Community and GHS Staff Honorees
Jack Mashin - Beloved GHS Coach and P.E. Teacher 1923-1960
“The Fox of the Foothills”
While Jack Mashin was a legendary coach, it was his philosophy of education and of life that endeared him to all who knew him.
In the 1925 El Recuerdo, Coach Mashin reveals his lifelong philosophy of coaching: “The greatest honors that athletes can bestow upon their institution are not in victories alone but in how modest they were in victory and how honorably and valiantly they fought in defeat.” During his years at Grossmont, his athletes won 7 league football championships, 34 league and tournament basketball championships, 3 league baseball championships, and 86 track and field event titles. Jack was admired by all and considered the Dean of Coaches in SD County. Not surprisingly, in 1966, Coach Mashin was inducted in the California Coaches Hall of Fame.
Yet Jack valued each student’s achievements: the 1954 El Recuerdo’s dedication to him acknowledges that “his greatest contribution to Grossmont is his natural ability to reach the average student, fostering in each one an awareness of self-confidence and strength.” He urged all students to be “second to none”.
Both Jack and his wife Virginia were passionate about the value of education. Upon their deaths, they left more than $2 million dollars to philanthropic causes, most to endow college scholarships.
Colonel Ed Fletcher - Grossmont High School Benefactor
Colonel Ed Fletcher donated the land upon which Grossmont stands. Appropriately, the school’s 1922 cornerstone is inscribed with these words: “The school grounds are the gift of Col Ed Fletcher.’” Also, the granite to build the new building was a gift from his nearby granite quarry. The 1923 El Recuerdo dedication to him acknowledges his generosity: “…in sincere appreciation to one whose most generous gift helped to make possible our new and beautiful school building.”
In 1907 Ed Fletcher was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel in the California National Guard. Quickly proving himself a talented entrepreneur, Colonel Fletcher and his business partner William Gross developed the communities on Grossmont and Mount Helix. During his life, he was a driving force behind the road construction and water transportation in East County. In 1934, he was elected California State Senator and served until 1946. In memory of his amazing achievements, several geographic features in East County bear his name.
Merle Donahue - 1929-1962 GHS Choral Director
After arriving at Grossmont in 1929, Merle Donahue quickly became an integral part of the school’s culture, establishing instrumental and vocal music groups and establishing traditions that continue today, such as the Red Robe Choir, the “jewel of the high school’s performing arts department.”
Merle and her colleagues Dorothy Smith and Eva McCarthy Quicksall were instrumental in the creation and evolution of the beloved Christmas Pageant, Grossmont’s gift to the community from 1926 until 1989. Merle’s dedication to the Christmas Pageant began in 1930 when she became Choral Conductor, a role she continued until 1962. The 1962 El Recuerdo acknowledges, “The one hundred and twenty members of the Red Robe Choir, in the Christmas Pageant, all responding to her artistry, make of musical experience a discovery and wonder for everyone.”
The 1957 El Recuerdo dedication to Merle captures her impact on Grossmont by praising her devotion and inspiration: under her “sensitive and precise direction and under the rhythmic pulse of her fingertips, Grossmonters have cherished the fame of their musical triumphs and rewards.”
At the end of Merle Donahue’s career at Grossmont, her knowledge and creativeness had created a vocal department renowned for its high quality of performance. Her impact on her students is exemplified by the lifelong friendships that many had with her after her retirement.
Jim Nichols - 1959-1988 GHS Instrumental Music Director
During his tenure at Grossmont High School, Jim Nichols established an incredible legacy of excellence. The California State Legislature twice commended Jim for his superior bands, a result of Jim’s enthusiasm and dedication to instrumental music.
In 1967, Grossmont High’s Blue and Gold Marching Band won first place out of 281 bands from 40 states in a National Holiday Contest sponsored by Disney. The National Champion band, with a total of 208 students in the band, drill team, and flag corps, performed in 1968 in two shows at the Miami Orange Bowl: the Fireworks Pageant and the NFL Playoff game at the Orange Bowl. At the All-Western Band Review at Long Beach, the largest competitive parade in the West, the band won the Mayor’s Trophy in 1961.
During these years, the bands won 27 Parade and Field Show Sweepstakes, marched in the 1961 Rose Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, 28 Mother Goose Parades. The bands were 11 times Corona, Chaffey, and Vista Tournament of Bands Sweepstakes winners. From 1968-1991, the GHS bands also appeared in 25 SD Charger halftime shows as well as 2 Pro-Bowls. The orchestra, concert and jazz bands received consistent superior ratings at yearly festivals.
In 1998, Jim Nichols was honored by the So. Cal. Band & Orch. Assn. with the Lifetime Gold Award and was the San Diego Youth Symphony’s, as well as San Diego County's, Music Educator of the Year for his lifetime commitment to instrumental music.
