Prior to Senior Year
The Class of 1973 was marked by a distinctive spirit and organization. It showed greater
creativity and more involvement than preceding classes by raising funds and holding events
throughout its memorable tenure at San Pedro High School. The class provided a taste of antidote
to the apathy that was rampant at SPHS. Activities in our Sophomore and
Junior years, such as the
Junior Class Art Fair, which included paintings, photographs, macrame,
metal sculpture, held in April 1972 at Peck Park helped raise funds.
The class name, class colors were chosen, and the class emblem was created by
Helen Anderson.
The guidance provided by sponsors
Jake Kosheba and
Nancy Wells
steered the class through this time period.
Sophomore Class Presidents:
Helen Bechtol, Carol Benedict
Junior Class President:
Larry Laskey
Summer of 1972
Activities included bake sales to raise funds and painting the benches in Senior Court
maroon and bone. Senior Court was also TP'd at the beginning of the school year.
School year begins with election of Class Officers
Steve Knowlton and
Wendy Waterman were elected co-presidents by receiving
the most votes.
Ervin Frazier, Marie Pilato, Denise Sanchez, and
Mark Wells
were elected to the board by being runners up in the balloting.
Debbie Rodriquez joined them later in the year.
Senior Week: October 16 - 20
Monday: Talent Show arranged by
Dan Mitchell
The class made high profits with an entry fee of a nickle and a dime.
Tuesday: Flag Day chaired by
JoAnn Tominaga, Elisa Wilder and
Noel Tamburovich.
Elisa and Noel made a bright class flag that was flown throughout the year.
Wednesday: International Day chaired by
Nina Marquez.
A gala carnival held in Senior Court with food, games and dances from around the world.
Thursday: Powder Puff Football Game organized by
Steve Knowlton.
Senior girls defeated the junior girls at Dodson Field cheered on by all male cheerleaders.
Friday: Color Day chaired by
Joy Palmquist.
Cars were decorated with crepe paper and tissues then displayed on the girls field. Dan
Mitchell's car won first prize.
October 27: Homecoming 1972
Homecoming was held in late October during the Gardena - San Pedro football game at Daniels Field.
Gina McLendon was crowned Homecoming Queen at halftime. Other members of the Homecoming court were Louise Lokers,
Forrest Shaw, Helen Bechtol, Sandra Gutowski, Piper Hale, and Silvia Tognola.
November: Dark of the Moon
Drama presented Dark of the Moon a dramatic stage play by Howard Richardson and William Berney.
Other Senior Activities
Seniors also enjoyed a picnic at Irvine Park, a snow trip, and a visit to Cinerama during
the course of the year.
March 3 - 9: Girl's Week
Girl's Week was scheduled during the first week of March. Events included a kickoff breakfast followed by
a performance by Ruthie Gordon, feminist and folksinger, in the auditorium, Girl's Day in the Community with
visits to local businesses and schools, a baking contest to raise funds, and a volleyball game where the students
defeated the teachers.
March 22 - 26: A Cry of Players
A Cry of Players was presented by Drama and performed in the round. The playwright, William Gibson, intended the play
to be a fictionalized biography about William Shakespeare's young adulthood which dealt with the struggle young Will
faced in deciding whether to run away with traveling actors or stay with his wife and young family.
March 25: Renaissance Fair
In the mood of the current play production,
A Cry of Players, students, teachers,
and parents joined in the merriment of the Renaissance Age which included olde time sweets,
arts and crafts, gymnasts, an accordian player, and even a minkey.
April 2: Senior Fire
The school Counselor's Office suffered $25,000 damage in a fire that was caused by vandals.
April 7: Welcome Home for John Fer
John Fer, former SPHS graduate and POW in Vietnam for six years, was welcomed home and given
a special presentation at Dodson Field. On hand were a host of dignitaries, including the
mayor of Los Angeles.
April 13: Spirit Concert
A sell-out crowd at the SPHS auditorium listened as the world-famous rock group
Spirit entertained students past all expectations. Concert was performed thanks to the
Cabinet.
May 12: Morp '37
The Prom was "briefly" held at Disneyland Hotel with the Post-Prom held at the Queen Mary.
