The Downey High School Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to annually honor by induction those alumni of the School who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding or noteworthy contributions or achievements which reflect positively on the School and to society.

((The listings and notations which follow have been gathered from various sources which were developed at different times, and their differences in format and completeness in NO WAY reflect on the accomplishments of the inductees, but rather only on the info gathered by the editor of this page. ))

First, the LIST OF INDUCTEES _____

-- #1 = 1999
The inductees were
Robert D. Ballard. (1960)
Richard Battaglia (1961)
Donna Boose (1951)
Karen (1967) and Richard Carpenter (1964)
Don Fisher (1944)
Wally Kincaid (1943)

-- #2 = 2000 (Fri May 19)     Details    
Gene Bedley (1956) for Education
Rear Admiral Jay A. Campbell (1963) for Military/Professional
Ronald E. Crawford (1957) for Athletics
Dennis Heath (1964) for Performing Arts
Leroy Harrison Showalter (1936) for Business
John C. Sims, D.D.S. (1932) for Civic/Community
Kathleen Tuttle, J.D. (1971) for Community/Government.

-- #3 = 2001 (Fri May 11)     Details    
Herbert Frahm, 1935, Business Leader and former CEO of General Telephone Co., of Wisconsin.
Mary Lewis Lash, 1946, distinguished 50-year career in Education.
Ann Lawrence, 1962, renowned International Fashion Designer.
Mark Mandella, 1955, Professional, former president of ABC Television Network.
Edgar P. McCaughan, 1944, Community/Civic/Family Leader.
Jo Jo Starbuck, 1969, Athletics and Entertainment, International Figure Skating Champion.
Ken Shelley, 1969, Athletics and Entertainment, International Figure Skating Champion.

-- #4 = 2002 (Thur May 23)     Details     Pictures of the Event
Dean Ackland - 1965 Athletics: High school and college teacher and coach
Elaine (Collins) Rogers - 1944 Art: Watercolor artist
Dr. Christina Fingal - 1970 Professional: Physician and Surgeon, Researcher
Sylvester (Sal) Lorenzetti - 1939 Civic/Community: Owner of local business.
Lon H. Records - 1960 Business: CEO and President of Target Specialty
James D. Zupancic - 1970 Government: Attorney, active in politics

-- #5 = 2003 (Fri May 23)     Details     Pictures of the Event
Dinah Bear - 1969 Civic/Community Government: General Counsel, on the Council of Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President of the United States.
George Horton - 1971 Athletics: Coach at California State, Fullerton.
Carl Kardinal - 1953 Professional: M.D. Specializing in Cancer Research and Treatment
Linda Kennedy - 1962 Education: Director of Curriculum and Instruction DUSD
John Nogawski - 1977 Art: President Distribution, Paramount Domestic Television
John E. Tilley - 1971 Business: National Advisory Boards of many Health Organizations.

-- #6 = 2004 (Fri May 28)     Details     Pictures of the Event
Kirk O. Cartozian - 1991 - Civic/Community: Teacher, Councilman, Mayor
Michael A. Chavez - 1979 - Athletics:
James E. Keasling - 1944 - Professional
Stephen Pentoney - 1977 - Business:
John A. Ritchie - 1979 - Athletics: A posthumous award
Stephen C. Welter - 1972 - Education:
Phil Jones - Special - Education: Teacher, Coach and Principal - A posthumous award

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Secondly, a brief summary their accomplishments __


== 2000 (Fri May 19) ==
The inductees for the 2000 Hall of Fame were Gene Bedley (1956) for Education, Rear Admiral Jay A. Campbell (1963) for Military/Professional, Ronald E. Crawford (1957) for Athletics, Dennis Heath (1964) for Performing Arts, Leroy Harrison Showalter (1936) for Business, John C. Sims, D.D.S. (1932) for Civic/Community and Kathleen Tuttle, J.D. (1971) for Community/Government. Each inductee received a plaque and their picture was placed in the Downey High School Hall of Fame. A permanent tribute to their accomplishments is under construction. Each honoree will have their name engraved in granite and mounted on the "Hall of Fame" wall in the middle of the campus to engender school and community pride. Further, it will emphasize our school's continuum of high achievers by honoring outstanding noteworthy alumni of Downey High School.

Gene Bedley '56, Education: Gene is a nationally recognized educator, and author who has written six books and published over 500 articles on effective schooling, parenting, discipline, and a keynote presenter at thousands of conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. Gene has won the National Principal's Medal award from the Freedom Foundation, the Milken National Educator of the Year Award, the National PTA Outstanding Educator of the Year and many others.