Ethel Prosser - GHS Pioneer Educator 1920-1952
Every new endeavor has its pioneers, and Ethel I. Prosser is an essential part of the first 32 years of Grossmont High School.
After attending Pomona College and UC Berkeley, Miss Prosser began at GHS in 1920 as an original faculty member, teaching English and history. She established the El Recuerdo, GHS’s yearbook that first year and served as its advisor through 1927.
In 1926, she helped to establish Circle G, Grossmont’s honor society for high achieving and involved students. In 1922, Ethel Prosser was a driving force in the creation of the GHS Alumni Association. The indefatigable Miss Prosser also served as a class advisor from the 1920’s through 1951, English Department Chairman, and even directed drama productions in the 1920’s.
In 1925, Miss Prosser was named Dean of Girls, a position she held until the late 1940’s. She also created and served as advisor to Girls League, a service club, from 1926-1948 and Senior Board advisor from 1938-1941.
All of Ethel’s accomplishments, however, do not convey the true respect and affection the students and teachers felt for her. As the 1925 El Recuerdo states, “No matter what time or occasion, Miss Prosser, Dean of Girls, is always ready to listen with interest and patience to our many problems, and with a kind smile and encouraging words, gives us just the right advice.”
Her spirit of loyalty, cooperation, enthusiasm, and kindness pervade the school today. Grossmont would not be what it is today without her.
Carl Quicksall - GHS Pioneer Educator 1920-1944
One of the original faculty members of Grossmont High School, Carl Quicksall saw it evolve during his years at Grossmont into a school that students and the community could be proud of.
Born in Kentucky, Carl attended Ohio State and later earned a master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma. He served in WWI in the artillery and left the military in 1920 with the rank of major. In September 1920, he taught math and science in the new school-Grossmont. His calm leadership and kind and wise demeanor inevitably led to his being named the second principal of GHS in the 1924-25 school year.
During his 20 years as principal, from 1924-1944, Carl oversaw or created Boys Federation, Circle G, and the California Scholastic Federation chapter. He also served as a freshman or senior advisor to numerous classes over those years. From 1935-1937, as principal, he oversaw the WPA funded dramatic expansion of the campus with the construction of the Manual Arts Building, the two-story classroom wing of the “Castle”, and the Auditorium-Gymnasium (the Old Gym).
After retiring in 1944, Carl Quicksall was elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, serving two terms in office. In his later years, Carl owned an avocado and citrus ranch in La Mesa.
In the 1941 El Recuerdo, Carl is described best: “GHS’s capable principal…always administrating…forming school policies…advising teachers and students alike…the kind of man to whom graduates return for help and advice.”
Eva McCarthy Quicksall - GHS Pioneer Educator, 1922-1962
One of the most revered and beloved teachers in Grossmont High School’s history, Eva McCarthy Quicksall was born in Ventura and received degrees from Pomona College and Berkeley. She joined the staff at Grossmont in its second year, teaching English and Public Speaking. Very quickly, Eva evolved into a dynamic presence, becoming the drama coach and directing an amazing 5 plays a year.
In addition, starting in 1924, Eva oversaw a Christmas program, which by 1930 had transformed itself into Grossmont’s celebrated and beloved Christmas Pageant, Grossmont’s annual “Gift to the Community”. Eva created and directed all the scenes of the Christmas Pageant until 1939. A much loved presence at the performances, Eva saw every Christmas Pageant from 1926-1987.
Eva, while teaching full-time, acted as a class advisor, and Girls League and Boys Federation advisor. Eva was also involved in the creation of Circle G in 1926. In the early 1940’s, she married Carl Quicksall, principal of GHS. In the 1950’s Eva was a counselor until her retirement in 1962 after 40 years of service to Grossmont.
Eva’s unbounded energy, devotion, and love for Grossmont, its traditions and its students, make her a name never to be forgotten. As the1962 El Recuerdo states , “Thank you, Mrs. Quicksall, for all you have done for Grossmont. Thank you, because you have given of yourself for our benefit.”
Gloria L. Jones - History Teacher 1962-2000, ASB Advisor 1967-2000
Ms. Jones was a caring and gifted teacher and A.S.B. and student government advisor at Grossmont High School. Her passion was U.S. History, and she instilled in her students a love of country, along with the importance of participating in the democratic process.
Strong, determined, and compassionate, Ms. Jones had the ability to get the best from her students, in both student government and the classroom. She showed them "where to look, not what to see", and they loved her for her firm, but caring guidance.
As an ASB Advisor, Ms. Jones solidified Foothiller traditions and school spirit through yearly campus wide activities: Blue and Gold Fridays; classroom competitions; spectacular decoration of the Old Gym in each year’s Homecoming theme; fairs to encourage club participation; amazing Nominating Conventions, and dramatic assemblies such as the unforgettable Traditions Assemblies.
