POINT LOMA HIGH SCHOOL

 Foundation and Alumni Association

eUpdate February 2009

Dear Pointer, 

It is our hope to provide PLHS alumni a way to keep in touch with Pointers past and present and to continue the legacy and history of PLHS for future Pointers.  We are working with alums from all decades on a new permanent Memorabilia display for Room 301 on campus. There is an incredible archive of old photos, newspapers and Pointer 'artifacts' that we are sorting through.  Read below for more info on this project. 

In this Issue:

Alumni Memorabilia display at PLHS. 

Dog Bites: Pointers in the news. 

 Jeffrey Bennett '76 - on Galileo and a cosmic perspective

 Eric Allen '83- inducted into SD Breitbard Hall of Fame 

Class of 63 gift to PLHS completes digital classroom project!

PLHS Spring Sports:

 Sail Team wins big!

 Men's Basketball and Women's Soccer head to playoffs. 

In Memory of Deceased Pointers

Reunions being planned for Classes of '59, '64, '69, '79, '84, '99.  For Reunion Info:  Click here  

Go Pointers!

Kim Melhorn Jessop '73
Executive Director

Pointer Memorabilia to be on permanent display at PLHS  

Vickie Vaughn '63 heads up effort to sort, identify and display 80+ years of PLHS history.

Room 301 on the Point Loma campus is used as a conference, meeting and activity room by many student, staff, and community groups. PLHSFAA hopes this room will soon be known as the "The Alumni History Room."
 
Decorations chair Vickie Vaughn Fay and Executive Director Kim Jessop welcomed a group of volunteers to the room on a recent evening, and together they began work to transform the room, featuring memorabilia dating back to our alma mater's opening in the 1920's.
 
Volunteers sifted through a small amount of the numerous artifacts and materials gathered by PLHSFAA over the years.  Some items were taken home for extensive repair and restoration.
 
It is hoped that displays from every decade of Pointer history can be featured, with space reserved for present students and recent graduates. 
 
Kim observed that artifacts such as old yearbooks, sports paraphernalia, documents and photographs seem to transfix alumni at events such as the annual Homecoming Barbecue.
 
"This interest shows what is meant when we say, 'Once a Pointer, always a Pointer,'" Kim summarized.
 
Visitors will now gaze upon walls that reflect the rich history of Point Loma High School.  And alumni wishing to reminisce will hopefully be drawn to the decorated classroom as well.
 

-Story/photos by Scott Hopkins, PLHSFAA Communications Director

Dog Bites - Pointers in the News

Eric Allen (1983) Pointer football star and alum was recently inducted into the Breitbard San Diego Hall of Fame.
But it's not Allen's first such honor. He already is a member of the Arizona State and Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) Halls of Fame.
 
After hearing legendary football coach Bennie Edens speak to ninth-graders in 1980 at the former Dana Junior High, Allen and a group of friends who played Pop Warner football together in Southeast San Diego decided to play for Edens at Point Loma. By his senior season, Allen, a running back and cornerback, played a part in Edens revamping his offense to take advantage of the team's athletic skills.  The result?  An undefeated season for the Pointers. 
 
Allen went on to stardom at Arizona State, helping the Sun Devils win a Pac-10 championship.  His crucial interception in the 1987 Rose Bowl helped defeat Michigan.
 
Drafted as a cornerback by Philadelphia, Allen spent most of his 14-year NFL career with the Eagles.  He holds team records for interception returns for touchdowns in a career (5), a season (4 in 1993) and shares the franchise record with 34 career interceptions.
 
Allen later played for New Orleans and Oakland, finishing his career with 54 interceptions which ranks him 7th on the all-time NFL list.  He was named to the Pro Bowl six times.
 
While at Point Loma, Allen also played baseball with future major-leaguer David Wells.  The team won a CIF championship in 1982. and was saluted in 2007 by the San Diego Padres on the 25th anniversary of their accomplishment. 
 
