Donald Byham:
CLASS OF 1969
Santa Fe High SchoolClass of 1969
Santa fe springs, CA
Rio Hondo CollegeClass of 1974
Whittier, CA
Mayfair High SchoolClass of 1973
Lakewood, CA
Donald's Story
Life
Born and raised in Norwalk my pop and the other dedicated dads built the best ballpark in So. Cal out behind Lake Center next to the cemetary. I delivered the Herald Examiner to the doctors who lived at the State Hospital. The patients used to chase me. My brother Darrol and I always bragged that we lived 13 houses from insanity. My best friends growing up were Larry Hackworth, JayDee Wilfley, Mickey McKenny, and God bless his soul Steve Messerly. My sister Donna married Mike Bishop who happened to be my little league coach. My Pop had heart problems which I inherited and finally died in 1983. He was 55 years old. My Mom was killed by a drunk driver in Visalia Ca. in 1982. Darrol lives in Mohave and Donna lives in Vegas.
After I graduated I went to Hawaii to visit my sister. I was there when the Moon astronauts returned. My life long dream has finally come true. The Angels are World Champs. In my life I have seen Sandy Kofax pitch. Nolan Ryan pitch a no hitter and break Sandys strikeout record. I have seen the Rams win a World Championship albiet in St. Louis. I have seen the Kings come within a bonehead play of winning the Cup. I have seen Wilt slam dunk, Jerry shoot the lights out, Magic be Magic.
I married Wendy Hawkins of Lakewood in 1976 we divorced in 1978. I wish her well. I have been with JoAnn Espinoza from Rosemead since 1980. We were married in 1983. We have a son who is 16 now and a daughter who is 13. Donald and Doris are my greatest accomplishments. I think the worlds a better place for their being here. We have lived in Washington for almost six years now. I am simi retired. I've had a pretty good life all things considered. Each of you, although we haven't kept in touch are woven into the fabric of that life and I value the memories.
School
I went to Lakeland elementary with people like Mike Klausman, Scott Veeder, Vicki and Ronnie Belevance, Dennis McGonigle, Dave Duncan, Bob Monroe, and Buddy Ogden. I went to Lake Center JH where Bruce Stern used to run around the gym class punching everyone in the nuts. The aforementioned Bob Monroe and Buddy donated their water pistol collection to Mr. Robsen. Donny Peterson broke my arm in three places playing flag football. I got my first kisses from Carol Salatich and Patty Perez. I got into my first fight and Eldon Blake chipped my tooth. When I got to Santa Fe I was lucky enough to have as friends Victor Reyes and Herb Harris as well as Earl Guinn. They were older than me and they transported me to all the games. I remember Chuck Cunningham sitting in the locker room with his pecker in his hand and when asked "What ya doin Chuck" replys "looken for black heads...Expand for more
" I remember Mike Klausman with his pants around his ankles standing in front of the girls tennis class. I remember going to Leonard Dillons place after a summer league basketball game and his sister Jane having a party with Alexis and some dude in the bathtub doin it. I remember going to Gary Taylors house and making cocktails with his Mom's gallon of vodka and refilling the bottle with water. I remember JR Bolt stabing me in the ass with a BIC pen. I remember coach Lum hitting me in the head because I didn't get a rebound. Bet you didn't know I had a crush on Linda Brilhart. Bet Linda Brilhart didn't know I existed. Ditto for Christy Dietrich. I tried so hard to have Danny introduce us. Funny how I found time to play five hours of basketball every night but couldn't find time to do homework. Funny how the five hours of basketball never made me better. Funny how I've only seen Jeff Pinsky in the last thirty years.
College
I wanted to be a forest ranger but decided for $700 a month the 10,000 pre-requisites I needed were not a productive use of my time. Besides I met Wendy and she was a hell of a lot more interesting than how many pairs of glasses Teddy Rosevelt took to San Juan hill. The most vivid memory of my so called college career was the night Wendy and I went to a dance a Rio Hondo and ended up in Legg Lake Park under a kazillion watt light from the police helicopter hovering overhead with the guy yelling get off. I did. We were still wiping up when the security patrol approached and gave us tickets for parking after hours.
Workplace
Although I worked for the City of Norwalk during the summer of my junior year and they wanted me to continue, I instead went to work for Yamaha and waited to be drafted. Three years later I missed the draft by six numbers so I went to Rio Hondo. Then I met Wendy and bought a car so back to work I went. Two Guys Dept. Store in So.Gate. In 1975 I went to work for Northrop and married Wendy. We divorced in 78. I spent the next 20 years at Garrett in Torrance where I spent most my time in engineering and materials. I met JoAnn in 1980 and we've been married ever since 1983. I think I got it right this time. I got sick in 92, (Heart troubles) and was laid off in 97. Came to Washington to work for Boeing got sick again. Got laid off again. Have been in Washington five years now.
My life has been pretty much defined by my job and the idea that I was making a difference. I have since come to the realization that no matter how hard you work if your health sucks then you pretty much have wasted your time. I now concentrate on the things that matter most, Wife, Kids and what remains of my family.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Donald was invited to the
495 invitees
Register for Free to view all events!