Moldenhauer, Barovetto, Fields, Wilson and Lewis named to esteemed list

Bruce Gallaudet
Enterprise staff writer
June 14, 2009 08:15

The second class of the Davis High School Blue & White Foundation's Hall of Fame was announced Friday at the school's graduation ceremonies — and voices from the past and present are being honored for their contributions.

Joanne Moldenhauer, recently retired after 51 years in the DHS math classrooms, joins late Army hero John Barovetto, former Broadway and music video dancer Tony Fields, Olympic water polo goalie Craig Wilson and former UC Davis sports trainer Dick Lewis, who volunteered for more than 20 years helping athletes at the high school.

DHS senior class president Riley Stille made the announcement at commencement.
More than 70 nominees were submitted for the second Hall class. Foundation member Miriam Fisk said the selection panel had "another difficult decision" in narrowing the field.
Moldenhauer retired in 2006 after serving five decades of Blue Devil students.

Barovetto, Class of 1956, died in 1968 in Vietnam during his efforts to provide protection for a downed aircraft. Barovetto had spent much of his tour abroad working to secure funds for the war-torn country's displaced population.

"This guy epitomized what Davis is all about," former City Councilman Ted Puntillo once said of Barovetto, who has a local park named in his honor. "Instead of trying to kill people over there, he was trying to help them."

Fields, who graduated in 1978, was a talented dancer who lived his dream — appearing the touring company of "A Chorus Line" and as a featured performer in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Beat It" videos. He appeared with Pat Benatar in "Love is a Battlefield" and more than 20 other Hollywood song productions.

The Davis High drama department presents an annual "Tribute to Tony Fields."
Wilson, a storied member of Blue Devils water polo and swim teams, is a 1975 graduate who went on as a fixture at goalie for three U.S. Olympic teams. In 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul, Korea), the Americans took the silver medals.

Wilson also penned a notebook titled "Guide to Water Polo Goal Keeping" — considered a must-read for any water polo coach or net tender.

Lewis, who died in 2003, began his local sports legacy at UC Davis in 1949, where he was an equipment manager, bus driver and part-time trainer.

As an credentialed trainer, Lewis' career took off in the mid-1950s and "he cared for every Aggie athlete in every sport at time or another," according to one longtime UCD administrator.

"Dick had the ability as athletic trainer to put his hands on a player for a few minutes and all of a sudden they felt a lot better," Aggie football legend remembered of Lewis in September 2003. "Dick was a psychologist as much as he was an athletic trainer."

Lewis, upon retirement from UCD, volunteer his time as the Davis High trainer for 22 years.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be conducted Oct. 3 at Freeborn Hall on campus at UC Davis.

The inaugural five members of the Hall were Rwanda-education advocate Elaine Kasimastis (Class of 1970), jazz trumpet virtuoso Mark Inouye ('89), basketball superstar Denise Curry ('77), longtime coach and administration A. J. "Bud" Henle and triathlete and mentor Dave Scott ('72).

Copyright, 2009, The Davis Enterprise. All Rights Reserved.

Bruce Gallaudet
Enterprise staff writer
June 14, 2009 08:15

The physical presence that was once old Halden Field has — within one emphatic week — been almost erased from the community psyche.

Sure, the stands remain at Davis High School ... weeds poking up between the seats, the only spectators watching the new action on the field: backhoes digging out the rut-pocked track and graders scoring touchdown after touchdown as they go deeper to find foundation rock on which to build the bed for a state-of-the-art synthetic football turf.

"It is amazing what has happened in this first week," DHS Blue and White Foundation President Mike Satre said. "In the first day, after the Monday dedication, you couldn't recognize it."

And happily for all parties involved, that's the point.

After 50 years of relentless use and declining maintenance, the stadium's two-phase project is reality. And boy, is the pressure on...

The $8 million project will, in phase one, construct an all-weather running track, a new multi-use playing field, a north endzone scoreboard, a new surface for Beaton Field (field hockey) and entrance improvements including a new lighting system.

Funding comes from a $4.9 million capital-projects package from the Davis schools, in-kind donation from site manager Brown Construction and a $1.5 million pledge from the Blue and White Foundation (BWF).

In these economic times, some raised eyebrows greeted trustee approval in April. But foundation members and school officials did their homework, convincing the Board of Education — and community members — that this project had a fleeting window of opportunity.