Jay A. Campbell '63, Military: Rear Admiral, Pilot, U.S. Navy. Admiral Campbell received his commission in August of 1967, after graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in English literature. He was designated a naval aviator a few months later. He completed two seven-month Vietnam combat missions on the U.S.S. Oriskany in the F-8. In 1982 Campbell became executive officer of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun). In Feb. 1990, Admiral Campbell became the 27th commander of Carrier Air Wing Two embarked in the U.S.S. Ranger. Deployed during Operation Desert Sheild/Desert Storm, Admiral Campbell led the wing in the first pre-dawn strike on January 17, 1991. His command went on to complete 4,300 combat sorties and helped initiate operation Southern Watch. Admiral Campbell has accumulated over 5,600 flight hours, including 3,000 hours in the F-14 and 1,200 carrier arrested landings. His awards and decorations are numerous.

Ronald E. Crawford '57, Athletics: Water Polo, All American, 3-time Olympian. Ron participated in water polo at Downey High, coached by Pat Tyne. He went on to play for Cal State University Long Beach. He was a member of the U.S. Water Polo Team in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympic games. During that period Crawford was regarded as the number one water polo player in the United States. During his college days he was a two-time All American (1962-1963). In addition, Ron was a nine-time AAU All- American and two-time Pan American Games Participant. He was inducted into the National Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1977 and into the International Hall of Fame in 1983. Currently, Ron is a teacher and coach at Beverly Hills High School.

Dennis Heath '64, Performing Arts: Opera Heldontenor, Conductor, Professor. Dennis is also a Cal State University Long Beach graduate. He sang with the Young Americans and toured throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has performed with such well-known personalities as Julie Andrews, Ernie Ford, Johnny Mathis, the Carpenters and others. He has taught at the Scripps College, Claremont, Cal State University Fullerton and the University of Redlands. A few years ago Heath was heard by famed Wagnerian Soprano Birgit Nilsson, who suggested he limit his teaching activities and encouraged him to pursue the demanding Heldontenor repertoire and convinced him of a career in opera. Since that time his beautiful tenor voice has been heard throughout the world on numerous stages. He still continues to teach at the Theaterakademie and Hochschule for Musik in Munich, Germany.

Leroy Harrison Showalter '36, Business: Banker, Downey School Board member, Downey Chamber of Commerce, Downey Kiwanis, Long Beach Businessmen's Association. Mr. Showalter graduated from USC School of Business. He served his country in WWII as a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy with extensive duty in the South Pacific. At one time near the Marshall Islands, he and his shipmates were forced to live on K-rations for several weeks as all supply ships had been damaged or sunk by the enemy. Mr. Showalter was bank manager and vice president of Security Pacific Bank for over 40 years. He received several awards for community service. He served as a member and as a president of the Downey School Board from 1958-1962.

John C. Sims, D.D.S. '32, Civic/Community: Local dentist, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Compton Junior College and USC Dental College. Dr. Sims had an extensive military service during WWII with the U.S. Army Central Corps 1943-46. He served in Africa, Italy and Greece with a rank of captain. He is the past president of the Downey Dental Academy, three-time past president of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Rotary Club and has 53 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Dr. Sims' biggest claim to fame is as the composer of Downey High's own "Alma Mater," and he still plays a "mean trumpet."

Kathleen Tuttle, J.D. '71, Community/Government: Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, senior prosecutor, author Kathleen is a graduate of U.C. Santa Barbara, a political science major who graduated with highest honors. She received her J.D. Degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1978, and was hired by the law firm of Wald, Harkrader & Ross in Washington, D.C. After approximately ten years in the Washington, D.C. area working for the Counsel of the House Democratic Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs committee, she returned to the L.A. area to begin work with the District Attorney's office. She now heads the Consumer Protection Division of the Bureau of Special Operations. Kathleen is very active in her community of Pasadena and finds time to serve on several committees and boards. She has written a book soon to be published and has written articles for Newsweek, the San Francisco Examiner, the Pasadena Star, the Daily Journal and the Santa Monica Outlook.


=== 2001 (Fri May 11) ===
Herbert Frahm, 1935, Business Leader and former CEO of General Telephone Co., of Wisconsin.
Mary Lewis Lash, 1946, distinguished 50-year career in Education.
Ann Lawrence, 1962, renowned International Fashion Designer.
Mark Mandella, 1955, Professional, former president of ABC Television Network.
Edgar P. McCaughan, December, 1944, Community/Civic/Family Leader.
Jo Jo Starbuck, 1969, Athletics and Entertainment, International Figure Skating Champion.
Ken Shelley, 1969, Athletics and Entertainment, International Figure Skating Champion.


