Linda Jackson Durand, class of '65 wanted the words to the Fillmore High fight song, so with the help of Debbie Curnett, Sue Adams and Lynda Edmonds we now have the words for everyone to share.  It is amazing how many younger graduates of Fillmore High do not know the words to the fight song OR the alma mater.  Through the alumni efforts, we will try to inform these young people of the traditions of Fillmore High.  Here are the words to the fight song, sung to the fight song of the University of Notre Dame :

     Fight on for Fillmore sing of her fame.

     Stand up for Fillmore shout out her name

     As her colors wave on high

     Come on you Flashes hit the sky

     We love our colors, our white and blue

     We'll do our best to fight on for you

     We're for you so don't forget to

     Fight on for Fillmore High.

The alumni is also sponsoring a new banner, with the words of the alma mater on it, to be hung in the gym so everyone can sing along with the band when they play it at the end of a game. 

     More than three hundred alumni members and guests filled the Memorial Building on Saturday, June 6, for the 96th annual alumni dinner.  Classes were represented from the years 1932 through 1939, which was celebrating its 70th reunion.  Classes in each decade were represented for the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's, and representatives from five classes from the 1980's were present, as were representatives from the classes of 1997, 2002 and 2004, and 17 scholarships winners from this year's graduating class, and their parents.  Alumni came from as far away as Alaska, with many coming from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

     The evening began with the posting of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 406, followed by the Invocation given by Jacob Zellmer, one of the scholarship recipients.  An excellent dinner was served by Gary Laird's Butcher Shop and B-B-Q.  Gary is a 1976 graduate of Fillmore High.

     Margaret Haskell, class of '42 was recognized for her years of service to the alumni asociation as Secretary and also for her many years of assisting with the alumni dinner.  Ralph Rees, a retired teacher from Fillmore High was also recognized for his 28 plus years of teaching at Fillmore High and his continued support of the alumni association.

     Prior to the awarding of the scholarshps, Sydia Lopez-Reese, class of '79 and Chad Fore, class of '02, told about their college experiences and how much the local scholarships had helped them during their years in college.  Alumni scholarships were presented to Julianne Sandoval, Brina Suttle, Natalie Garnica, Karli Chessani, Jillian Wilber, Rebeca Herrera, Aimee Orozco, Michael Watson, Jacob Zellmer, Bailey Pina, Kyla Hernandez, Miguel Alonso, Gabriel Manzano, Jonathan Escamilla, Stephanie Bolanos, Nathan Liu and Erica Rodriguez.

     The Honored Classes from 1944, '49, '54, '59 and '69 were recognized, and the Board of Directors thanks Biz Basolo, class of '44, Em Wendel, class of '49, Ann Scanlin, class of '54, Bob Morris, class of '59 and Joe Aguirre and Debbie Curnett, class of '69 for all the efforts to get their classmates to attend this alumni dinner.

     Door prizes that were contributed by Carmen Zermeno, Lupe Vasquez, Conway Spitler, Nancy Wallace, Gertrude Lovelace and the alumni association were awarded to twenty lucky attendees.

     The present board of directors of the alumni association was returned to office for the 2009-2010 year, and they are already planning next year's alumni dinner for Saturday, June 12 at the Memorial Building, so put that date on your calendar, alumni members.   Next year's honored classes will be those whose graduation years ended in 0 and 5.

     Oh yes, there will be dessert and two bars for next year's dinner.

     The February Flashbacks were sent out on Wednesday, February 18, so they should be in your hands by now.  If not, please contact the alumni office at staff@FillmoreHighAlumni.com or 805-524-0416.  We do get some issues returned because the mailing label came off in handling at the post office, so we want to make sure that everyone who is a paid up member is receiving their Flashbacks.  We do appreciate hearing from everyone when they change addresses as it makes it a lot easier in mailing the newsletter.

If you have not renewed your membership for this year, please do so before the May issue comes out, as your name will be taken off the roster then.

The February issue of Flashbacks will be coming out the middle of February, so if you are a Life Member or a paid up yearly member, be looking for another great issue put together by Kathleen Penrod McCreary.  Some very interesting letters and comments from graduates of Fillmore High, as well as a picture from earlier years that many of you will find interesting.  The newsletter is only as good as you help make it,  by sending in your letters, comments and pictures.

We really enjoy hearing from all alumni members on what they are doing, the trips they have taken, or the former classmates they have met.  What you are interested in, we are interested in putting in the Flashbacks.

     Another copy of the 1944 News Flashes/annual was sent in by Esther Perez Doran, class of '44, after reading about our request for one of the rare copies in the last issue of Flashbacks.  Esther said she couldn't bear to part with her copy, even though it is 64 years old and yellow from age, as it was printed during World War II when we and the country were very busy and involved in the war effort.  She subsequently made a copy from her original and sent it to us.

     The alumni office greatly appreciates Esther's efforts to add to our Copa de Oro file of annuals from Fillmore High.

     The alumni file of Copa de Oro's is now complete, thanks to Bill Stocker, class of '44.  When the notice appeared in the November issue of Flashbacks that we were looking for that copy, Bill brought in one of the two 1944 annuals that he had, which was the only printed issue that we did not have in our file.  There is at least one copy of each Copa de Oro that was printed, except for the 1918 and 1919 annuals, which were not printed because of World War I.  The 1943 and 1944 annuals were limited editions, printed in the high school print shop, because of World War II.

     The 1943 annual consisted of 26 issues of the high school newspaper, "News Flashes", along with pictures of teachers, classes, sports and club activities.  The 1944 issue consisted of a special issue of "News Flashes", and contained pictures of the senior class, but this was one issue that was hard to locate.

     Harold Southwick, class of '45, also called and said he had a copy of the 1944 annual that we could have for our files, but since the alumni office now has the one copy from Bill Stocker, Harold was told to hold on to his copy, as they are very rare.

The alumni office appreciates Harold's offer of his copy of the 1944 annual.