More than 50 years ago, Fox Club members included from left, Blayne Wilson, Jim Quast and Wayne Wilson.
Schools offer students lots of opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities. In 1955, a group of friends at San Jacinto High School formed an informal club to "bring together the young men that had the same interests in athletics and cars."
The Fox Club required its members to belong to the high school's Letterman's Club.
Ron Chapman, said they were also expected to maintain an acceptable grade point average and attend weekly meetings and study sessions.
"The new inductees that were invited to join each year were required to go through a rigorous initiation and had a probation period before becoming a full-fledged member," said Chapman, of Glendora.
Jack Bloggit was the club's sponsor who oversaw its activities with help from elected officers. The group disbanded after the class of 1958 graduated.
"Everybody was in the sports program so that was one of our big things," said Frank Lunsford, of Colton. "We helped each other see how good we could get -- and we ended up pretty good."
Lunsford said the club was named -- and formed -- on the day a group of them found a fox stole by the side of the road. Not recognizing it as a fashion item worn by women of that era, they picked it up and decided to become a club they would call The Fox Club. The Foxes' emblem adorned members' jackets and car plaques.
Although the club doesn't hold official reunions Chapman said many of them meet annually at "The Old Jocks Luncheon," an event open to anyone from San Jacinto and Hemet. He said club members, coaches and friends still in the area get together almost every year.
Several members attended the recent induction of Lunsford into Edward Hyatt Athletic Hall of Fame held by the San Jacinto Education Foundation/Alumni Association. Past members who received the same honor were Stanley Bottom in 2007 and Blayne and Wayne Wilson in 2008.
Original Foxes included Walt Chapman, Don Goforth, Jim Quast, Albert Reed, Woody and Larry Rodriguez and Eldean Rose, along with Lunsford and the Wilsons. Later members were Leroy Bailey, Ron Chapman, Jerry Curtis, Jerry Daniel, Martin Flores, Robin Hoffman, Roy Howe, Bob Moore, Bob Roenicke, Leo Rose, Jerry Towner, George Wright and Bottom.
Anyone interested in contacting the group can e-mail Chapman at chapmanrd@msn.com.
Staging Memories
San Jacinto High School Principal Garry Packham is looking for residents who can contribute ideas to the advanced theater class for a play about the city of San Jacinto.
It will start with Juan Bautista de Anza's discovery of the valley and bring it to current times.
"We are in the process of gathering information and creating a timeline of events in San Jacinto," said Packham. "What we still need are the stories that go with the events that can make the scenes real and entertaining. We need the names and events with real people so that we can put humor or drama into the scene."
This school year will be spent writing the script and the play will be produced next year. Deadline is March 1.
Information: 951-654-7374 ext. 2998 or gpackham@
sanjacinto.k12.ca.us
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