot of people there. It was understood that only about 750 had paid their bucks to attend. After only a short time it was very evident that those numbers were about to be expanded maybe doubled. I saw some people that I had not seen in so many years, Don Snyder was one. His sister Nedra also, Diane Puskus, Monte Keifer and his sister Susan. I sat with Willie Buchanan and his wife and got a chance to speak with his mother about her husband. What a great guy he was. Well, I just saw a lot of very important people, important to me. I left early, slept very well.

SUNDAY 17 Breakfast Club decided to go down the coast to a resturant that the daughter of a very close friend of mine worked. It also was the resturant that was owned by the man who sold the resturant to by my business in 1979. I thought it was in Encinitas. I mean it had only been 27 years since I'd been there. The name is "Ts". Soooo....I told everyone that it was Mr. T's in Encinitas. Ah....as it went a lot of people never showed up for breakfast. It ended up being in Solana Beach and well we only had about 12 people. My appologies to all. Next time, I will do better. The food was super, you might like to try it some time. It's at least a 4 star place. If you go ask for Kelly to be your waitress.

MONDAY 18th. I have to head north but first want to have breakfast with Diane Walton, she was a very special girl friend and still is a very special friend. She was a waitress at Herb's for a couple of years. Many of you would remember her. She has been invited to all the events but has had pressing matters that made it inconvienent to attend. Maybe next time. We had breakfast out at the Coyote Cafe in Vista, another good spot. Had a nice visit, then off to Las Vegas for a convention. In another week I'd be home and back to work. The trip home was very smooth. Got into the Rockies just as the early snow storm came in. At 10,000 ft. it snowed nearly a foot. They kept the roads clear and it was just one beautiful ride.

I'll see as many of you as I can in Sept. Love you all Bob

Mike Merritt's Death, Bruce Veteto, submitted October 15, 2006

In 1968-69 while serving as an infantry officer with the lst Cav, my mother sent me a clipping from the Blade Tribune newspaper reporting my friend and 1960 OHS classmate, Mike Merritt had been killed in a car wreck in the high desert of San Bernardino County.

PS: My sisters, Lula (1961), Ginger (1967), Peggy (1969), and I are all proud graduates of OHS.

Memories of Growing Up in Oceanside, Frank Elston, Class of 1941, written April of 2002

Frank is also the son of 1909 graduate, Edith Cotteral.

In the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s, it seemed that Oceanside was a wonderful sleepy little beach town, a wonderful place for children to grow and spend their formative years of life. In the early years there were two main streets. Hill Street (101 Highway) and Second Street (Mission) were the two main streets. If you were standing on Home Street, you could see the Ocean or you could see the mountains, like Palomar or San Jacinto, depending on the clouds, fog, etc. The trees were not very high in those days. Our house was at the corner of 1^st Street and Horneand Myers and Edith Elston raised Vivian, Frank, George and Lura here. Most of the other streets were not paved until the late 1820’s, I think. We rode horses on the dirt streets. The town was so quiet that when you heard the fire bell ring, most of us kids, (if not in school) would run, bike or skate to see the fire. The town was very small then. If my mother wanted me to go to the store for her, I had only to run across the vacant lot at Horne and Mission (which by the way is still vacant), and down the hill to the Red & White Grocery or Toller’s Meat Market. Exton’s Drugstore and Ben Franklin’s Five and Dime were right there and even Dr. Reid’s office was near. Sometimes Dr. Reid, who brought the four Elstons and many of our friends into the world, could be called and he would come in the house to tend whoever was sick. The train station at the foot of Second Street was a big part of life in those early days. You could almost tell what time of day it was by the sounds of the trains arriving in Oceanside. Ted Heath would check his watch to see if the train was on time. Further up the street was Martin’s Meat Market and across the street was Ranson’s Bakery. The Blade Tribune was on the corner of Tremont and Second Street. Still on Second Street, East of Hill Street you could stop at Huckaby’s Department Store. As you continued up Second Street you could see all the houses that belonged to your friends and neighbors. Second Street was also lined with large tall palm trees, which my father, Myers Elston and Park Jolly planted in 1909 or 1910 (some are still standing). It was a very beautiful street. If you traveled south on Horne Street, you could see the Pacific Ocean. One of the pretty parts of town was Plumosa Heights. Alberta, West, Leonard and Stanley Streets were paved in cement in this area, a rarity in Oceanside. Places, now long gone, but special to everyone were the Beach Hotel on Pacific Street, the Bridge Café at the North end of town, the Ice House on Cleveland street, food stands under the Pier, and the Mira Mar Restaurant. City Hall, the Library and the Fire Station were all on one block on Third Street and “Uncle Ben” would tie his horse to a tree across the street. Popular to the high school students was the Palomar Theatre and Sweetwood’s Sweet Shop on Hill Street. The Grammar school and the High school were very prominent in most kid’s lift in Oceanside. Living close to these schools on Horne Street was certainly eventful for the Elston family. My mother was usually at the kitchen sink and the window looking out on 1^st street where the students could park their cars so she could see what was going on, and at lunch or dinner time she would tell us who was going with who. My father, however, use to get quite annoyed after the big rally before the Escondido football game, as sometimes bonfires were lit and trash would be scattered in our yard. We could also watch the Graduation Ceremonies held on the high school front lawn every year. The stonewall that fronted the Grammar school at Topeka and Horne seemed so massive when we were young. Across the street from the school at Horne and Topeka was a very small store where you could buy candy. The yard area pf the Grammar school was just earth. No lawn. This area was dotted with teeter-totters, merry-go-rounds and slides. The High school located at Horne and 1^st streets, did not have a lot of buildings. There were paved tennis courts, dirt basketball courts, and of course, a large track and football field. Across from the football field on 1^st Street was the automotive classroom and bus garage. My mother has told that from this spot our brother, George and his friends would go into our back lot by the chicken coops, through the Eucalyptus trees and down to our back door and out the front door, hidden from the school. One day she counted 10 of them and they all greeted her cheerily as they proceeded out the front door. Ditching class? The auditorium also served as a basketball court and a dance floor for dances. Going to school was for the most part a very memorable and great experience for kids in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s . Growing up in Oceanside most of the kids were never lacking for entertainment. Many kids played kick-the-can, or touch football after school until dinnertime. In the summertime, on the weekends and vacation time, you could go hunting, swimming in the pool in the San Luis Rey River, or swimming in the Pacific Ocean. If you were not going to the movies, there were the dances on Wednesday and Saturday nights located on the floor above Huckaby’s Department Store. Summer nights were spent near the pier and the food stands area or playing volleyball on a dimly lit court.