Satre says the money promised from BWF is, no pun intended, "on track."

"We're aware of the economic climate," Satre explains. "But there are many parts of the economy that are still doing very well. I think, to this point, people have been very generous. We're happy with where we are."

And where the foundation is, is at $525,000 raised or pledged. Satre believes being only a couple of months into the fund-raising project speaks volumes about the community and the need for the revamped facility.

"Remember, we've been focusing most of our energies on getting the word out ... the process for getting approval was, through April, most of our focus. Now we can focus on fundraising."

Of that to-date kitty, $150,000 is cash on hand, $175,000 is in pledged funds, $100,000 has been given to the district and $100,000 comes from an Integrated Waste Management grant for using recycled materials in the fields and track.

The goal line for raising the $1.5 million is March 2010.

"We'll be there," foundation Vice President Rochelle Swanson promises. "We're so blessed to have all the players we have in the community."

Swanson points out there are myriad ways to get involved in the stadium project.
She encourages groups — friends, families or businesses — to get together and contribute.

"It could be a handful of folks getting (pooling) resources to honor a former teacher or coach," Swanson points out, noting the Young family's $25,000 gift to honor DHS musical director Fred Lange. "Jason Fisk (Davis alumnus and former NFL player) is trying to put together the same thing with ex-football players to honor their coaches."
Satre adds "there is a price point for everybody."

Have $500,000 laying around? The stadium could be named after you, your family or business.

Prime advertising positions are available on the all-new scoreboard, bike parking area will have sponsorship, track-lane surface ads and turn-of-the-track wall sections are being "sold" for the right donations.

Bricks — 4" x 8" — can commemorate someone near and dear, as can entrance "pavers," at 8"x8". The bricks are $100. The pavers cost $300.

"But they're there a long, long time," Satre says. "Something to be proud of ... show family and friends."

Satre adds that an outreach to more than 21,000 alumni of Davis High is planned later this summer and a handful of fundraisers are on the horizon:

"We'll have a fall event — probably at the stadium — so people can see the progress, get a feel for what phase two holds. Then we have our golf tournament (Oct. 5)."
Swanson says "we're trying to make this more a day on the green with a lot extra things going on."

She says the foundation is looking for a golf course to "buy-in to" the idea.
Also on the BWF agenda is the second annual Davis High Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Oct. 3 at Freeborn Hall on the UC Davis campus.

"We want to make it easy for folks to get involved," Satre concludes. "People that would have gotten their checkbook out right then and there (at the beginning) are now saying to us 'let's get going' now that there's something tangible.

"We're excited."

This first phase is expected to be done in time for the DHS Homecoming football game in October. The first three Blue Devils' games could be played at Aggie Stadium.

Copyright, 2009, The Davis Enterprise. All Rights Reserved.

With the old goal post and scoreboard in the background, Davis High School music teacher Fred Lange conducts members of the DHS Symphonic Band in 'American Pageant' at Monday morning's groundbreaking ceremony for the new stadium. A crowd of more than 200 students, teachers, administrators, alumni and community members gathered for the celebration. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo

 

Bruce Gallaudet
Enterprise staff writer
June 09, 2009 08:15

'I thank each of you ... for giving your hearts and efforts. This project represents the hopes and dreams of our students.'

With Davis Board of Education President Gina Daleiden's fond words, a handful of local representatives turned 16 shovelsful of earth to start phase one of the Davis High School stadium facelift.

With more than 200 people in attendance, Daleiden invited brief comments from the chief contractor, schools chief, DHS students and Blue & White Foundation members - with earth-moving and demolition going on in the background at Halden Field on Oak Avenue.

'We're making it happen!' Daleiden noted as the crowd applauded. 'Today is a reflection of what we, Davis as a community, do best ... we come together on behalf of our kids.'

Daleiden praised the work of the foundation and its commitment to raise $1.5 million by March, money that will go entirely toward the project. The school district assumes it will contribute almost $5 million from capital-improvement funding.

Foundation President Mike Satre said the rest is to come from his group's fundraising efforts, called 'Back on Track.'

'We are on target,' Satre said before the festivities. 'We have six-figure donors talking with us, trying to figure out how to get (the donations) done. I am confident we'll be there in March.'

With official ceremony moments dotted with offerings from the DHS Symphonic Orchestra, Superintendent James Hammond told those assembled that he saw the construction - finally under way - as a 'reality check.'

