In Loving Memory of Clifford Spiva, ACHS Class of '58
Note: Our Memorial Tribute to Cliff has progressed, and text will be completed upon receipt of military information. Please accept this image of Cliff in the meantime, in this order hereby reserved in his memory.
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Uploaded on Jul 23, 2008
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Everyone Called Him Brother: John Vukovich, Phillies Third-base Coach
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Memorial Tribute to a National Public Figure in Major League Baseball, an Amador County Schoolmate and Friend
On July 31, 1947 when the third son was born to John and Lena Vukovich of Sutter Creek, California, he was named after his father. Big brothers Rich and Bill knew John Christopher Vukovich from the start as their new little brother, and they continued to call him "Brother".
Sutter Creek is a small town hub in the heart of the California Gold Rush Mother Lode country, where especially in the past everyone knew of or knew just about everyone else who lived in Amador County. As young John played with neighborhood friends, living near the great historic 19th Century schoolhouse all students still attended, he became known to everyone as "Brother" . During Brother's high school years, a new student was heard to ask him very respectfully, if he should call him John, having learned that was his real name. He'd likely considered it was possible that only close friends and family called him "Brother". Brother immediately responded in his very warm and personable way--but with some sense of astonishment on his part and replying with a small hint of disdain, "No! Just call me Brother." As he said this, his hands were animated as if to push off or throw off the whole idea of having this new kid in school calling him anything other than what all the other kids he'd grown up with had always called him. So, officially from the young man himself, everyone called him Brother!
Among those who knew Brother best, it was common knowledge at Amador County High School that he very specifically wanted someday to become a major league baseball player. When he grew up, indeed, he became a player and more in the major leagues. He became known as the national public figure, John Vukovich, Phillies third-base Coach, "the Vuke", the man well loved and respected by teammates, superiors, and sports fans around America. He also became "the longest tenured coach in Phillies history," as reported in the news. As a coach, John Vukovich also was known for being willing to argue with umpires especially if they were unfair about his team players, and he was respected for his honesty. On a more personal level, he would generally say what he thought, and if appropriate, it was with his well-known good humored personability, which inspired confidence in his good judgment.
We who knew John in school, knew him as one uniquely special person, always with a ready smile and warm greeting. He was very popular with everyone for his fairness and goodness, for his calm ease of presence that made people comfortable in whatever activity he was involved with them. Also, we recognized his modesty about who he wanted to become someday.
Among many impressive statistics for his major league baseball career, the Amador Ledger Dispatch stated on March 14, 2007 in its article about John, "Vukovich batted .161 for his career and was known for his fielding skills at third base. On June 23, 1971, Vukovich was playing third for the Phillies and caught the final out of Rick Wise's no-hitter." (For the complete Ledger Dispatch newspaper article, go to: ledger-dispatch.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=208934.) Indeed Brother demonstrated early on at Amador County High School, his innate talents and insight about third-base team coverage specifically.
John Christopher Vukovich passed away, still too young, at 59 years old on March 8, 2007. On August 10, 2007 at the Phillies ball park full of cheering fans, John was inducted as the 29th member of the Phillies "Wall of Fame", with his loving wife Bonnie and family present, including John's elder brothers Rich and Bill. The Ledger Dispatch reported in advance on July 27, 2007, "Being a part of the Wall of Fame will allow fans to recall Vukovich's place among the organization's most important people. He didn't have the offensive abilities of Schmidt and others, but his style and passion for his teammates and respect for the game were unparalleled. A tough-love guy who leaned heavily toward love, Vukovich's funeral was attended by more than 700 fans and friends. His induction will be attended by more than 40,000." (For the Ledger Dispatch article, go to: ledger-dispatch.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=221064.)
All in Amador County who knew Brother, will continue to remember him for their very own personal memories. Thank you, Brother, as one of so many of our successful graduates from Amador High, for your public inspiration of personal achievement and integrity while making your major league baseball dream come true. You touched many people throughout your career, and you also inspired so many personally who grew up with you in Sutter Creek, California. You are one of our local heros, as alluded by a Sutter Creek resident quoted in the Amador Ledger Dispatch; for this, and especially in our own thoughts of you, you will continue to be among our unforgettable schoolmates, our friends, our heros, and along with them all, you will continue to be deeply missed.
* * *
Continue below for Note and Online Links.
So that we may also highlight their formative years in Amador County schools, please advise of other graduates of high schools in the county who became national public figures.
Note: Photos from the Phillies Memorial for John Vukovich were provided by Bill Vukovich, Class of '59, and Cress Merrill, Class of '66. Marilyn Schartz Rogers and Don Baxley, also of Class of '66, made other photos available as images listed under Class of '65.
Online Links:
To see a photo gallery of John Vukovich on the field during his career as Phillies third-base coach, go to this link at the official site for the Philadelphia Phillies:
philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/phi/photogallery/year_2007/...
For stories about John Vukovich from career friends, go to these two links at the official site for the Philadelphia Phillies:
philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_r...
philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=200703...
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Uploaded on Apr 25, 2008
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In Loving Memory of Fredrick H. Williams, Jr., ACHS Class of '61
To see original size image with memorial tribute, if you do not see a menu across the top of this image, click the above image, wait for new page to load; then select "all sizes" on the next page. Be sure "original" (size) is also highlighted.
Schoolmate memorials for Richard A. Randolph, ACHS Class of '66 and Fredrick H. Williams, Jr., ACHS Class of '61, have been uploaded together by date of service.
In the near future, in concert with Barbara Spiva Steele of the Class of '61, we will be uploading our schoolmate memorial for Clifford Spiva, Class of '58.
May they rest in peace.
Note: Please advise us of possible other schoolmates who gave their lives in Vietnam, so that they, too, may be lovingly remembered here for their sacrifice. We honor and respect deeply, all who served the American freedom mission in Vietnam.
From the Amador Meeting Place Yearbooks and Photos
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Uploaded on Apr 12, 2008
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In Loving Memory of Richard A. Randolph, ACHS Class of '66
To see original size image with memorial tribute, if you do not see a menu at the top of this image, click the above image, wait for new page to load; then select "all sizes" on the next page. Be sure "original" (size) is also highlighted.
Schoolmate memorials for Richard A. Randolph, ACHS Class of '66 and Fredrick H. Williams, Jr., ACHS Class of '61, have been uploaded together by date of service.
In the near future, in concert with Barbara Spiva Steele of the Class of '61, we will be uploading our schoolmate memorial for Clifford Spiva, Class of '58.
May they rest in peace.
Note: Please advise us of possible other schoolmates who gave their lives in Vietnam, so that they, too, may be lovingly remembered here for their sacrifice. We honor and respect deeply, all who served the American freedom mission in Vietnam.
From the Amador Meeting Place Yearbooks and Photos
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Uploaded on Apr 12, 2008
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Drum Major - ACHS Marching Band, 1965-66
When the ACHS Thundering Herd Marching Band was photographed for the 1966 Skip Yearbook, its marching leader, the Drum Major, was not present. A photo of her was not included on the page for the Band, although it was found elsewhere, on the page picturing majorettes. Marilyn Schartz of the Class of '66 was the Drum Major that year, leading and directing the ACHS Marching Band in all its movements and formations during public parade performances, football half-time, and parade appearances, including the band's participation on the half-time football field for California Band Day at UC Berkley.
ACHS had several male Drum Majors in the past, as well as several female Drum Majors during the 1960s, including Sandy Eaton, Pat Everest, and Carol Eaton. When it came time for Marilyn to lead the band, a new body uniform was necessary, and so she fashioned and created it personally as pictured here.
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Uploaded on Apr 11, 2008
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