== 2002 (Thur May 23) ==     Pictures of the Event
Dean Ackland - 1965 Athletics: High school and college teacher and coach, legendary basketball coach.
Dean is well-known throughout California as the "winningest" basketball coach. As a coach he has won 12 conference championships and 4 state championships. In 1979 he coached the Downey Vikings basketball team to the CIF championship. Currently he is the Coordinator of Student Activities at Cerritos College. Five times he was awarded Coach of the Year by either the Conference or the League, and in 1999 he received the California Community College Coach of the Year award.

Lon H. Records - 1960 Business: CEO and President of a major company, President of American Cancer Society, American Red Cross Business Volunteer of the Year 2001 Award
As a graduate of Pepperdine University with a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Lon has distinguished himself in the field of business. In 1972 he was employed by Target Specialty Products as a sales representative; today he is the President and CEO. Not only has he been successful in business but also he has contributed to the community by volunteering his services to the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross.

Dr. Christina Fingal - 1970 Professional: Physician and Surgeon, Researcher
Dr Fingal is a highly respected successful family practice physician in Irvine. She is married with two children. Dr. Fingal contributed to vital research at UCLA helping to turn the tide against neonatal herpes infections once considered serious, now easily treated with techniques Dr. Fingal helped to create. She has published numerous scholarly papers on this subject. She is a much sought after doctor who even occasionally makes house calls!

Elaine (Collins) Rogers - 1944 Art: Watercolor artist, published artworks in numerous magazines
Elaine graduated from Ventura Community College. Since then she continued her art instruction under the tutelage of a number of renowned artists, such as Robert Woods, Katherine Liu, Hall Reed to name just a few. Several of her paintings have been featured in popular magazines and art books. She is married with three adult children.

James D. Zupancic - 1970 Government: Attorney, active in politics
Jim graduated from Mc George Law School. He has served as Committee Senior Consultant and General Counsel to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee; and Sergeant at Arms and Administrative Assistant to Minority Whip in the California State Assembly. During his career, Jim has won the Emil Gumpert Trial Advocacy Award, the Max M. Armstrong Memorial Scholarship and the National Moot Court Solicitee Award. Leo F. Mc Carthy, Speaker of the California Assembly states, "Jim displayed exceptional devotion to the responsible discharge of his duties and earned the high regard of all." during his tenure of service at the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. He is currently a partner in private practice in Portland, Oregon.

Sylvester (Sal) Lorenzetti - 1939 Civic/Community: Active member of the Downey community, local business owner
As owner of Sal's Italian Market and Restaurant for 41 years, Sal is well known throughout the city of Downey. He has been a Downey resident for the past seventy-four years. As an active member of the community, Sal is past president of the Downey Optimist Club, served 3 years on the Board of Directors of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, and served as president of Downey Unico. He has received numerous humanitarian awards, such as Man of the Year Award from the City of Downey and from the Downey Coordinating Council for helping youth, Humanitarian Award from Unico National, Outstanding Community Service Commendation from the city of Downey, Certificate of Appreciation from Health and Environmental Committee, city of Downey, two Certificates of Merit from City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and Certificates of Recognition from politicians at every level of government.



== 2003 (Fri 23 May) ==     Pictures of the Event
Dinah Bear - Class of 1969 Civic/Community Government
Ms. Bear is General Counsel, on the Council of Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President of the United States. She received her Bachelors of Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1974 and her Juris Doctorate, from McGeorge School of Law in 1977. Her professional organizations include the American Bar Association where she is chairperson of the Standing Committee on Environmental Law, and she is co-chair of the District of Columbia Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Association. In 1993 she received two awards for her dedication to the preservation of our environment: the Chairman's award from the Natural Resources Council of America and the Distinguished Service Award from the Sierra Club.

George Horton - Class of 1971 Athletics
Coach Horton began his athletic career while a student at Downey High School. He was all league defensive tackle on varsity football and his baseball team tied for league champs. After graduation from high school, Coach Horton attended Cerritos College, the University of Hawaii, and California State University, Fullerton, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. He then attended California Lutheran and subsequently received his Master of Arts Degree. At the present time he is head baseball coach at California State, Fullerton.

Carl Kardinal - Class of 1953 Professional - M.D.
Dr. Kardinal attended the Washington University School of Medicine. His area of emphasis was internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Eleven years later he was selected as Chairman of Medicine at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia, Missouri and was on the faculty of the University of Missouri School of Medicine. At the present time he is head of the Clinical Cancer Research program at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans and teaches at the Tulane University School of Medicine. He has authored and co-authored numerous research papers and book chapters. Dr. Kardinal has been on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for several major cancer research institutes.