'As I stand here with the real work starting ... I praise the vision of the board,' Hammond explained. He added that despite the economic concerns of the moment, the trustees understood the need for a 'community facility,' seizing a small window of opportunity to make it happen.

'And we have a new motto: We dig Ron Brown,' Hammond said.

Brown, a 1980 graduate of Davis High, has committed his Brown Construction to the three-year project. A community donation aspect of his business - 'Build It Forward' - will be responsible for an estimated $500,000 to $600,000 of the $8 million total project cost.

'This is a big honor,' Brown said. 'I am so blessed to able to do something like this.'

Brown, who has four of his six children currently enrolled at DHS, remembered his days running sprints for the Davis High track team.

'It's my honor to be able to tear it up,' Brown tried to continue, but was cut short by tears and emotion. 'Thank you.'

As Brown sat, another thrust of a big crane knocked down the last wall of a storage facility on the northeast corner of the complex.

'This is so great,' said Fatima Sy, 2009-10 student body president. 'It is an exciting future ... and to have future classes actually graduate here ...'

Davis teachers, coaches and administrators joined football players, track team members and the general public Monday morning, all rejoicing at the new day dawning for Halden Field:

'Dewey Halden - a teacher and coach who had such an impact on these kids - once said, 'Be excellent ... the score will take care of itself,' ' Daleiden added. 'This is excellent.'

At that point, the orchestra's 'American Pageant' played, under the direction of band mentor Fred Lange.

Brown says his company has put phase one on a fast track, literally.

The game plan is have the all-weather running surface and multiuse football field in place by Homecoming in October. New entryways and a state-of-the-art scoreboard also are part of initial construction.

Blue Devil football coach Dan Gazzaniga says his charges might be playing their first three games at Aggie Stadium, beginning with a Thursday night contest against Folsom on Sept. 10.

'We're working on it ... nothing is official, yet,' Gazzaniga said. '(Playing at Aggie Stadium) would be a great opportunity for us to get ready to play on turf.

'But this is a great thing for the school. It will be terrific for the football program, and it's a great tool to encourage kids to come out for the sport.'

DHS track coach Spencer Elliott, also in attendance, pawed at the ruts in the cinder track - remnants from a month-old rain - and said he'd miss those conditions:

'This is huge for the track team,' Elliott said, who acknowledged that he and distance coach William Gregg are already working on adding some new events at Davis High.

In phase two of the project, expected to start next spring, expanded and improved seating, restroom and snack bar facilities and a new press box highlight the finished project.

Halden Field was built in 1960.

'We spend a lot of time building things,' Eric Roe of Red Door Building Co. said, shaking his head. 'It takes these guys three minutes to tear it down. But it's exciting to see demolition - especially when it deserves to be demolished.'

- Reach Bruce Gallaudet at bgallaudet@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8056. Comment on this story at www.davisenterprise.com

Copyright © 2009The Davis Enterprise. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part from this website in any form or medium without express written permission of The Davis Enterprise is forbidden.

 

May 1, 2009
Bruce Gallaudet
Enterprise staff writer

With its Back on Track campaign, the Blue & White Foundation has already raised about $340,000 for Davis High School's new stadium. The funds will help fulfill the foundation's pledge to provide $1.5 million to the Davis school district by March.

More than $50,000 of that money has come in the past two weeks, foundation president Mike Satre says.

"It's been a whirlwind of activity and amazing with respect to the support and volume of inquiries about the stadium," Satre says. "It is clear that we have a great community that recognizes the importance of this project for the students of Davis … and the community as a whole."

Davis schools trustees recently approved the clerical mechanism that will select an architect from bids (apparently Brown Construction) and free capital to make phase one a reality by this fall. Final approval on Brown Construction is due this month.

If all goes smoothly, according to schools and foundation officials, phase one could begin in early June and the Blue Devil football team could play its first game on new synthetic turf this fall.

The initial phase includes a track, multi-sport main field, revamped lighting and a state-of-the-art scoreboard relocated to the north end of the field. The idea to move the scoreboard comes with a two-fold purpose: dual use at the main field and for Beaton Field beyond, and visibility to Covell Boulevard (there's money in advertising exposure).

Phase two will include new seating with capacity expansion, a reconstructed main entrance, rebuilt snack and restroom facilities and a press box.

In a foundation report completed 18 months ago, it was claimed that a built-out campus stadium not only would better serve most of the 2,000 students at Davis High, but would be a catalyst for other community events.