Ms. Jones promoted the highest levels of academic excellence and brought Advanced Placement (AP) classes to Grossmont. For twenty years, she was a leader in AP national exam grading. As a Grossmont District Teachers’ G.E.A. union leader, Gloria led the fight for improved working conditions.
Her smile, laugh, aviator sunglasses, retro hairdo, and determined expression and walk are an unforgettable part of our shared school history. Upon hearing of her death, nearly twenty years after retiring, hundreds of former students shared an outpouring of memories of their beloved teacher, a testament to her continuing impact on her students even today and a testament of a life well lived.
After high school, Kristin Danielson Rhodes attended San Diego State University where she threw the hammer, discus, and javelin as a student-athlete for the Women’s Track Team.
Darcy Arreola Lange had a prestigious career at Grossmont High School: she was a two time CIF San Diego Champion in Cross Country, CIF Champion in the 800m, and two time CIF Champion in the 1600m. In 1986 she won the California High School State Championships in the 1600m in a time of 4:42.77, which stood as the CIF San Diego Section High School record for 25 years.
During Paul Wright’s junior and senior soccer seasons at GHS, he led the Grossmont District League in scoring. When Paul graduated in 1986, he held the school’s single season scoring record with 39 goals. These achievements sent him directly to the world of professional soccer, which led him from San Diego and back again over the next twenty-seven years.
Michael Madigan returned to the public sector in 1999 after spending 21 years with Pardee Construction Company, retiring as the Senior Vice President in charge of Pardee Development Coordination for planned communities including Sabre Springs, Mira Mesa, and Ocean View Hills. In 1999, he was asked by San Diego Mayor Susan Golding to lead the massive 26-block redevelopment project in the East Village of San Diego City, which included the new home for the San Diego Padres, PETCO Park, and the revitalization of the surrounding residential and commercial area.
Associated Press Photographer Steve Starr received a Pulitizer Prize for Spot News Photography for his photograph of Afro-American Society (AAS) protesters leaving Willard Straight Hall at Cornell University in 1969. They were protesting Cornell's perceived racism and occupied Straight Hall on Parents Day weekend, fighting with other students. After two days, following negotiations with Cornell officials, the AAS students emerged from Straight Hall carrying rifles and wearing bandoleers of ammunition. Their image appeared in newspapers across the country and on the cover of Newsweek magazine under the headline, "Universities under the Gun."
Soon after the 2008 opening of the GHS Museum, Bill Woolman visited the Museum. From that moment, Bill has worked to improve Grossmont High School. When his class celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2012, he encouraged them to donate their reunion proceeds to the Museum to purchase a laptop. Then, Bill personally purchased a printer, paper, and toner as well, the kind of generosity that typifies him.
John Colognhi was a respected financial and public affairs consultant to American Indian tribes and a nationally acclaimed fund-raising executive.
Brian Sipe was the youngest player on the 1961 Little League World Series Championship team from El Cajon. However, at Grossmont and at San Diego State, his talents turned to being a football quarterback. At San Diego State, coached by legendary Don Coryell, Brian set numerous passing records. The 1969 team went undefeated at 11-0 and won the Pasadena Bowl. From 1969-1971, he established himself as one of the greatest SDSU quarterbacks ever.
The 1969 El Recuerdo foreshadowed Woody Clarke’s future achievements with Woody’s choice of an inspirational quote: “New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed without any other reason but because they are not already common.” With that thought as a guiding principle, Woody Clarke became a distinguished lawyer, prosecutor, and judge.
After graduating, Connie Baer returned to join her father in teaching at Grossmont in the 1970’s, quickly developing a strong reputation for skill, professionalism, and dedication.
In the 1970’s during a time when downtown La Mesa was feeling the impact of competition from the large shopping malls such as Grossmont Center, Gordon Austin thought of ways to bring people back to La Mesa.
Photographing one of the most spectacular moments of the 20th century, Earthrise, on 1968’s Apollo 8 mission, Bill Anders was one of the first humans to visit the moon.
In 1971, L. Don Shields was appointed Cal State Fullerton’s second President at the age of 34, becoming the youngest university college chief executive in the country. He served as President at Fullerton for ten years before becoming President of Southern Methodist University, a position he held until 1986.
Timothy Miller has spent four decades training surgeons at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he was Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Miller has published over one hundred scholarly articles and more than forty textbook chapters, as well as a novel Practice to Deceive, a Literary Guild selection.
In 1950, a flip of a coin began a journey that would lead Seokjin Choi from Korea to Grossmont High School and to a new life as James Choi Spackman, the adopted son of U.S. Marine Sergeant Clarence Spackman. After arriving at Grossmont at the age of 15 and being placed in tenth grade, James quickly distinguished himself as a diligent student with the encouragement of English teacher George Gross and others. As a senior, James was elected ASB President, and upon graduation, received a scholarship to Harvard College and then entered Columbia University for graduate work.
