Karen Etsuko Tachiki (Savel)

Just a few thoughts about my racial/cultural/ethnic experiences growing up in Chula Vista for most of my childhood...I did experience some prejudice and did have a few negative experiences related to my Japanese heritage. I guess it was to be expected in our area with significant military presence. I found living in the Bay Area during college to be seemingly more tolerant of cultural differences. When my family moved to Chula Vista in 1956, my father was told by his real estate representative that she could not sell him a house in the city limits of Chula Vista because of our ethnicity. Well as things turned out, a military man was willing to sell our house to my father and we were able to live within the city limits of Chula Vista. In my very limited exposure to the world outside of my small group of friends most parents of friends were very tolerant of the fact that I was not white and there were some parents who were very very kind to me even though it was not the case for many others. And I am very grateful for those parents who were so kind. I was able to share with some of those classmates the gratitude I felt for their parents at our 50th reunion. I do believe there is a lot of racism in our country and in fact of late quite a lot more than I had thought for nearly 75 years.I recently had a negative encounter while walking in the early morning of a person yelling negative Chinese slurs at me from an open car window. So even today these kind of prejudices exist in our somewhat idlyllic city.I have had the good fortune to travel to many foreign countries and with each of those experiences I have always felt we have the greatest country in the world and would not wish to live in any other country. Today there is a little part of me that is not so sure it is quite as great as I thought it was a few years ago. Hopefully I'm wrong and it remains a country to be proud of. To those of you who have shared your experiences thank you it has been an interesting discussion.

Bruce Wilson

Gary: The only names I recall using with you were Gary, maybe Baldy and ''brother'. Looking back at the old fotos I can see why folks had a hard time swallowing the line that we were siblings, but we tried!

Jerry: The JIB is gone, moved to the south side of K Street and being remodeled as we speak. Now Robert and I were sometimes on the wrong side of the law on certain issue, but gunz. Tell me it ain't so Joe. When I tracked him down a few years back he was living in LA and selling some of his jewelry.

So Terry, a lot of words to say you were not racist. I do not see where anybody said you were. I do not think I am racist either.

It has "generally" seemed to me that generalizing based on one or two cases is a bad procedure though..

BTW, I  did not say you were wrong. I just stated a fact.

A careful look at contemoraneous aerial fotos reveals no trailers in existance in the block where Mr. Fernandez lived.

...

There are lots of fotos of hangings and all the victims in the ones I have seen are black, never white.

Why did so many black people end up living either south or north of CV and so few in CV?

Sampling error?

I

Terry Lee Maple

No one can credibly deny racism in any town in the 1950's when we grew up especially in real estate. You have to experience white flight as I did in the south to understand why white people fear sudden change in their neighborhoods. I lost money on every house I sold in Atlanta because I was the white guy who was the last to "flee". Cultural differences do make it uncomfortable for all races when one dominates. Remember when we were bussed to Castle Park and victimized by the dominant Mexican gangs? My friendship with Biff McClure saved me as he was my body guard when I walked from the bus to first period gym with Biff. Unfortunately, in spite of his own ethnicity, Frank was often the target of the boys whose members fought you until one of them won the fight. Jerry - nice story about Baldy and Lahaye. they were both great athletes. Baldy was the most valuable defensive player on the 1963 football team. I know how good he was as he fiercely tackled me every day in practice. Other team mates will remember that Beckwith was the most inspirational player; well deserved. So, racism goes in many directions. The extremist "woke" generation think only white people can be racists. That's what I was taught when I was subjected to CRT in my Leadership Atlanta training in 1989. It was wrong then and wrong now, and completely counter to MLK, one of my personal heroes. I'm not going to write any more postings on this topic, as the argument never ends. I acknowledge racism, but I don't acknowledge systemic racism as a flaw in our country. We continue to evolve as a nation and we are getting more equitable, more tolerant of others. It saddens me that Kay and Karen suffered racism, but there were a lot of hard feelings after the war against Japan and San Diego is a Navy town. There were lots of good people in Chula Vista who managed to overcome their prejudice. I knew a lot of them in my neighboorhood, a great example of different ethnic backgrounds who became great friends. Our next door neighbor, Marie Sousek, a full-blooded Native American, married a Czech immigrant who served in the army. She was the most wonderful friend of our family who made tortillas with my mother and treated me like I was her kid. The Hispanic side of my family may have experienced racism but it was never discussed. My grandmother wanted us to assimilate and succeed in America as if it were color blind. And, Bruce, I bow to your expertise in aerial photography, and wonder if Franks dad had a trailer in the yard for his mother. It was certainly a humble abode, but Frank lived in a middle class home on Penelope Drive with his mother, sister, and stepfather, Frank Kany. Okay. I've always been an optimist and at 74 I'm not changing.