May: South Pacific
The combined band, orchestra, drama and stage crew presented Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific musical. The
plot centers on an American nurse stationed on a South Pacific island during World War II.
May: Caps and Gowns
The home stretch to graduation became apparent as measurements for Caps and Gowns took place.
Graduates, including
Lester C. Rodan, are measured.
June 5: Senior Supper organized by
Michele Haddix, Teresa Bass, Debbie Rodriguez,
Toni Figler and
Denise Sanchez.
Senior Supper was held in the school cafeteria with a buffet style Hawaiian dinner
of beef teriyaki, Hawaiian pork and fresh pineapple. Entertainment was provided by
graduating Hawaiian dancers. Class presidents Wendy Waterman and Steve Knowlton expressed their
gradtitude to class sponsors Jake Kosheba and Nancy Wells for providing their advice and encouragement
throughout our senior year. 1973 Annuals were presented toward the end of the evening.
June 12: Honors Convocation
Outstanding seniors were recognized with well deserved awards.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Steve Knowlton
Student Addresses:
Toni Figler, Dan Maricich
"Every generation inherits a world it never made, and as it does so, it automatically
becomes the trustee of that world for those who come after." - Robert F. Kennedy
Presentation of Academic Honors, School Awards and Community Awards. Recipients displayed on the "Senior Recognition" page.
Expression of Appreciation:
Wendy Waterman
Recognition of Honorees: Principal David Carter
June 14: San Pedro High School One Hundred-Sixteenth Commencement
Graduation at Dodson Field at 5PM
Pledge of Allegiance:
Wendy Waterman
Student Addresses:
Chuck Wilcox, Sylvia Espinosa, Ervin Frazier
Presentation of the Class of 1973: Sponsor
Nancy Wells
Challenge to the Class of 1973: Principal David Carter
Roll Call for the Class of 1973: Sponsors
Jake Kosheba and
Nancy Wells
Acceptance of Diplomas:
Steve Knowlton
June 14: Grad Night
Grad Night at Disneyland closed the school year and a memorable chapter in our lives.
The Ke-Alian Class of 1973 would move on to new endeavors and adventures but certainly
remember their eventful Senior Year.
SENIOR MESSAGES
ALL MY LOVE AND THANKS TO MOM, DAD, CURT, AND GRETCHEN. I MADE IT! TONI
BEST WISHES TO MIJA, TERRY, AND TO ALL 1973 GRADUATES. LINDA LISMAN
DON’T THINK OF THE HAPPINESS OF THE PAST NOR THE HAPPINESS OF THE FUTURE, BUTH THINK OF TODAY. AND DON’T BE CHEATED OUT OF IT. SHERRI SHRANKO
SLO-DIP, WIGGLE, WAGGLE, POOF. WENDY, TONI, DENISE, MIKE AND MARK. OCT. 19. ‘73
THIS SOCIETY CANNOT TOLERATE MORAL TURPITUDE, LASSITUDE, HYPOCRISY, PLEONASM, AMBAGIOISNESS, PLATITUDES, AND FLAGITOUSNESS,SUCH AS THIS EXEMPLARY OF HOT AIR. CHAIRMAN Y
THE SAN PEDRO FREE PRESS “BUT NO STARCH” IS ALIVE AND LIVING AT NEWPORT BEACH. SAN PEDRO FREE PRESS STAFF
REMEMBER: “HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.” CHRIS HOOKER
MS. WELLS AND MR. KOSHEBA – THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! WE LOVE YOU! KE-ALIANS
TO MONICA, CHRIS AND THE OTHER CHECHER PLAYERS: YOU WERE SENSATIONABLE! ALSO ALL THE YEARBOOK STAFF WERE “GRRRRREAT!!!!” ROXANNE WINTERS
TO BIG BUSTER BROWN EYES WHO HAS BEEN MY CONSTANT COMPANION THROUGHOUT MY LAST YEAR. I LEAVE BARRY’S LOCKER SIGNED, WITH MUCH SACRIFICE. YOUR FAVORITE “RAH-RAH”, ELISA WILDER
TO ALL FUTURE KEY CLUB PRESIDENTS. GOOD LUCK, YOU’LL NEET IT! DAVID GRAHAM
TO ALL COMPATRIOTS: STAY ROWDY AND GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. “STRAIGHT ANSWER” SHEEHAN. REMEMBER BROWN MEADOW!
EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT BANNING, NARBONNE, GARDENA AND CARSON!! THE SPHS YEARBOOK STAFF.
TO THE CLASS OF ’73: TAKE ONLY THE BEST FROM LIFE, ‘CUZ YA’LL DESERVE IT. GOOD LUCK AND HAPPINESS. LUV CINDY
KEEP ON CHUCK’N SR. WOODCHUCKS AND TO THE CHECKER PLAYERS. LUV U SHEF AND ALL YEARBOOK STAFFERS. TO MY DAD, MOM, PUTT AND FAMILY, THANKS!!!! TO MY MON AIMIS: ROXANNE, CHRIS, DAVID, ANTHONY, BRAD AND OTHERS, LUV U ALL. MONICA (THE MON)
GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE TO THE CLASS OF 73’ AND THANK YOU TO: GINA, CHICKEN, THE WOOD – CHUCKERS, KNIGHTETTES, MANY TEACHERS, AND SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL FOR MAKING THIS GREAT YEAR. CINDY STRICKLIN
MR. BERGERON: HANG YOUR NEXT CLASS WITH A DANGLING PARTICIPLE AND PELT THEM WITH SENTENCE FRAGMENTS. THE ALWAYS PERTINACIOUS ENGLISH CLASS. PERIOD 2.
TO VICKY, KIM CINDY, ROXANNE, MONICA, DELLA, DIANE, LORI, LOLA, LUCKY, GINA AND OTHERS. KARL
DENISE, LOVE IS FOREVER OR NOT AT ALL. MARK CHAMPION
ANOUILH IS ENNUI. CORDELL YEE
SO LONG DIRT, TREE, AND BENCH, ALSO MUD. THE WOODCHUCKS
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL UNDERCLASSMEN. A SENIOR
GOOD LUCK JIM, CHUCK, AND JOHN IN ABRAHAM. GOOD LUCK TO MARK, RONNIE, ROBERT AND TOM. KARL MONTOYA
DEAR J.C. I AM VERY FOND OF YOU STILL EVEN THOUGH YOU DON’T THINK SO. REMEMBER OUR FROG FARM? IT STILL GOES. EVEN THE ATTIC TOO. LOVE ALWAYS, PUMPKIN
BEST WISHES TO MY OLD BUDDY, CHUCK GONZALEZ. VERONICA GUERRERO
GOOD LUCK TITANIC: DAVID, ALEX, BOBBY, JIM, FROM THE GIRLS: BETTY MELODY, MARIA, AND AMANDA
TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN DARK OF THE MOON, CRY OF PLAYERS AND SOUTH PACIFIC, GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. AND I’LL MISS ALL OF YOU. LESLYANN HANBEY
FIGHT FOR PEACE. BILL D. CLERK
THEME FROM 1973 YEARBOOK
The wave of the future approaches.
And with it comes the optimism and idealism that is youth.
The wave is the harbinger of the cultural revolution culminating in the establishment of a new society.
Based on friendship and coexisting in harmony with nature.
We starve, look at one another short of breath, walking proudly in our winter coats,
Wearing smells from lab'ratories, facing a dying nation of moving paper fantasy,
Listening for the new told lies with supreme visions of lonely tunes...
Somewhere, inside someting, there is a rush of greatness,
Who knows what stands in front of our lives;
I fashion my future on films in space.
Silence tells me secretly everything, everything.
I have learned about the universe, my world and its people.
I have learned about myself, and I am still learning.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference.
And like a wave we form a crest,
Our adulthood, which carries with it to shore a vision of the future
Full of hope and imagination and abounding with wisdom
Built on adventures and experiences of our adolescence.
As the wave swells and surges, finally crashing along the beach,
We will look back upon this vision characteristic and of the memories in this book...
Elisa Wilder
AROUND CAMPUS