"The event is scheduled for Sept. 8 in the school's auditorium. There will be a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 6."
Next group set for Burbank High Athletic Hall of Fame
July 17, 2012|By Jeff Tully,
jeff.tully@latimes.com
A fine group of former athletes have been honored in two induction ceremonies of the Burbank High Athletic Hall of Fame since it was founded in 2008.
Names like Jeff Nelson, Cathy Ferguson, Paul Cameron, Christy Calderon, Ralph Botting, John Musich and Freddy Sanchez have been just some of the individuals who have been permanently enshrined and their honors and exploits displayed in the lobby of the Burbank High gym.
"We have gotten a lot of positive feedback about the Hall of Fame displays that we've put up," said Burbank Athletic Director Fred Cook, who is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Hall of Fame. "I was at the gym the other day and some guy came in off the street just to look at the Hall of Fame displays."
Next fall, a new group of 12 former Bulldogs standouts will take their place when a third induction event will be held.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 8 in the school's auditorium. There will be a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 6.
"We like to make it a real special event," said Cook, who adds to the Hall of Fame every two years.
This year's list of honorees include:
CLYDE RICHARDS
A 1956 Burbank graduate, Richards cultivated a boys' tennis dynasty for the Bulldogs. Along with winning a CIF Southern Section III championship in 1993 — the last title won by the school in any sport — his teams advanced to the division quarterfinals 12 of 13 years. In addition, Burbank captured 13 straight Foothill League crowns under Richards.
JACK LOUTENSOCK
Loutensock was a teacher in the Burbank Unified School District for 32 years. He was the Indians boys' basketball coach from 1958-75 and has the most wins in program history. In 1967, a squad coached by Loutensock and paced by a nucleus of six fine players — Dave LeSueur, Benton White, Bob Saia, Ron Davidson, John Hoofman and Mike Acosta — advanced to CIF Division 3-A semifinals. That year, the Bulldogs won the Foothill League championship and amassed 24 wins.
DAVE LESUEUR
The 1967 graduate was an important member of the 1967 team that advanced to the CIF semifinals. He is the only basketball player from the school to earn high school All-America honors. He also won all-league and All-CIF Southern Section accolades.
RICK ROMERO
A standout in track and field and cross-country, Romero — who graduated in 1964 — was part of a distance dynasty at the school in the 1960s and into the 1970s. He captured a CIF Southern Section championship in the boys' 1,600 in 1964 and was the CIF runner-up in cross-country as a senior. In addition, he was the Foothill League champion in 1963.
JOHN GABALL
The 1965 graduate averaged 20 points a game during his senior season in boys' basketball. He was a two-time Foothill League Player of the Year and was named most valuable play in five separate tournaments.
BRUCE DODGE
A 1969 graduate, Dodge is the only athlete in Burbank history to be named a high school All-American in two sports (boys' swimming and water polo). His Bulldogs teams won two Foothill League championships in water polo and three in swimming. He went later earned collegiate All-American accolades at Cal State Northridge.
JEFF ROSS
An accomplished swimmer who could swim every event, Ross was a three-time high school All-American who captured the CIF Southern Section 100-yard freestyle event in 1972. As a senior, the 1973 graduate was undefeated in every dual-meet race he took part in and still holds the school record in the 100 freestyle.
KENNY WALKER
The 1975 graduate was a standout in three sports: football, basketball and track and field. In football, he was a two-time All-CIF Southern Section award winner and was named a Prep Magazine All-American as a senior. He earned a football scholarship to UCLA.
LOUISE GRONICH
Graduating in 1976, Gronich was one of Burbank's first female athletes to earn All-CIF Southern Section accolades, garnering the award twice in volleyball. She was a three-time all-league award winner in volleyball, also receiving an all-league nod in basketball. She also ran track.
LIN WHATCOTT
Another of the successful distance runners to come out of Burbank. The 1979 graduate captured a CIF Southern Section 3-A championship in the 1,600 in 1979. In addition, he placed fourth in the State Meet in the 3,200 and is a member of the Bulldogs record-holding distance medley relay team.
MARJI GILLES
Graduating in 1988, Gilles is the only athlete in school history to win a CIF Southern Section triple jump championship, taking the 3-A title in 1987. She held the national triple jump mark as a senior and was a three-time champion in the Foothill League.
TODD LEWIS
Along with Nelson, Lewis was one of the most decorated distance runners in school history. The 1989 graduate captured a title in the boys' Division 3-A 1,600 in 1989 and also added a title in cross-country. In addition, he was a state runner-up in the 800 and captured a Foothill League cross-country title.