Terry Lee Maple

Cost is always a factor in real estate. My family struggled after my father returned from the War. He milked cows south of Chula Vista and my brother went to school in Nestor. We lived in a hired hand's bungalow on a dairy and couldn't afford to move into the suburbs until some new, cheap housing was completed in the area across from the property that later became Hilltop Junior High. I recall that my father paid $5K for his home on Carla Avenue with the GI loan. My parents wanted us to be able to walk to school and Carla Avenue was the perfect location for Hilltop Drive School and the two schools planned for the area, Hilltop Junior and Hilltop High. My younger brother and I got to walk to school, but Brian had to ride a bus to Chula Vista Junior and Senior High School. One good thing about the Castle Park area was inexpensive houses and proximity to Castle Park Junior and Hazel Goes Cook School. On the first day of Junior High, my mother and I were waiting with a fresh pair of levis for Brian who, along with his peers, was pantsed by the older boys. Oddly, no one ever resisted this bizarre ritual. Chula Vista occupied a lot of unicorporated area. Our next home was located just outside the city limits on East I Street. By that time, my father was driving a truck for Arden Farms and earning a good union salary. He paid $15,500 for the new home. Good neighborhood schools are still a magnet for families. In those days, California provided a good education from its public school platform. Not so, today. 

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

I saw on the 1966 website that Mr. Schanke and Coach Whitby passed away.  

Terry Lee Maple

Rest in Peace, Wayne. A lot of young men developed the courage to "gut it out" thanks to your disciplined approach to football and to life. We will always remember you. 

Robert Eugene (Bob) Beckwith

Couch Whitby was one rugged coach.  He was tough head to toe.  I liked the way he liked football and the way he laid out his expectations.  He was one of the teacher/coaches that would have been fun to get to know better and spend time with off the playing field.  Guys like him were hard to come by.  He will be missed.

Bob Beckwith 

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi All, I do remember Mr. Schanke and Coach Whitby. They were always on my case because I squirreled around way too much. If I would have paid attention, I would have learned a tad more early on in life (and avoided a few, let’s just say, transgressions) and I could have been a better athlete, well, maybe a better athlete. I did like Coach Myers a lot. He wasn’t afraid to take to the mat and pin me (rather quickly) and anyone else. I remember, vaguely, not vividly, that occasionally coaches and P.E. teachers at Hilltop High and Junior High would shower with all the students. This may have been a way of bonding with students, not sure … Actually, I think they may have been watching for towel snappers like Bruce. Oh yes, what memories I have from my Hilltop days—always exciting, fun, and a bit quirky sometimes. Jerry

Terry Lee Maple

From Addie Maple: Terry's new book Atlanta's Iconic Ape: The Story of Willie B. is live on Amazon where you can instantly upload the e-book or order a paperback. Willie B. was at one time the most famous gorilla in the world. He was featured in the film Urban Gorilla (National Geographic). Terry has written a historial biography of the animal with many details about the biology of great apes. It is the parallel story of Terry's leadership at Zoo Atlanta and its journy to become one of America's best zoological parks. We hope you enjoy it. 

LaBerta King (Forys)

Just ordered Terry Maple's new book and looking forward to reading it while in quarantine for 2 weeks as required for those moving from Victoria to Tasmania, Australia during COVID.  The book looks to be very interesting read after lots of packing and unpacking shipping containers. 

Terry Lee Maple

I remember your good work in our journalism program. I admired your writing skills. I visited on a lecture tour both Melbourne and Sydney in 2018. What an interesting place and very friendly people. Hated the long flight but other than that I would do it again in a heartbeat. Enjoy the book. 

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi Terry, Well done with your latest book--it sounds like a great read. I am adding it to my Kindle to-read list. Also, next time I am in Atlanta I going to head over to the Zoo to visit with Willie B. Junior. Jerry

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi LeBerta, Good to hear from someone Downunder. It does look like Australia is quite serious about the pandemic, which in my opinion is a good thing. I know Australia pretty well, having visited there for work and play (surf) a few times. About twenty years ago my wife and I almost moved to Stirling (near Adelaide). Sydney and Melbourne are great cities and I really like the Margaret River area on the West Coast. In Tasmania, I know Hobart (I love that Salamanca Market) and Launceston pretty well, but my favorite area is around St. Helens on the East Coast. Where are you moving to in Tasmania? Good luck with your move. Jerry

LaBerta King (Forys)

We are moving to Leith, Tasmania, just 15 minutes west of Devonport right on the Bass Strait. Here is a link to the real estate listing for our new home:  https://96beachroad-leith.ljhooker.com.au/ 

And if you think Australia takes the pandemic seriously, the state of Tasmania takes it VERY seriously, and as an island state, has managed to keep COVID out except for a small outbreak over a year ago.  While we currently live in regional Victoria we have enjoyed what Melbourne has to offer and our son lives there. Many of our holidays (vacations) have been spent in Tasmania so finally moving there is something we have looked forward to.  Hilltop High classmates please come visit us sometime once Australia reopens its borders to the outside world, again.