Youth sports like Davis Junior Blue Devils, community functions like fun runs and school events like graduation and regional relays, track meets and band reviews would either save money or generate funds that, the foundation says, could mean "$200,000 or more annually."

Gifts coming in

Most notable among the recent gifts and pledges has been a $25,000 contribution by the Cross family — Stephanie and sons Tom and Matt — to name the band area of the west stands after Davis High musical director Fred Lange.

"I was in Fred's first Jazz Band at DHS. My mom was in a quartet at UC Davis and Fred helped her and others," Tom Cross explained. "We also feel that Fred has been a huge influence to hundreds — if not thousands — of DHSers … and is one of those unappreciated, unsung heroes.

"Fred brings out the best in his students by setting high standards, forcing creativity and being relentless on giving 100 percent all the time. We feel he is the heart and soul of the DHS music department."

It is that kind of giveback that Blue & White Foundation members believe will help underpin the reality that is to be the new stadium.

"What are you going to do with your money?" Cross asks. "If you have a special person, teacher or friend that you feel deserves to be remembered, this is an opportunity that may not come again in our lifetime. Be part of something that is bigger than you!"

Naming rights

There are myriad avenues for folks to get involved in the stadium resurrection.

Stadium naming rights are big-ticket items. Scoreboard and press box placements have lasting marketing implications. A personalized tile section for donors also is planned.

"Our current attention is on launching 'It's Time to Leave Your Mark,' in which we will provide the many ways that folks in the community can become involved and contribute to the project," Satre explains. "Even before the ink is dry on the brochures, and while the phase two design process continues, donors have stepped forward to participate and leave their mark."

Satre says the list of folks who have committed dollars to the project was impressive even before the go-ahead came from the school board:

"Dan Dowling and Doug Arnold were incredibly supportive of this effort since its early stages. Each of these founding 'donors on faith' has given $25,000 toward the stadium," he says. "Dennis Broward, among others, is also another of these pivotal, founding donors whose generosity of money, materials and effort paved the way to where we are today."

A couple of other $20,000-range contributions have been made — early on and recently — but donors haven't cleared the way for release of their names.

Next generations

Cross, a 1988 graduate of Davis High, was a member of the Pep and Jazz bands; he also wrestled and played football. He sees the stadium as being beyond just a playing field.

"The stadium was a classroom, painting, stage and home to me," the local businessman remembers. "DHS has state-of-the-art classrooms, music center and other facilities. This is, in my opinion, the next classroom that needs to be modernized.

"This will help the next generations to excel at life. I think of the stadium in these terms — we live in a world that is very competitive. If just one student gets that extra psychic equity from playing on this new field with new bleachers, and that then allows them to give their best just one time and gain the edge to win (win or lose), that may be enough to that student to change (his or her) world forever. I think it is worth the money."

Notes: Want to get involved? Visit http://www.dhsblueandwhite.org … Halden Field was built in 1962 and the 1,600-seat facility hasn't seen much attention over the years. One thing that will go unchanged, however, is the memory of namesake Dewey Halden, a longtime teacher and coach at DHS. Even if a new name is purchased for the stadium, it is pledged that the new turf field will remain dedicated to Halden. Satre says organizers hope phase one will be ready in time for the Oct. XX Homecoming football game against XXXXXXXX.

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at bgallaudet@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8059. Comment on this story at www.davisenterprise.com

Copyright, 2009, The Davis Enterprise. All Rights Reserved.

Jeff Hudson
Enterprise staff writer
Published: April 17, 2009

The Davis school board advanced the modernization project for the Davis High School stadium Thursday night, unanimously approving two agreements that tap Brown Construction Inc. as the company that will do the work.

The board approved a preliminary design services agreement and a lease-leaseback agreement. A construction contract is being worked out, and is expected to come before the school board for approval in May.

School board president Gina Daleiden noted that stadium modernization is a "community project for Brown Construction," with the company waiving profit and overhead. Daleiden noted that the Brown family, which owns the company, has children attending Davis High School.

Phase one of the project, expected to get under way later this year, will include a new track and field. Phase two will include bleachers, a concession stand and more.

The school board also heard a related report from the Blue & White Foundation, a nonprofit group organized seven years ago, which has been fundraising to support the stadium modernization project. The foundation presented a $100,000 check to the school board Thursday night, the first installment toward its $1.5 million fundraising goal.