John Nogawski - Class of 1977 Art
Mr. Nogawski joined Paramount in 1983, became an account executive in the Division in 1985, and was named vice president, eastern manager in 1990. In 1992, he relocated to Los Angeles as senior vice president, general sales manager. He was named executive vice president, general sales manager of the Division in 1994. In 1999, Mr. Nogawski was selected at the president of distribution for domestic television, a division of Paramount Pictures. He is known as a "driving force in the company" and responsible for the increased prosperity of his division.

John E. Tilley - Class of 1971 Business
Mr. Tilley attended Whittier College and re ceived a degree in biochemistry. After Whittier College, he attended the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy on a NCAA golf scholarship. After graduating from Idaho State in 1977 with a degree in pharmacy, Mr. Tilley returned to Downey, and began working at the Zweber Pharmacies. Six years later he purchased the three-store pharmacy chain, which he still owns today. Mr. Tilley is well known from coast-to-coast. He was president of the California Pharmacists Association, representing 25,000 pharmacists throughout the state. John has testified before congressional sub-committees regarding health care and Medicare. Today, John currently serves on the national advisory boards of Cardinal Health Distribution, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, the American Lung Association and the National Alzheimer's Outreach Program. John is also active in community events. He served on the Downey Chamber of Commerce, supported AIDS walks and programs for disadvantaged children and senior citizens.

Linda Kennedy - Class of 1962 Education
Mrs. Kennedy has been an educator in Downey Unified School District for the past 36 years. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts degree in Education from Pepperdine University. She began teaching in 1966 and became an elementary school principal in 1979. Mrs. Kennedy was principal for nineteen years before moving to the District Office in 1998 as Director of Curriculum and Instruction and the New Teacher Programs. In her present position she is responsible for the K-12 curriculum including the summer school curriculum, staff development, textbook adoption, and many other related tasks. During her 36 years as an educator, she has received numerous awards. She was principal of a California Distinguished School, Master teacher for California State University, Long Beach, the Masonic Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Honorary Service Awards from four different elementary schools.