Dr. Kokernot was an assistant director, Center for Zoonosis Research at the University of Illinois. He received three doctorates, one in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M, one in medicine from Baylor University College of Medicine, and one in epidemiology from John's Hopkins University.
After graduating from GHS, Dan attended San Diego State University, until he was called to military service. After the war, he graduated from San Diego State with distinction and honor, attended Claremont Graduate School where he earned his Masters Degree, and began teaching at Grossmont in 1950, moving to Helix when it opened. In 1958-1959, he worked with the orchestras at El Cajon, Helix, and Grossmont, adding Granite Hills in 1960-61, later leaving to teach at Grossmont Junior College.
Clark was a Renaissance man. During his amazingly artistic life, he was a musician, a musicologist, artist, sculptor, model-maker, nautical historian, actor, linguist, and world traveler.
Even in his early years at Grossmont High School, Bud Held excelled in sports, competing in track and field, baseball, and tennis. In college, he became a superb javelin thrower, earning NCAA titles in 1948, 1949, and 1950. Held was the first American to hold the world javelin record in 1953 and bested his own record in 1955. Bud held 6 AAU national titles and 6 American records in the javelin and competed in the 1952 Olympics.
Bill Davis loved Grossmont High School. It was a love first instilled in him in 1944-48 during his four years as a student and athlete at Grossmont High School, then in 1966-1970 by his four years as a Assistant Principal, and finalized by more than ten years as a Principal from 1976-1988.
Gene Chubb, RCP Senior VP, is a proud and generous alumnus who has demonstrated his love of Grossmont High School through campus improvements.
Martin Donohue received his commission in 1954 through the Air Force ROTC program at San Diego State College and began active duty August 1954. Marty was awarded his pilot wings in 1959 and completed Helicopter Pilot Training the same year. In 1967-68, he served his first tour of duty in Vietnam with the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.
During the Vietnam conflict in the spring of 1964, in a two week period, Ben Cloud flew 12 missions over North Vietnam to gather reconnaissance information of North Vietnam's military activity and received hostile fire every time. Before the Vietnam War, Ben flew with the Blue Angels. When the war began, the Blue Angels were dismantled, and in 1964, when he was sent to Vietnam, he flew the first combat mission in the Vietnam War.
Ellamarie Packard Woolley was an artist and teacher, known for her enameled copper art.
Richard S. O’Brien worked for many years as an Engineer for the CBS Broadcast Company in New York City and retired as the Director of Engineering. Over the course of his career, Richard was the author of many articles on broadcast engineering.
As a student at Grossmont High School, Dr. Inman recalls the “outstanding faculty that taught interactive subjects so that it was easy to understand how they related to each other.” This discovery led him to decide to become a physical scientist who has spent his career as a research oceanographer doing Coastal Science along the world’s oceans.
After high school, Jean attended San Diego State Teachers College, later SDSU, graduating in 1940 with a degree in Physical Education. The next year, she returned to Grossmont to teach physical education.
George Bailey has lived a life dedicated to public service. After graduation from GHS, he attended San Diego State Teachers’ College, now San Diego State University, where he earned a degree in economics.
Miss Coughlin was a foreign service officer in the U.S. Information Agency in Washington, D.C. During World War II, she served in the Women’s Air Force and later was an instructor for Brazilian air cadets in Sao Paulo.
Lawrence spent his career in the San Diego City Schools District in various coaching and administrative positions. During his high school coaching days, he mentored several students who became nationally known athletes. Among them was Hoover High School future Baseball Hall of Fame member Ted Williams. Carr’s 1935 football team at La Jolla High finished its undefeated season with a Metropolitan League Championship. In 2009, the San Diego Hall of Champions posthumously honored Lawrence Carr with a Meritorious Achievement Award for Coaching.
Major General Ritland, deputy to the commander, Air Force Systems Command for Manned Space Flight, was a command pilot with more than 9,400 flying hours to his credit. He devoted 27 years to military service, amassing the equivalent of more than one full year at aircraft control.
Paul T. Mannen graduated during the first decade of Grossmont High School’s existence. In his post-GHS life, he exemplified an ongoing commitment to the business community and to community service at large.
Upon Walter Barnett’s death, The Foothill Echoes stated, “A significant portion of Grossmont’s history passed away with the death of Walter Barnett”, a man who was often called “Mr. Grossmont” because of his love for his alma mater.
After attending San Diego State College and the University of Southern California Law School, Fenton Garfield practiced law in Los Angeles from 1935-1941. In 1941, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he remained until 1946 assigned to duty in Washington D.C. In 1946, he returned to La Mesa and practiced law with his father.
Doctor, mother, dancer, actress, model, fruit-packer-this Renaissance woman did it all. Amorita Treganza’s long life was packed with diverse achievements.