Wow, has it been a year already, well nearly a year, since the first Induction Ceremony to the Fillmore High School Sports Hall of Fame?! The Fillmore High School Sports Hall of Fame's second annual ceremony for the inductees was held on Saturday, September 17th at 7:00 pm in the Fillmore High School gym. The gym was filled with family, friends and many of last year's inductees were there to congratulate this year's inductees. The inductees included; one coach, sixteen athletes and five championship teams. I learned that Girl's Softball had even been played indoors in 1925!

The idea of a Sports Hall of Fame came to Fillmore High School Coach Joe Woods four years ago. It was not until the passing of a former Fillmore High School Graduate and student athlete football player Dean Kenfield, (Class of 1940) that Coach Woods decided it was time to act on his idea. Dean was a classmate of Joe's father and the father of 2010 Inductee Vernon Kenfield (Class of 1971). Joe said it was time to get his project started since he had become painfully aware that many of the players from years ago were gone. He formed a committee and began the project in January of 2010 and began this year’s planning the Monday after last year’s ceremony concluded.

In order to be considered for induction into the FHS Sports Hall of Fame there were a number of criteria to be considered by a committee of seven; Dick Mosbarger (Class of 1947), John Scoles (Class of 1959 and a 2010 Inductee), Mike Marostica (Class of 1965 and a 2010 Inductee), Debbie Basolo-Curnett (Class of 1969), Coach Joe Woods (Class of 1979) Lynn Hasty-Cole (Class of 1985 and a 2010 Inductee) and Jamie Arundell Latshaw (Class of 1993 and a 2010 Inductee). For the 2010 inductees the years of 1914 thru 2000 were the years for the nominees to have attended FHS and been involved in any of the sports programs to be considered. This year the years of 1916 thru 1997 were considered for induction.

The criteria to be considered was someone other than the nominee had to nominate the person; the nominee had to have graduated from FHS at least ten years ago; the nominee had to have participated in a sports program at a lower level such as Junior Varsity, or at the Varsity level, or played multiple sports at either levels; the nominee's scoring would be enhanced if the nominee had won any sports awards; if the nominee went on to college weight would be given to the nominee's scoring; a scoring enhancement would be given if the nominee played any amateur athletics after graduation; a scoring enhancement would be given if the nominee went on to play professional sports; and finally, a scoring enhancement would be given if the nominee went on to coach any sport.

The 2011 honorees were:

Teams:
1925 Boy's Basketball, 1925 Girl's Indoor Baseball, 1959 Boy's Track and Field, 1971 Boy's Football and 1979 Boy's Baseball.

Coaches:
Coach Jeff Fauver. Jeff is the son of 2010 Basketball Coach Jim Fauver who presented Jeff with his award.

Players:
1916 - William “Bill” Mayhew
The presenter for Mr. Mayhew was Coach Joe Woods. Mr. Mayhew participated in Baseball, Track and Field, Tennis and Basketball which at that time was played on a dirt court! Mr. Mayhew was born in 1898 in Fillmore and his award was accepted by his Great-Great Niece Ashley Court.

1945 - J.C. “Razor” Taylor
The presenter for Mr. Taylor was Dick Mosbarger. Mr. Taylor participated in Intramural Track, Football, Basketball and Baseball. Dick stated during the WWII years all sports were restricted to Intramural sports and were not plated between schools. Dick told the audience that Mr. Taylor received his nickname of “Razor” during one of his baseball games when it was noted he was performing exceptionally and someone said that he was “sharp as a razor” during that game.

1946 - C.D. “Buck” Basolo
The presenter for Mr. Basolo was his daughter Debby Basolo-Curnett. Mr. Basolo participated in Intramural Football, Baseball and Boxing and later went on to coach Little League in Fillmore. “Buck's” son Doug Basolo (Class of 1968) was a 2010 Inductee.

1950 George Garnica
The presenter for Mr. Garnica was his son Richard Garnica. Mr. Garnica participated in Football and Track. Richard Garnica gave a moving introduction of his father and their family.

1952 - Phillip “Phil” Rice
The presenter for Mr. Rice was his close friend Oscar Wallace. Mr. Rice participated in Basketball, Football, Track and Tennis. Oscar stated that Mr. Rice was probably the most outstanding Basketball player ever to play at Fillmore High School.

1954 - Dick Fredericksen
The presenter for Mr. Fredericksen was Dick Mosbarger. Mr. Fredericksen participated in Football, Basketball and Boxing. Mr. Fredericksen went on to become a Santa Monica Motorcycle Police Officer and after eleven years was forced to retire from a service related motorcycle accident.

1957 - Eugene Reyes
The presenter for Mr. Reyes was his brother Rudy Reyes. Mr. Reyes participated in Football, Track, Cross Country and Boxing. Rudy said his brother went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps, graduated from college and went on to coach many sports.

1961 – Joe Cook
The presenter for Mr. Cook was his wife Lynn Cook. Mr. Cook participated in Track, Football and Basketball. Lynn said she has known Mr. Cook since the fifth grade and he is the son-in-law of the oldest living Inductee, 2010 Burt Davis.