Jim Hawes

LaBerta,

WOW! Great looking house! Love the fountain, big barbie, .....and it has a wine cellar! 

Got me thinking about all the people I met during my racing career from "down under". Great experiences shared.

Did you have any friends at Hilltop that were from, or moved to Australia? I think Julie Murtough was from Australia and I knew a couple of others who were a bit younger than us.

I didn't realize Tasmania was as big as it is! New geography lesson. Never to old to learn!

Cheers,

Jim Hawes

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi LaBerta, Congratulations--that house, and the location, look fabulous. Can’t remember if I visited Davenport, but I do remember seeing the little Fairy Penguins somewhere around there—and tasting some great Tasmanian Wines too. Enjoy. Jerry

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi All,

I got by to see our Civics teacher, Mr. Rice, from Hilltop, parachute on to Coronado beach yesterday. Personally, I hold on to the rail when I go up and down stairs so seeing this 100 years young guy jump out of a plane (yes, attached to another person, but still) gave me the chills. There was quite a crowd, and I did run into some one from the Hilltop class of 61.

Here is what was really strange about the day. After the jump my wife and I hung around Coronado for a while—picnic, shopping, and admiring those neat old houses. Somehow or another we ended up back at the Del and as we left the hotel leaving through what is now the temporary main entrance on the north side Mr. Rice was standing there with his wife and a few handlers chatting with a couple of folks.

I boldly approach him and told him I thought I was in his Civics class in 64 at Hilltop High School and that my two older brothers were probably in his class too. We had a heck of a conversation for probably 15 minutes. At first, he said he didn’t remember me, but after a while he says, get this, "oh yea, morning class, row 3, seat 2", and he sounded sure (actually, I probably was sitting way in the back of class). He was more or less focused on military matters and not so much his teaching career—and he was quite sharp and looked in good shape. He did ask me was I in the military and my stupid answer was I went for a military physical and my dad was in the Navy (I didn’t tell him I got three draft deferments). I was gonna bring up the Afgananistan situation--but no, not a good idea. After talking with him his wife then took a few minutes and chatted with my wife and I. What a great encounter this was—and I am still scratching my head wondering how, somehow, the timing of running into to him synced up. Of course, forgot the selfie and my wife didn’t take a snap either. Go Mr. Rice!!!

Jerry

Bruce Wilson

Rice Crispies or Rice Canyon. Mr. T. only claimed the Canyon in public, but privately he thought he should be getting royalties on the cereal sales. 

"oh yea, morning class, row 3, seat 2" Rice Good Humor{}

Best capture that I have seen.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Hey Bruce,  thanks so much for posting the video of Tom Rice's jump.  It was great to see what we can do when we are 100!!!

Bruce Wilson

Partial McAllister Yanks Reunion.

John, Bruce and Frank

Jerry Olivas, EdD

To the 75^th Birthday Party, Hilltop High, Class of ’64 Animals (and everyone really), What a great get-together we had. Everyone looked fantabulous. A huge thanks goes to all the organizers—especially Sharon, and to Teresa, who allowed us into her beautiful home in Point Loma. The award for ‘still standing upright and being somewhat coherent’ goes to everyone. And the special awards go to: Frank Gregory for continuing to be the most handsome man (I think he had some work done—but that’s fine); Jim Abrams for being totally real (sorry Jim that we weren’t better friends in HS); Scott Crockett for still being chilled (and thank you Scott for that white Willy’s Jeep—and I did get use to the dead deer smell); John Moore for having a great wife and still wanting to be like me; and all of the ladies there that said they would have dated me in HS, but I didn’t ask them (and I think they were being honest--maybe). Honorable mention goes to me for continuing to be a little crazy, but not in a bad way (okay, just a little bad). What’s always interesting when you haven’t seen people for years is that they mostly haven’t changed—and that’s a good thing, I think. I am sure we will all hook up again either on earth or you know where. Go Hilltop, Go Lancers, Go Class of ’64—the best class ever!!! Jerry

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

If you left a lady's black cardigan at the 75th birthday bash, I'll keep it safe for you. Please let me know when you might retrieve it. Thanks. Treasa

Gail Eileen Dillon (Boone)

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

Oh, Gail, I'm so sorry for your loss. The "widows" club is growing too quickly. Remember happy times, cry when you must, and feel the warmth of friends to sustain you. Warm hugs.