Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 23 my word of appreciation of Mr. Burcham himself. Since my graduation from Poly High, I have attended the three largest universities in California; but in none of these institutions have I known a kindlier, more considerate, Christian gentleman. Men of his spirit are all too rare in the educational field as well as in all others. Now for the event. First, picture old Tournament Park in Pasadena with a wild but tense football crowd in the stands and Long Beach fighting desperately to defeat a great Berkeley High team for the championship of California. Sounds like imagination, but it was honestly — the fourth quarter and the score tied, fourteen all. LeFebvre and Dolley had scored on long, brilliant runs while the Yellow Jackets, champions of Northern California, had smashed our line for two crushing touchdowns. Our boys were making their last bid for victory; the ball was on Berkeley ' s thirty-two yard line, and Dolley called for what looked like a place kick. Tiernan made ready for the try; but when Miller passed the ball, Chet wheeled around and threw it back to Tiernan who, like a flash, passed it a long way over to the left of the field. Cheek, Berkeley half-back, was playing close to the line (Cheek, by the way, captained the Harvard Varsity last year) ; the ball went over him, and Jim Lawson caught it and ran over the goal line — Well — I just had time to see Roy Baker (one of the greatest football players we ever had), who was down from Santa tiara carrying water for the team, throw a full bucket twenty feet in the air, soaking several, when I was hit so hard on the back that it knocked me off the end of the bench. Who did it? I suspected some husky sub; but no, — it was Principal David Burcham. Did he apologize? Not a chance! He didn ' t even watch me pick myself up. He wasn ' t even looking my way ! 1 have had the privilege of returning to Poly many times since that memorable game in 1919, and it is a joy to say that Mr. Burcham has not changed. He is still the finest spirited, most loyal supporter Poly High ever had. RICHARD LOYNES ' 21 The world of sport knows few more prominent men than Dick Loynes with his famous speedboats which, since his successful career at Polytechnic, have brought his numerous prizes in addition to world-wide recognition. His famous Smiling Dan ' ' ' slogan attests his success also as a business man. As I read your recent letter requesting a few words from me for this edition of Caerulea, I found myself turning back again in memory to the days of my own activities at Poly High. Happy days! As I review the panoramic history of my high school period, I can truly say that no other events of my life surpass in vividness the colorful pictures of that time.

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CAERULEA ' 28 HAROLD HARVEY ' 20 Harold Harvey, writer of promise during his student days, now contributor to Field and Stream and other prominent magazines, sends the following unique contribution characteristic of his pleasing personality. P ' rom a little dot (thus . ) of an Idaho high school I came to the triple exclamation point (so ! ! ! ) of Long Beach Polytech for my graduation year of ' 19- ' 20. I appreciated the opportunity of Polytechnic then, but I value it doubly now. Of the friends I made there, I remember and cherish none more genuinely than I do my friends of the faculty — and that is not epitaphic apple- sauce, either. ECHO ' Burch is a man for fair; He ' ll give you plenty if you ' ve got it comin ' . But he ' ll shoot square. ' Such was the slangy way My old chum phrased his words of admiration. And though, perhaps, today The self-same thing I might express in more high-sounding terms, Still, there ' s a ring To that crude phrase — Dad Burcham would liked those words Of boyish phrase, ' Burch is a man for fair; He ' ll give you plenty if you ' ve got it comin ' , But he ' ll shoot square. ' LES CUMMINS ' 21 The pleasing originality of Les Cummins, whose career at Poly was excep- tionally outstanding and who is at present a well-known member of the U. S. C. Law School, is immediately apparent in this interesting little article concerning a famous event. He still maintains his strong ties with Poly High. Reminiscences of Poly High? Yes. scores of them, comprising the happiest kind of memories. Something particularly about Mr. Burcham? I have a very clear recollection of one event that no one else will write about. First, however,

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24 CAERULRA ' 28 My Alma Mater has made many achievements since those days; and her invincible spirit of progress may in great measure, I believe, be attributed to the untiring efforts of David Burcham. His faithfulness to a vision of work well done is worthy of your highest tribute. Personally I feel that honor is due him and that it will receive the hearty approval of all who know his name. WILLIAM FENNELL ' 26 William Fennell, through his keen intellect and strong personality one of Poly ' s finest graduates and leaders, has rapidly come into prominence through his achievements at Yale University, where he has recently distinguished himself as orator and debater. I congratulate you on dedicating the 1928 annual to Mr. Burcham. If the people of Long Beach should respect any man, it is Mr. Burcham, who has served the city in its educational system for so long. He has endeared himself in the hearts of all those students who have come closely to know his warmth of friendship and his great patience in dealing with perplexing student problems. FACULTY It would be inadequate indeed to consider the achievements of the alumni without noting the leadership of the hundreds of faculty men and women who with Mr. Burcham through the years have guided the life and thought of Poly. Among those men and women are two whose anniversary greetings are of especial significance to Caerulea and her readers. MISS KATHERINE A. MOSHER Miss Katherine Mosher was a faculty member, teaching languages, when Poly High was in its infancy. To her belongs the distinction of christening Caerulea when it began in small pamphlet form. She also has the honor of being granted a certificate to teach before her graduation from Stanford University, an almost unheard of thing. She still maintains her home in Long Beach and her interest in the affairs of Polytechnic High. She sends the following greeting: I am happy to send greetings to all the alumni and teachers of Poly High whom I have known and loved, especially to Mr. Burcham. In recalling the years I was associated with him, I shall ever remember him as a fine, Christian gentleman, always exerting an uplifting influence upon the students and courteous and kind to teachers and students alike. Can it be possible that this is also the twenty-fifth anniversary of Caerulea. which made its first appearance so long ago in very modest for m? If 1 remember