DOWNEY – This was the week, spirit week at Downey and Warren High Schools, in anticipation of the Big Football Game Friday Night, to be played this year at Warren. 

Rotary Club of Downey hosted both schools at their luncheon meeting. Dr. John Garcia, superintendent of the DUSD, summed it up best: “The schools look forward to the Rotary lunch,” said Dr. John, “because they rarely get a chance to see the other team and coaches. This breaking bread together reinforces the unusual nature of this rivalry. It’s intense, but it’s not one of enmity. The schools share in the community.”

“This game strengthens our bonds and relationships together,” said Dr. John. “This marks over 60 years of the match-up, and the remarkable thing has always been, it does not divide the community: it unites it. The city of Downey treasures that special spirit.”

Always an energy-charged meeting, Tuesday’s took up the entire length of Rio Hondo Event Center’s Bob Winningham Banquet Room, filling 14 tables, and the guests outnumbered the Rotarians. Cari White, principal of Warren High, and Tom Houts, principal at Downey, introduced the advisors and faculty supporters, and the coaches introduced the varsity players from each school. The players wore dress shirts, mostly black, with narrow crimson silk ties for Downey. These young people are so poised, well-spoken and focused.  It’s a pleasure to see them with us.

“The truth is,” said Dr. John, himself a Rotarian, “that you will never really forget this day. For the rest of your life, you will remember the 14th of October, 2022.  Please soak in everything you can.” Dr. John knows whereof he speaks: he played his heart out on Downey’s 1985 varsity.  

Not all the competition is in football. Cheer squads from both schools gave us their cheers, pompoms and megaphones encouraged the crowd. I was lucky enough to sit with three members of the Downey cheer squad, who feel their cheering is definitely part of the team effort. 

“We have two sets of cheers,” said Hector. “One for games, one for competition.” Faculty advisor Ashley Ravis came over and showed me a breathtaking video of the tumbling and acrobatics Downey has mastered - they have come in second for two years in a row, in the National Cheer Championships, with the help of Coach Connor.

Jaedyn plans to go to the University of Kentucky; that’s where family members have gone. She will study to become a doctor. Hector is set to go to Cal State Long Beach and major in English, figuring that a clear command of language will help him in his ultimate career in the law. Jacolynn isn’t sure yet where she’ll go, but wants to study criminology. 

“Raise your hand if you went to Downey,” said the emcee. Lots of hands went up.  “How many went to Warren?” Hands were raised, and cheers. The occasion brought out faces we rarely see: Ray Brown; Jim Mogan, DEA president; Bill Kirkwood and wife Connie. Will Medina indignantly told me he went to Warren, not Downey, as I supposed; even Allen Korneff, administrative director of the Downey Community Hospital, came and wore his red Vikings hat. 

Songmasters Doctors Debbie and Dan Fox led us in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and then we enjoyed the “Welcome Song,” everyone going around the room and getting to say “Thanks for coming,” to our guests.

During announcements I showed this week’s book for the Downey Library Children’s room, and I managed to get lots of signatures for it. Dr. John signed with “DHS ’85” beside his name, and fellow Rotarian Assistant Superintendent Dr. Roger Brossmer too. Most of the Warren football team signed, including quarterback phenomen Nico Iamaleava, 6’6’, and some of the Downey cheer squad, as well as their coach and the school Principal Cari White.

Acting president Barbara Lamberth, substituting for Mel Sanchez, closed the meeting appropriately with Rotarians rising to recite the Rotary 4-Way test, led in stentorian tones by John Lacey. “This is what we think and feel and do,” John said. “Is it the truth?  Is it fair to all concerned? Will it promote goodwill and friendship?  Will it be beneficial to all?”

Dan Fox and I have our own tradition: we wear letter jackets.  Dan’s is his own Warren varsity model; mine is my son Jeff’s from 1978 when he was a sophomore, on one of coach Allen Lane’s winning teams. Jazlyn Acebal took our picture for the Rotary Hubbub this year. And here we are from 2018. The amazing thing is that Dr. Dan chooses a different aloha shirt to go with, every time.