November 2007 News
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Veterans Day 2007: Santa Barbara High Honors Fallen Dons, These Veterans Are More Than Just Names on a Rock
In recent years, Santa Barbara High School has honored its fallen Dons in a Veterans Day ceremony where more than 100 names are displayed on a rock next to the JR Richards Gymnasium. Three years ago, at the annual ceremony, teacher Bill Dodson overheard a student tell a friend, “All they are is a bunch of names on a rock.” Realizing that some students of today could not connect to Dons of yesterday, Dodson thought about ways to make the names real for the students and provide a glimpse into who they were. These were fallen Dons who walked the same halls, played sports on the same fields, sat in the same classrooms, and wore the same olive and gold. They too had dreams of life after high school.
For the second year, in the school’s main hallway, one can see the faces of the fallen as they appeared in their school yearbook. Included is a glimpse of their accomplishments and their dreams. For example,
Betty Stine, class of 1939, was a nationally ranked horsewoman who planned to become an airline stewardess after graduation. During World War II she joined the Women’s Airforce Service Patrol (WASPs) and died in the line of duty.
Alan Wade, class of 1941, was active in the school’s aviation club. He planned on becoming an aeronautical engineer. He was killed in World War II.
John Rivas, class of 1948, played varsity baseball and was active in student government. He planned to become an architect. He was killed in Korea.
Robert Uyesaka, class of 1963, was a member of the Pep Club and participated in student government. He was a cross country runner and played on the varsity baseball team. He was in the school production of Guys and Dolls and he planned to go to college. He was killed in Vietnam.
As he continues to develop this project, Dodson hopes that family or friends can provide more information on the following Santa Barbara High School Dons:
Killed in World War I (name, class)
Albert Strafford, 1907
David Barry, 1910
Harold Webster, 1916
George Sangster, 1920
Killed in World War II
Steward Fullerton, 1934
Bernard Soto, 1934
Samuel Yee, 1934
Henry Cherry, 1935
James Hagan, 1935
James Simpson, 1935
Lloyd Beaudette, 1936
W.M. Harshbarger, 1936
Charles Beaucond, 1937
Edward Salzman, 1937
George Steinhauer, 1938
Jack Dykes, 1940
Robert Renald, 1940
George Ritchie, 1940
Augustus Griggs, 1941
W. Franklin Baker, 1942
Augustine Cruz, 1942
Phillip Garcia, 1942
Charles Rowan, 1942
Robert Twitchell, 1942
Lloyd Weber, 1942
Eswin House, Jr., 1943
Arthur Molenhauer, 1943
Martin Romero, 1943
John Kriger, 1944
Keith Webster, 1944
Jessie Vasquez, 1945
Killed in Korea
Richard McCoy, 1945
Robert Wensley, 1946
Victor Corona, 1949
Gregorio Garnica, 1949
Joseph Uribe, 1949
Killed in Vietnam
Roy Johnson, 1960
Greg Carr, 1967
Dennis Cook, 1967
Larry Lara, 1967
Gary Breck, 1969
They are more than just names on a rock.