Also receiving Distinguished Achievement Awards at the Hall of Fame event are longtime football team doctor Bruce Varon and longtime trainer Scott Moro.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 UPDATE EMAIL FROM ALAN LANDROS
I learned today that the Hall of Fame ceremony at 6:00 P.M. Saturday will be in the BHS Auditorium, as it was two years ago for the 2010 ceremony. (5:30 "Meet and Greet" in the Gym, then over to Auditorium for 6:00 ceremony.)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2012
Reception and Get-together at BHS
12:00 Noon to 3:00 P.M.
To be held in the Art Classroom and Dance Room
First Floor in main building at Burbank High
Hosted by David LeSueur '67 and Steve LeSueur '70
5:30 P.M. "Meet-and-Greet"
BHS Boy's Gym
6:00 P.M. Third BHS Athletic Hall of Fame
BHS Auditorium
Hello,
The BHS Athletic Hall of Fame is held each two years in the Fall. The first ceremony was held during the BHS Centennial weekend in September 2008. The second ceremony was in November of 2010. This year the third ceremony is to be held on Saturday, September 8, at Burbank High. Each time there are about 10 or 12 inductees, including outstanding athletes, outstanding coaches, and possibly an entire team from a certain year, chosen from the 104 year history of Burbank High School.
This year some of the inductees are John Gaball '65 (basketball), David LeSueur '67 (basketball), Bruce Dodge '69 (swimming), Marji Gilles '88 (track and field) (she is the niece of our classmate, Ron Grasse), Coach Jack Loutensock - posthumously, and Coach Clyde Richards. Coach Loutensock was the Varsity Basketball Coach from 1958 to 1975 at BHS, and is the all-time winning basketball coach at BHS in it's 104 year history. David LeSueur is the only "All-American" in basketball in BHS history. I had the privilege to originally nominate David LeSueur for this Hall of Fame, and I am looking forward to now seeing him inducted!
Steve LeSueur asked me sometime back to send out a notice to all of our local SoCal classmates to let them know what is planned for September 8, and hoping as many of you as is possible will be able to be at BHS that afternoon and/or evening.
David LeSueur and his wife, Mary, will be here from Colorado, Steve LeSueur is coming from Virginia, Blyden Loutensock and his wife, Susan, are coming from Utah, Mrs. Barbara Loutensock also coming from Utah, Dennis Moselle will be here from Utah, as will Norm Nemrow '72 from Utah. Steve Gregory will be here from Northern California. Tim Tolnay '69 will be here from Colorado. Tom Flavin '65 is coming from Washington state. In addition, David and Steve's parents, John and Delores LeSueur, will be with us for the day from San Clemente.
David LeSueur and Steve LeSueur will be the hosts for the Reception and Get-together which will be from Noon until 3:00 P.M. in the Art and Dance classrooms on the first floor in the main building at BHS.
Our 1970 classmate, Gary Bric, and his wife, Shelley, are the owners of "Gary Bric's Ramp" restaurant in Burbank, located at 7730 N. Hollywood Way, just south of Glenoaks Blvd. and the I - 5 freeway. It is a dinner house known for fine steaks and seafood, but has a full variety menu. Those alums coming from out of town may want to have a meal or two at "The Ramp". You may call 818-768-6499 to find out their hours of business. (Gary is also a Burbank City Councilman, and former Burbank Mayor.)
I am sending this notice to all of our SoCal classmates and a few others, along with some from other classes, and some of our former coaches, also. Hoping many, many of you will be able to join us for this fun day together!
Below I am including Steve LeSueur's message for you to read his words yourself!
Alan Landros
Alan:
As you know, John Gaball (BHS ’65) and David LeSueur (BHS ’67) are being inducted into the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame on the evening of September 8. We are hosting a reception/get together on September 8, from noon until 3 p.m. at Burbank High honoring the basketball teams of 1965 (Gaball's team) and 1967 (LeSueur's team). The event is not just for the players but also for any friends, relatives, well-wishers and former groupies who want to come. This will allow people who don't want to come to the ceremony, which is later that night, a chance to visit and reminisce. We're hoping people from many BHS classes, including our class of 1970, come. Those were great basketball teams and so we think the reception will be a good excuse for people who went to BHS during the 60's to get together.
Details: The reception honoring the '65 and '67 basketball teams will be held Sept. 8, noon to 3 p.m., in the BHS art room and, if needed, the dance room. (The two rooms are right across the hall from each other.) It will be very informal. Any manner of dress will be accepted. Show your tattoos if you've got any.
Alan, please spread the word (I will try to do the same).
Steve