During the years 1928 to 1936, most the kids were probably like those in other small towns, you had to earn money to go to the movies. I sold magazines like Colliers and Saturday Evening Post. At age 11, I was able to get a paper route with the Blade Tribune-$1.00 a week delivering the paper every afternoon, five days a week. Later on, I got a job delivering milk from Ted Stoke’s milk truck. Everyone in town knows you when you deliver milk you can get away with anything in such a small town. The local police looked kindly on the students and the pranks kids pulled in school, all the teachers have known you since the day you were born—it seemed all the teachers knew my mother since we lived so close by. Since most of Oceanside in this era was residential, the streets were very safe. Most of the families didn’t bother to lock their doors. Some kids who had cars, never bothered to lock them and some even took out the key switch and installed an “on and off” switch. Oceanside, in these early days, was attractive for people to spend their vacations at the beach in the summertime. Before the Del Mar small local harbor was created north of town, Oceanside’s beach was very wide and was kept very clean. People from out of town would camp on the beach or just east of the Strand road. The pier was also a big attraction. A good place to fish from or take the water taxi to the fishing barge anchored off shore. I graduated from high school Spring of 1941, attended Oceanside Junior College and then came Dec. 7^th. Oceanside began changing as Camp Pendleton was established. In November of 1942, I went into the Army Air Corps and returned Dec. 24, 1946 and saw many, many changes to our little beach town. I feel very fortunate to have been born in Oceanside and to have grown up in such a wonderful town. Memories of Oceanside and the people I grew up with continue to remain prominent in my memory bank, primarily due to the wonderful time I have attending the Old Timers Reunion held every year. Edith Swain and her helpers are to be applauded for the work they have diligently done for the reunion at Heritage Park.

OHS is Truly Blessed, Arthur Hemingway, Class of 1978, submitted September 14, 2006

Greetings everyone,
My name is Arthur Hemingway and i am a very proud 1978 graduate of Oceanside High School. During my years there ftom '74 through '78 i've experinced friendship, lots of laughter, inspiration and a special kind of love of your fellow human being. Also i've enjoyed the learning atmosphere while there, whether it be Mr. Ron Collins pyschiology class, Mr. Ken Barnes' p.e. outings or Phyllis Tuller's (Chuddick now) home ec spesialties, every single instrutor, counselor, adminstrator assiociated with Oceanside High along with the district i hold in high esteem---------------thank you.
All my classmates-----------------what can i say or do but, special hugs and handshakes to each one of you for being an impotant factor during that intergaral part of my life. All of you is what makes OHS truly blessed!!!!!!!!!!

OHS ALUMNI IN IRAQ, CWO Michael Aguirre, Class of 1978, submitted August 10, 2006

Small Town, OHS, by Zoe de Crevecoeur Erickson, Class of 1968. Submitted March 30, 2006

I am enjoying working on the Centennial Committee for Oceanside High School. It has given me back the ‘small town feel.’ I remember going to the mall when it was first built in the 1970’s and I always met someone I knew. Now I go there and I wonder where did all these people come from?

I have always been very proud of the fact that my husband and my family are old OHS alumni, starting in 1938 with his uncle, Harry Erickson. He transferred from Riverside as a senior and graduated that year. He served in the Army during WWII, setting up the communication system in the Eiffel Tower when the US retook Paris.

