October 30, 2007

City celebrates sporting history

MARIS BENNETT
Contra Costa Times

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 10 days make! On Oct. 17, I met with Tracy Nelson, Laura Jacques and Jim Boccio at the Antioch Historical Society Museum. Jacques is a curator and Boccio is a member of the Sports Legends Founders Committee. Taking a tour of the soon-to-be opened hall of fame proved to be quite a trip back in time as well as a revelation regarding how many professional athletes Antioch has produced.

Nelson, a Los Medanos College instructor and publisher of NelsonNewsletter, thought I'd be interested in seeing what a group of dedicated volunteers had been working on for the past 19 months. Community leaders had invited her to publicize the efforts -- and what efforts they turned out to be. Walking through the former storeroom, which opened Oct. 27 to an enthusiastic gathering, I got not only a glimpse into the past but a look forward, too.

When I arrived Saturday, a double column of Antioch High cheerleaders handed me a blue program detailing the day's festivities. A crowd already had formed, standing in excited groups on the lawn and sitting in folding chairs. A red ribbon, soon to be cut, stretched between the gazebo's twin pillars.

Tom Menasco, another Sports Legend Founders Committee member, introduced Mayor Donald Freitas, who spoke briefly to the crowd. "Is today a great day or what?" he inquired. "What you see today and what existed in February -- the difference is unbelievable! This has met or exceeded all our expectations we stand for in the community and the Bay Area."

Former mayors Mary Rocha and Barney Parsons were in attendance, as well as Stan Davis, Historical Society president, and Founders Committee members Leo Fontana, Dave Sanderson and Eddie Beaudin.

Master of ceremonies John Olenchalk, a former player for the Kansas City Chiefs, read biographies of the class of 2007, the first inductees into the museum's Sports Legends Hall of Fame. George "Bus" Ackerman, a 1920s-era football player, and Jack Danilovich, Antioch High football coach from 1939 to 1949, were inducted posthumously. But a majority of the other honorees were present. They included swimmer Shaun Bogan (two of his Antioch High records have yet to be broken), all-around athlete Jack Garrow, Michelle Gromacki (Cal State Fullerton softball coach), Ralph Holding (baseball player), Ron Pritchard (1965 Antioch High graduate and former Houston Oiler/Cincinnati Bengal), Dwayne Putnam (member of the undefeated Antioch High football team of 1945-46), brothers Gene "Butch" and Rally Rounsaville (multisport players in baseball/football/basketball/track), and 1967 Antioch High graduate Steve Sanchez (another three-sport athlete who coached at Merced and Antioch high schools). Worth Shaw, the first full-time recreation director for Antioch (he held that position for 31 years) and the namesake of the softball/soccer complex on James Donlon Boulevard, rounded out the inductees. Gino Marchetti, who played under the late Danilovich, was unable to attend.

Acrylic-covered photos of the athletes covered the walls at the hall's entrance. Inside, the room is divided by sport (including golf, tennis and recreational sports -- and both high schools). A mini recreation of Bill Mercado's famous barbershop on West Second Street, complete with a chair, tools of the trade, photos and a barber pole, can be seen. Black-and-white plaques containing quotes by such varied individuals as Benjamin Franklin, John Wooden and Arnold Palmer rim the exhibits.

A favorite of mine has to be the little theater, to be dedicated in early 2008, which contains seats from the Christian Science Center and whose walls will be decorated by murals of the original Antioch theaters: the Casino, Stamm, Bridgehead and El Campanil. Western Union telegrams sent by actress Evelyn Keyes and entertainer Gene Autry, celebrating the Stamm's 1948 opening, are preserved under glass. An original staff blouse, pink satin with crystal buttons, sits atop the table containing the telegrams.

Find some time to come down and tour this newest "jewel" in Antioch. Bring your children. You will all be impressed.