== 2004 (Fri 28 May) ==     Pictures of the Event

Kirk Cartozian - Class of 1991 Civic/Community/Government
After graduating from Downey High School, Kirk Cartozian attended the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Cartozian studied Spanish while majoring in sociology. While attending Berkeley, Mr. Cartozian was active in numerous student organizations. In 1994, he worked as an Intern for Congressman Stephen Horn in the Washington D.C. office. He earned his degree from Berkeley in 1995 and now serves as an outreach volunteer for UC Berkeley, interviewing prospective students for leadership scholarships.
In 1996, Mr. Cartozian returned to Downey High School. He taught at Downey for seven years and during that time, he was elected to the Downey City Council and continued to teach at Downey until 2003. He is presently pursuing a joint Master in Business Administration/Master in Real Estate Development degree at the University of Southern California.
In his role as City Council Member and as Mayor, Mr. Cartozian serves on a number of city commissions, committees, and boards. He attends countless city, school, and community events and is well known throughout the city of Downey.
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Michael Chavez - Class of 1979 Athletics
Mike Chavez was a member of the 1979 C.I.F. Championship Team at Downey High. He led the team with distinction and honor. If you were one of the six thousand present, who can forget his winning basket with seconds on the clock in the great victory in Long Beach against North Riverside.
He was accorded many honors including San Gabriel Valley League Player of the Year, CIF Player of the Year and L.A. Times Player of the Year.
Michael is justifiably proud of the event in February of 2003, when he and his good friend John Ritchie's jersey numbers were retired, 24 years following the victory at Long Beach.
Following high school Michael was awarded an athletic scholarship to U.C. Berkeley. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science as well as several accolades in the following areas: Varsity Letter, four years1980-83; Honorable Mention All Pacific 10 conference, 1983; Honorable Mention All American, Associated Press 1983; and Co-MVP U.C. Berkeley, 1983
Following graduation Michael has pursued a business career in commercial real estate. He worked for Cushman & Wakefield for 12 years. For the past seven years he has been a commercial broker with Lee and Associates of Ontario. Five of the last seven years he has been the top producer for Lee and Associates.
Michael is married to his wife Diane. They have two children Brook 10 and Carson 3. They reside in Studio City, California.
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Dr. Phil Jones - Hall of Fame Honoree Principal of Downey High School 1986-1994
Phil Jones began his educational career in 1957 as a teacher and coach in the Downey Unified School District. For the next several years he pursued his education receiving his administrative credential and an Ed.D. from the University of Southern California. Dr. Jones served as principal at five middle schools and was at one time the District's Personnel Director.
Phil Jones married his high school sweetheart JoAnn. They were married for 41 years until JoAnn passed away in 1997. They had four children and ten grandchildren, all of who were doted on by their grandfather.
In his professional life, Dr. Jones believed in high visibility on campus. He called it "management by walking around." He used to say, "Don't get caught in the office, you may never get out. If you don't get your paperwork done, stay late." He had high expectations for himself and his staff.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and always a quick punch line. He mentored, inspired, and trusted those lucky enough to be under his leadership. Dr. Jones was always a coach, and he considered his staff as team members.
Dr. Jones' contribution to Downey High School continues to this very day. After he retired from Downey, he suggested and helped to institute the Downey High School Hall of Fame.
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James E. Keasling - Class of 1944 Professional
James Keasling made a commitment while in high school to become a medical missionary. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received training as a pharmacist mate. When World War II ended, he enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of California Berkeley. He earned his M.D. at the University of Chicago School of Medicine.
True to the commitment he made in high school, Dr. Keasling applied for a medical missionary assignment. The United Presbyterian Church assigned him to the Iran Mission at the American Christian Hospital in Tabriz, Iran. He, his wife and two children lived in Iran for five years. During their stay in Iran, Dr. Keasling served on the staff of a 65-bed mission general hospital, providing medical, surgical and obstetrical services to the people of Tabriz and the surrounding villages.
Upon return to the United States, the Keaslings settled in the Midwest, and Dr. Keasling shared his surgery skills as an Associate Clinical Instructor at the University of Illinois School of Medicine. He continued his medical practice in the rural areas of Illinois and often volunteered his services.
In February 1989, the Navy recruited Dr. Keasling and commissioned him a Commander, Medical Corps, USNR, and ordered him to active duty as general surgical specialist. Dr. Keasling served in that capacity for four and one-half years at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Illinois during and after the Persian Gulf War. He then retired to private life.
He now volunteers at a charity clinic, serves on its advisory board and coordinates the free pre-natal care and obstetrical delivery program.
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Stephen L. Pentoney, Jr. - Class of 1977 Business
Stephen Pentoney, Jr., attended California State University, Long Beach, and received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1983. He continued his studies at the University of California, Riverside, receiving his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1987. The Beckman Company funded his post-doctoral research at Stanford University from 1987 to 1989 in the area of laser chemical analysis. Subsequently, Dr. Pentoney was hired into the Beckman Research and Development Group. Over the past fifteen years, Dr. Pentoney has held a several scientific and technical management positions at Beckman.
He currently holds 15 patents and has authored or co-authored 28 scientific publications. In 1997, Dr. Pentoney received an award from Beckman for his dedication, creativity and innovative contributions to technological advancement. At the present time, Dr. Pentoney is Director of Advanced Chemistry at the Beckman Coulter Advanced Technology Center. He directs a staff of scientists charged with developing and evaluating new diagnostic and life science technologies.
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John Ritchie - Class of 1979 Athletics
John Ritchie was a member of the basketball team that won the C.I.F. championship in 1979. He received the D.A.R. Citizenship Award, and upon graduation from Downey High, received a full, four-year scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley.
After graduation, Mr. Ritchie owned a seat on the Chicago Board of Exchange trading in options. He became a partner in World Link Futures and was District Manager for College Bound, an organization responsible for finding university scholarships for aspiring high school student athletes. During this time, he also married his wife, Solange in 1992.
Mr. Ritchie shared his basketball skills by coaching seventh and eighth grade boys' basketball teams. He was an avid fisherman and loved to play golf.
In December 2002, Mr. Ritchie died tragically. In 2003, John was honored by Downey High School when his No. 33 jersey was retired in a ceremony during half time a the Downey-Warren basketball game.
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Stephen Clayton Welter - Class of 1972 Education
Stephen Welter attended the University of California, Davis, and earned a B.S. degree with honors in Entomology (honors). He then attended UC Riverside and received a Ph.D. At the present time, Dr. Welter is a Professor of Insect Biology at UC Berkeley and is Chair of the UC Berkeley Division of Insect Biology. He received the Distinguished Teaching Award from Berkeley in 2002.
During his tenure he has authorized or co-authored over fifty published articles related to Entomology. Dr. Welter's research in plant-insect interactions has helped farmers reduce the use of pesticides for their crops. In his classroom, Dr. Welter stresses the importance of protecting the environment.
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