Dear Editor:Can you believe this is the 25th year for the Viking Sports Reunions? In 1985, Lash Stevenson's friend, Dan Delaney, from the Bay Area, opened the Stuft Pizza restaurant in Downey. This was a great place to start our Viking reunions. Since then we have had them at many different places. The best place has been at Barbara Stec DesRochers' Country Garden restaurant in Santa Ana. At the 2005 reunion, 50 classmates, teammates and coaches gathered at Barbara's place to watch the 1956 Downey-Anaheim CIF championship football game. Also there was Ron Ammermann, Las Vegas entertainer Fats Johnson, and coaches Wally Kincaid and Dick Hill. Coach Hill told us that he was fighting cancer. He gave an inspirational speech: his message was "Never give up!" We lost both Coach Hill and Ron the following year. On Nov. 13 we gathered again at Barbara's restaurant with another 40 Vikings and their spouses. Allen Layne, who has been involved with various positions at Downey High School for 40 years, was there to tell us about the Downey Hall of Fame. Since 1999, 77 have been inducted. Arvin Wenzleberg introduced Wally Kincaid. Wally was inducted the first year. Wally's illustrious coaching career has influenced so many players and coaches. That night he was visited by former players: Arvin, Scott Iverson, Bill Bogandoff, Dick Roche, Bob Edans, Jerry Dotson, Garry Dougan, Charlie Olander, Gary MacArthur and Bobby Dye. Bobby Dye was introduced by Arvin, who told of his outstanding college coaching career. That is why he has been nominated for the Hall of Fame. Others in attendance: Coach Gus Headington, (coach of the 1957 CIF champion Vikings), Donna Danforth Nelson, Winnie Iverson, Marilyn MacArthur, Tom Penfold, Lin Bjerken, Charlie Carter, Zack McCarty, Ron Russell, Steve Skinner, Joe Sallinger, Fred Peritorie, Bert Ward, Mona Kincaid, Ray and Ann Floyd, Bill Hauck, David Moon, Al Korneff, Greg Slevin and Bill Canada. Barbara and I want to thank everyone that has contributed to these Vikings Sports Reunions. We grew up together, and you are the reason that we continue to have these reunions. We would like to hear from you. Please contact us for information about our class of '56 reunion: Lash Stevenson (lashrffox@mac.com), Barbara Desrochers (Barbara@countrygardencaterers.com) and Donna Danforth Nelson (donnadnelson@cox.net). -- Lash Stevenson and Barbara Desrochers, Downey High School, Class of 1956

********** Published: November 18, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 31