The foundation will be seeking donors interested in naming rights for the stadium complex as a whole, as well as various components, in accordance with existing school board policy on naming facilities.

Foundation President Mike Satre described the stadium as "the largest, oldest and most utilized classroom" in the school district. It was built in the 1960s and hasn't seen a major upgrade since.

About a dozen members of the foundation stood by Satre as he addressed the board, and distributed white T-shirts featuring the fundraising campaign slogan, "Back on Track."
School board trustee Sheila Allen mentioned that "since my oldest child is going to the high school next year, all three of my children will (eventually) benefit" from the new stadium.
Trustee Tim Taylor termed the existing Davis High stadium "dilapidated," and recalled interviewing James Hammond (then a candidate for superintendent in Davis) in the Tukwila, Wash., district where Hammond was working in 2007.

"James walked me out to their track, and it was a state-of-the-art facility. The comparison (with the Davis High track) was so stark, I remember commenting, 'We've gotta do this,' " Taylor said.

Taylor also commended the Blue & White Foundation, saying, "Anytime you want to bring in a check for $100,000 … the door is open."

The board also heard an update from the district's Green Schools subcommittee, which includes trustees Taylor and Richard Harris, and student representative Charlotte Krovoza. The subcommittee is promoting more efficient buildings, the use of renewable energy resources and water conservation.

Copyright, 2009, The Davis Enterprise. All Rights Reserved.

Published: March 10, 2009
It's unfortunate that the plan to modernize Halden Field has been a divisive one and has called into question the value of athletics in the overall education of our kids. It's also unfortunate that many have regarded this aging facility simply as a football stadium and not as the multi-use venue it has been for many, many years.

I'm sure if he were alive today, the man for whom the field is named, Dewey Halden — who was both a coach and an educator — would be shaking his head at the level of misunderstanding.

For, once we get into arguing the comparative values of the many programs offered in our public schools, we all lose. Is math more important than science? The Jazz Choir more important than the Mads? Softball more important than wrestling? A library more important than a performing arts center? The comparisons are endless. And meaningless.

Yes, it was bizarre and disconcerting several weeks ago to see the two seemingly contradictory headlines on the front page of the Sunday paper. One said "First and 10 for stadium" and noted the school board was moving ahead with plans to borrow $4 million to modernize Halden Field. The other said "Teachers asked to take 2.5 percent pay cut" to help close a $4.9 million budget gap over the next two years.

Yes, we're talking different budgets from different pots, but it's still hard for most of us to reconcile the disconnect between those two budgetary scenarios.

Be that as it may, if we can pull together the funding to modernize Halden Field, it will pay endless dividends to present and future students at Davis High, not to mention serving as an important community and regional resource.

In this wildly diverse city we call home, some folks think athletics are underserved, while others think they receive way too much emphasis. The plain fact is that athletics are unimportant to some and hugely important to others.

Put simply, athletic participation is one of many valuable activities that can help a kid along life's path at a particularly critical juncture.

Do athletics teach life lessons like teamwork and leadership and the value of hard work? Indeed they do for those who wish to learn, but probably no more so than do participation in the school band or the Madrigals or the academic debate team. All are part of the whole and that's why all are important components of the education we as Davisites value so highly.

It's unfortunate that so many valuable programs are lumped into the category of "extracurricular activities" as if they are merely frosting on the educational cake and not really important in and of themselves.

For every time we drop one of these programs, athletic or otherwise, we lose a valuable connection with yet another group of students. You can drop football and save a buck or two, but you might just lose a student or two along the way.

When I was a student at Davis High back in the day when it was considerably easier to "make the team," participation in athletics kept me connected to the educational process in a way that would not have happened otherwise.

On the other hand, my oldest daughter went to the same high school I did and didn't letter in a single sport, but her participation in the Jazz Choir taught her great lessons about teamwork and group dynamics and helped develop friendships that survive to this day.

We are all a part of the whole. It's important in these difficult times to look below the surface to find the value to our kids in all the programs our schools offer.

We have built a school Dewey Halden would be proud of. If we can find a way to refurbish the stadium that bears his name, we should do so.

Future generations of Blue Devils will thank us for our foresight.

— Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning @davisenterprise.net. Comment on this column at www.davisenterprise. com

Copyright, 2009, The Davis Enterprise. All Rights Reserved.