Fillmore High Alumni Association

Over six hundred family members and friends were on hand Saturday to see the induction of the 82 former athletes, seven coaches and 18 championship teams into the first class of the Fillmore High Sports Hall of Fame. Those in attendance were treated to a tour of the newly designed Hall of Fame room in the Science Building, which now displays individual pictures of all the 82 recipients as well as of the coaches and the championship teams. Following the tour, the guests were treated to a buffet dinner put on by El Pescador restaurant and then on to the high school gym where the presentations were made.

Although it was a very long evening, everyone agreed it w4s well worth the wait to see everyone inducted. Each inductee was presented with a plaque and a Hall of Fame blazer as resumes of their athletic achievements were read by the five committee members. The championship teams that were inducted were the 1914 baseball team, which was the first championship team from Fillmore High, the 1926 basketball team, 1936 football team, 1940 basketball team, 1945 football, 1946 basketball, 1952 basketball, 1953 basketball, 1970 football, 1975 baseball, 1976 baseball, 1977 baseball, 1977 football, 1988 baseball, 1990 boy's cross country, 1991 girl's cross country and 2005 boy's soccer.

The coaches that were inducted were Mr. J. Wm. Gastrich, who started all the athletic programs at Fillmore High and also was the coach of all the teams. Mr. Eugene "Red" Kennedy who coached many championship teams from the 1920's to 1946, Richard "Toolie" Palmer, who was also inducted as a player, Jim Fauver, Bruce Dempsey, Tom Ecklund and Epi Torres, who also was inducted as an athlete. Many of the inductees commented on how much they appreciated what these coaches did for them while playing at Fillmore High.

Former athletes who were honored came from the class of 1915 with Mr. Harold Mayhew, who was on the championship baseball team down through the next eight decades. The names of all inductees at this year's Hall of Fame ceremony can be found on the NEWS page of the Fillmore High Alumni website at www.fillmorehighalumni.com.

Another Hall of Fame ceremony is planned for 2011 and an announcement of the availability of applications for consideration to the Hall of Fame will be sent out after January 1. Those who applied this year, but were not selected will be automatically considered for next year.