[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 117 (Friday, August 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S10901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORANGE HIGH SCHOOL AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                     ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to reflect on the proud 
history of Orange High School, which is celebrating its centennial this 
year. This is a particularly special moment because the Orange Unified 
School District is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
  Earlier this summer, more than 220 friends and alumni gathered at an 
event called ``From Kibby to French'' in honor of the district's first 
superintendent, Harold Kibby, and current superintendent, Bob French. 
The high school and district have come a long way since its humble 
beginnings many years ago.
  Orange High School opened in the ``Dobner Building'' on September 21, 
1903 as Orange County's fourth high school. In its first year, it had 
an enrollment of 81 students. A few years later, it moved from the 
``Dobner Building'' to a building at Palm Avenue and Glassell Street, 
which is now Chapman University's Wilkinson Hall. It was not until 1953 
that it moved to its current site on Shaffer Street.
  As those close to Orange High School celebrate this special occasion, 
they can reflect on the school's progress and historical milestones. 
The school newspaper, ``The Reflector,'' celebrated its first issue in 
1916. The following year, the Class of 1917 painted a large ``O'' on a 
local hillside, which started a well-known tradition lasting through 
the 1960s. 1928 marked the beginning of another famous school practice, 
the ``Dutch/Irish Days,'' with a basketball game played between 
graduates of St. John's Lutheran School, the ``Dutch,'' and Orange 
Intermediate School, the ``Irish.'' The game was last played in 1965. 
In 1970, Orange High opened a stadium in honor of 1912 Olympic champion 
and class of 1911 alumnus, Fred Kelly. On the school's 75th anniversary 
in 1978, a museum opened in the Townsend Room.
  I would like to conclude my remarks by describing a tradition some 
alumni from the Class of 1943 started about 15 years ago. They started 
to meet for breakfast once a month at Watson's Drug and Soda Fountain, 
a place near the ``Dobner Building.'' David Hart, an Orange High 
alumnus, was quoted in the Orange County Register on the centennial as 
saying, simply, ``We like each other . . . I have breakfast with kids I 
went to kindergarten with . . . Other schools don't have that.'' This 
unique feeling of closeness and friendship clearly shows the meaning of 
Orange High School its alumni.
  I congratulate both Orange High School and Orange High School 
District on this important milestone, and wish them many more years of 
success.



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