CELEBRATING THE PURPLE AND GOLD
Soon after becoming Ukiah High School's principal in 1987 (until 2005), Dr. Phil Gary became acutely aware of the school's absence of knowledge about its own history and that there were no vehicles for scholarships or recognition of distinguished graduates.
He addressed the issue to Charlie Myers, UUSD superintendent (1990-1996), and in 1994 a dedicated group of educators and community members came together to form the official Ukiah High School Alumni Association to commemorate 100 years of excellence at Ukiah High and to support this continued effort for many years to come.
UHSAA is a non-profit open to all UHS graduates; honorary memberships are available to UHS supporters, employees, faculty, board members and community members. Their vision and mission are to create a sense of history and their hope is to provide financial support to academic departments, for special needs and to develop an ever-growing scholarship program.
On June 6th they will celebrate their 30th year with a dinner at 6 p.m. at the Broiler Steak House, honoring two distinguished graduates: Dan Vilotti, ' 71, UHS student body president and two-time blanket award athletic winner who was appointed to Annapolis Naval Academy and had a long distinguished military career; and Lee Ritchie, '57, a California State Distinguished Alumnus who designed the ra
dio used in NASA's Apollo Space Program.
Ukiah High School's history begins in April, 1893, when The North Pacific Land and Improvement Co. donated three acres ( present- day Pomolita Middle School) for the site of a new high school; in October, D.E. Eagleston was awarded a $5500 contract to build the two-story structure.
In the meantime, classes began on September 11, at the old Baptist Church, a one room building on the east side of Pine Street between Stephenson and Church Streets, with 24 students, 19 of whom were women, with Professor L.W. Babcock serving as principal. Another 14 students were enrolled by October.
The building was completed in August, 1894, and the pioneering class that graduated in June, 1896, with about 50 students, celebrated their commencement exercises in the
Marks Opera House. The class motto was, “We Work to Win.”
Graduates of ` 96 who returned to Ukiah in 1946 to attend their 50th reunion reminisced about their first year—gathering around the church's wood stove, walking long distances to school and having only one teacher, Babcock, who “made them think.”
The original school colors were blue and gold, inspired by the poppies and lupines that covered the grounds… still growing there today.
The school was destroyed in a fire set by an arsonist in November, 1928, and the cornerstone for the new $140,000, 4- story wooden building— on the same site—was laid in October, 1929, with a time capsule inside.
That building was abandoned and consequently demolished in 1976 and the new high school on Low Gap Road was built for $7,339,000 by Wheatley- Jacobsen from Palo Alto.
The original time capsule was opened and its contents were transferred to the cornerstone on the new site in April, 1977.
Myers, ' 54, born and raised in Ukiah, is a member of the UHSAA's distinguished graduate committee.
“It's all about esprit de corps,” he says. “I believe in the purple and gold.”
Channing Cornell, ' 55, UHSAA's president since 2000, lettered in multiple sports and served on the student body.
“Ukiah High taught me about individual participation as well as group participation; I became a team member and learned how to work with a wide variety of people. And, Ukiah is a wonderful place to grow up.
arie Myers, ' 55, a member of UHSAA's distinguished graduate committee, who was born and raised in Ukiah, says she and her sisters were taken good care of at school.
Presently, she is concerned about what will happen to the organization when the old timers are gone.
“We're trying to get new people to join; that's what we need now, more youthful ideas.”
Board member Gary shares her concerns.
“With no board, it would simply stop and that would be a shame. We need new board members to carry this on. Students need support now more than ever now.”
Having spent 40 years in education, working in the field and now as a supporter, Gary says higher education has the ability to not only create greater earning potential for the individual but is also one of the last places where you can have conversations about significant matters in a safe place.
“And that's really a shame because today we've reached a point when discussing issues, they're no longer conversations. It's about this is what I believe and I don't care what you believe.
“School is still a place where meaningful conversations are encouraged and done fairly successfully, at least in Ukiah. There are places in the country, you know, where that's simply not true anymore.”
Marge Davina Thatcher, '54, membership chair, says that donations have increased this year.
Membership presently sits at about 140, as high as 200 in the past, and with dues and donations they have been able to give out approximately $70,000 in scholarships annually in the last few years.
Board member Buck Ganter, '69, says he had the good fortune to get an education at Ukiah High.
“Like Charlie and Marie, I bleed purple and gold. My children are third generation graduates on both sides of our family and they received wonderful scholarships. I'm involved in this organization because I want to pay it forward for what my children received. It was so important to them.
Darlene Simmons, '62, a member of the scholarship review committee, participates in determining those students who will receive scholarships.
“We give out at least ten, $1,000 scholarships each year. It's so rewarding to see students' accomplishments during their four years in high school. We want to help them to continue their education.
“I enjoy helping students accomplish their dreams. A lot of them have gone through great difficulties during their four years in high school and some need a lot of help. It makes me feel good to be able to contribute to their success.”
The Ukiah High School Library is lined with plaques of distinguished graduates from Charlie Myers, '54, in 1998 (the first recipient of this recognition), to Jaime Vasquez, ' 96, in 2012; to Paul Poulos, '51, in 2017; to Laurel Near, ' 71 in 2018.
“It's walls and walls of plaques and they've just added more room so we can add more plaques,” says Gary.
In addition to being honored on the hallowed walls of Ukiah High, those receiving the distinction are additionally honored by speaking at commencement ceremonies.
For further information contact Buck Ganter at 707 367 3502 or arganter@comcast.net.