His brother, Jack Erickson came that same year and graduated in 1941. He joined the Army and served as a radio man aboard a B24 Liberator. He was shot down over Germany and was held in a German Prison of War camp for 9 months, then forced marched when the Germans knew that the Russians were coming. One morning, they woke up and all the guards had disappeared.

Their little sister, Pat Erickson was the last of that generation, graduating in 1944 as valedictorian. She later married Jack Vaughan and together they operated Vaughan’s Market on Coast Highway (Hill Street) until their children sold it in 2005 .

In 1965, Pat and Jack’s son, Erick Vaughan graduated, followed by Jack Erickson’s son, Gary in 1964. Gary’s brother, Jim graduated in 1965. My husband, Bob Erickson graduated in 1967 and I graduated in 1968. Bob’s brother, Tom Wes Erickson graduated in 1969, David in 1970 and my brother, Robert de Crevecoeur and Erick’s twin brother and sister, Jack and Jill Vaughan graduated in 1971.

We could have a family reunion at the Centennial. And we aren't the only family. Together with Laurie Nelson Boone and Debbie Martinez Scott, I am working on the Historical Committee for the the Centennial. We have found several families who have attended OHS for several generations. There’s that small town feeling again.‘

Tony Zale, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted February 10, 2006

Lives lived. Paths crossed – and not crossed. I never met Tony Zale. I don’t know if he knew of me or not. But I knew of him. Through the years I felt a special affinity for him.

Boxing fans certainly know of him. World middleweight boxing champion in 1946, 47, and 48. He and Rocky Graziano fought 3 bouts in those years trading the title back and forth. The ‘Man of Steel’ gave boxing a legendary fight in the first title match, when he came back to KO Graziano in the sixth round.

I remember bouncing around in the back of a US Army deuce-and-a-half* on an operation in Alaska in 1969 when I happened across an old copy of Police Gazette on the floor. Trod upon, worn and torn, inside there was an article

with a picture of Tony Zale and his life in Gary, Indiana working with neighborhood kids. He looked and sounded in the interview very lonely. I recall reading a statement about his own kids and he thought, “…they were out on the west coast somewhere.”

Tony Zale died 20 Mar 1997 at the age of 83. I don’t know if he ever knew that I had taken his youngest daughter, Theresa Neri, to the 1962 Oceanside High School Senior Prom. **

** I don’t remember much about the Senior Prom except two things. One was that it was held at a country club that was out by hell and gone in Oceanside. I had never been there before (nor since). And the second was the fact that the greeting school official, I think it was Vice Principal Holton, knew both our names and introduced us correctly. I walked away thinking “How the hell did he know our names?”

Enduring Symbols, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted January 10, 2006

I spent last week in Athens in talks with a client. I had a weekend to kill there since all the flights out of Copenhagen during the weekend were booked and I had to leave Friday (yeah, I know, tough luck! – when life hands you lemons, you make ouzo).

My Greek guide, a lady from Lesbos, met me in Syntagma Square and we wound our way down Ermou St and then a little south to the Acropolis. As we ascended to that enduring symbol of Greek civilization, it was hard not to be reminded of products of that civilization, Herodotus (the father of history), Eratosthenes (the father of geography) and others. Those whose thinking that in my professional journey I’ve stepped on to reach further.

Like you, my professional journey included a time at Oceanside High School. I sat behind Judy S in the fall of 1958 in John Simcox’s Social Studies class. As I recall, it was third period, just before lunch. John, or Mr. Simcox died later that school year, the years too many to state exactly when. I loved the large sign SIMCOX FIELD on the back of the grandstand at the football field. Over the years, I have gone by or through Oceanside between trips here and there and I could always point out that sign and, if I chose, I could say – I know the story behind that sign.

I went through Oceanside maybe in 98, 99, can’t remember the exact date. The sign was gone! I was disturbed to the point of calling the high school and asking. The lady who answered had to ask, and the answer – the name had been moved to the scoreboard. To this day, I feel poorer for the removal of that enduring symbol of one that I had stepped on to reach further.

Oceanside High School Foundation/Alumni Association

Stories by Alumnus

Attention on Deck!

Table of Contents:

Tony Zale, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted February 10, 2006

Enduring Symbols, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted January 10, 2006

Dan sent us a follow-up story, posted January 11, 2006. This one asks
for input from alumni about the fate of OHS students killed in the
Vietnam War.

Oceanside in the Vietnam War, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted January 11, 2006

Panel 22E, Line 103

Oceanside High School Foundation/Alumni Association

Stories by Alumnus

Attention on Deck!

Table of Contents:

Tony Zale, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted February 10, 2006

Enduring Symbols, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted January 10, 2006

Dan sent us a follow-up story, posted January 11, 2006. This one asks for input from alumni about the fate of OHS students killed in the Vietnam War.

Oceanside in the Vietnam War, by Dan Sherrill, Class of 1962. Submitted January 11, 2006

Panel 22E, Line 103

Dan sent us a follow-up story, posted January 11, 2006. This one asks
for input from alumni about the fate of OHS students killed in the
Vietnam War.