1964 – Tom Hayes
The presenter for Mr. Hayes was Mike Marostica. Mr. Hayes participated in Football, rack and Basketball. His presenter, Mike Marostica (Class of 1965) was a 2010 Inductee.

1972 – Gabriel “Booty” Sanchez
The presenter for Mr. Sanchez was Jack Morales. Mr. Sanchez participated in Football and Baseball. His presenter, Jack Morales, was a childhood friend of “Booty” and told many stories of the type of person “Booty” was. Mr. Sanchez passed away in January of 1983 and that same year the Trustees of the Fillmore Unified School District named the Varsity Baseball Field in his honor. Accepting his award were his family, which included his mother and father.

1973 – Tim Grove
The presenter for Mr. Grove was Coach Joe Woods. Mr. Grove participated in Football, Basketball and Baseball. His award was accepted by his brother John Grove (Class of 1985 and 2010 Inductee) since Mr. Grove lives in Hawaii and was unable to accept his award. Mr. Grove is the fourth of the four Grove brothers to be inducted; 1974 – Eric Grove and 1984 – Dan Grove were also inducted in 2010 along with brother John.

1980 – David Miller
The presenter for Mr. Miller was Coach Jim Fauver. Mr. Miller participated in Football, Basketball and Baseball.

1981 – Roy Lee Alsup III
The presenter for Mr. Alsup was Coach Bruce Dempsey. Mr. Alsup participated in Football and Basketball. Coach Bruce Dempsey (2010 Coach Inductee) coached Mr. Alsup in Football.

1989 – Brad Edmonds
The presenter for Mr. Edmonds was Coach Tom Ecklund. Mr. Edmonds participated in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Coach Tom Ecklund (2010 Coach Inductee and 1994 Ventura County Hall of Fame Inductee) coached Mr. Edmonds.

1995 – Danielle Stines
The presenter for Ms. Stines was Jamie Arundell Latshaw. Ms. Stines participated in Basketball and Softball. Ms. Stine went on to coach softball at the college level. Jaime Arundell Latshaw (Class of 1993 and 2010 Inductee) recounted Ms. Stines dedication to excellence in Softball and how she would continue to practice even after official practice was over.

1997 – April Kozar
The presenter for Ms. Kozar was Jaime Arundell Latshaw. Ms. Kozar participated in Basketball, Softball and Volleyball. Ms. Kozar continues to hold many school records in Basketball. She dedicated her award to her father the late Walker Kozar who was her most dedicated fan!

One of the highlights of the evening for me was to learn more about Gabriel “Booty” Sanchez. Having only lived in Fillmore since 1985 I was aware only that “Booty” Sanchez had the Varsity Baseball Field named in his honor, but I knew nothing of his life. Thanks to his presenter Jack Morales I think I learned something about “Booty” and the dedication he had to his family, friends, Fillmore and sports!

I learned “Booty” was a quiet, but fun loving man and as Jack Morales spoke of him I could visualize “Booty” on a warm Fillmore day at the end of Pole Creek, a cracked wood bat in his hand and his hours of lobbing a rock into the air and batting into the Sespe Creek. This was his form of batting practice over and above what he received at Fillmore High School baseball practice. Jack also talked of the many games of “sandlot baseball” he and “Booty” played together at San Cayetano School. Each time I pass the Varsity Baseball Field and look up at the backstop where the monument with “Booty's” name is displayed I will think of him swinging away at Pole Creek with that wood bat and those rocks flying off of the bat’s sweet spot for what I am sure will be another home run for “Booty”.

Coach Joe Woods would like to thank the following people for their help in the first FHS Sports Hall of Fame event: the many dedicated donors who gave unselfishly; Committee Members, FHS Sports Hall of Fame Club for building the Sports Hall of Fame and hosting the event, the inductees and families of inductees who submitted the pictures for the slide show of each inductee; Drew and Sherri Ferguson for the many hours they spent preparing the slide show and for the placing of the pictures on the trophies; the FHS Associated Student Body and FHS Alumni Association for their financial assistance that made this all possible.
Coach Joe Woods told the audience there is still a great need for donations to complete the funding for future year's event. He asks that anyone considering a donation should send their donations to: FHS Sports Hall of Fame, C/O Fillmore High School, PO Box 697, Fillmore, CA 93016. From all accounts this is a great way to honorably recognize those who have contributed to student athletics at Fillmore High School. Contributions are needed to compliment the many fundraisers that will be held to keep the project going.

Congratulations to Coach Woods for a job well done, ensuring this recognition of student athletics continues to be a success! Also congratulations to all of the inductees and their families for receiving this great honor! In closing Coach Woods told the audience, “If you are from here, you will always be from here. And, as long as I am alive your memory will live on in this Hall of Fame. Fillmore High School is over 100-years old and if it is here another 500-years your memory will still be here in the Hall of Fame!” I had a great time and I look forward to future induction ceremonies into the Fillmore High School Sports Hall of Fame! My only regret of the evening is that I forgot to have a piece of cake that had so generously been provided for everyone in attendance.