Married for 19 years to his high school sweetheart Lynn (Noe '84), the couple has four sons. Allen currently works as an NFL analyst for ESPN.
 
Congratulations, Eric!

-By Scott Hopkins, PLHS Communications Director

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Jeffrey Bennett (1979) has a new book,Beyond UFO's, which was chosen as the 2008 Summer Reading Program book for 3700+ incoming Miami University of Ohio students. Students are required to come to school in the Fall prepared to discuss the book. Click Convocation speech to hear Jeffrey address those students as they embark on their college path. Also, be sure to read Jeffrey's LA Times article about the 400th anniversary of Galileo and the International year of Astronomy. He challenges us to look outside our own world to a 'cosmic perspective' as we move into the future.  LA Times: Jeffrey Bennett

Jeffrey has agreed to come speak at PLHS next time he is in town.  Stay tuned!

PLHS Sports News

PL Sailing Team wins top honors

The Point Loma High sailing team continues to add evidence they are the top prep team in the United States.
 
In recent months, the Pointers tacked to a first place finish in the prestigious Gold Pacific Coast Championship regatta held in San Francisco.

Also, the team swept to second place in the Silver Pacific Coast Championship competition held on Mission Bay.

These two competitions are considered the most difficult in high school sailing.

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Pointer Alumni Baseball Game

A pack of Pointer alumni baseball players turned out for the 12th annual alumni vs varsity game, the traditional kickoff event for the 2009 Pointer season.  Varsity players defeated the alumni 7-2.

Former major league all star player, David Wells pitched 3 innings and hit the longest ball of the day before removing his Padres jersey, autographing it and presenting it to head coach Jon Posternack.

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Men's Basketball and Women's Soccer are headed to the playoffs. 

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For more Winter and Spring Sports go to:  PLHS Athletics

Go Pointers!

Thank you Class of 1963!

PLHS Class of 1963 celebrated their 45 year reunion in October 2008 and then made a generous donation to thier alma mater.  The generosity of the Class of 63 reunion attendees has allowed the PLHSFAA to provide 3 classrooms with digital equipment upgrades (including the conference room that is being decorated with alumni memorabilia!)

Many thanks to the Class of 63 on behalf of PLHS students and staff. 

If your class would like to make a contribution to a program or activity at PLHS, or set up a scholarship fund, contract Kim at the PLHSFAA office. 

Reunion Updates

Go to Reunions for the most current information on upcoming class reunion events. 

Be sure we have your most up to date contact information in our secure online directory so that your reunion chair can find you.  Click Update My Info .  And please tell other Pointers to update their info.

We can't do it without you!

Budget Cuts make Foundation support critical!

With more major budget cuts hitting our educational system this year our help is needed more than ever!    

PLHSFAA supports programs, activities, and capital improvements at PLHS. We fund scholarships to assist college-bound seniors with their higher education goals. We maintain the alumni directory to keep Pointers in touch and to assist reunion chairs. And we assure that the 84+ year history and legacy of PLHS are carried forward. 

We cannot do it without your generous contributions.  Won't you please help us build Pointer Pride for generations past, present and future?

Donate here

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Escrip is an easy way to give to PLHSFAA.  It is free money...all you have to do is sign up and keep shopping for groceries!

Sign up for eScrip

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Don't forget to periodically review your trust and will:
It's recommended that you review your trust and/or will every five years, and remembering your high school in your estate is a wonderful way to be "Always a Pointer!" A simple idea, a planned giving expert told us (but definitely consult with your own financial advisor!) is to name your alma mater as a beneficiary in your life insurance or IRA, for a specified amount or a percentage. But it's important how you actually name it: For details, call Kim Jessop at 619 226-4509  

Deceased Pointers

Florence Cooper '47

Naomi Ferreira '41

Carl Eugene Allen '50

Lewis Leopold '54

Dean Rhoads III '79

Once a Pointer, Always a Pointer!

If you wish to report the death of a classmate please email the faaoffice@pointerassociation.org  Include name of deceased, class year, source of the info, your name and contact information for verification.