Written June 8, 2006

By Dale Ghere

This was written for a newspaper article about the plaque that was given to LBHS by Paul Schilling.  Paul lifeguarded in 1937

At Wednesday evening's Laguna Beach High School Honors Convocation a plaque was given to the school by Dr. Paul Schilling to commemorate those past students who had given their all while serving in one of the armed services of the United States America.  Dr. Schilling graduated from LBHS in 1937 and served in the Navy during WWII.  The plaque was presented to the school by Father Chuck Maier.  Father Maier served in Korea and graduated from LBHS in 1950. During the presentation Father Maier stated that his best friend in school was John Adams, one of the names listed on the plaque. The commemorative plaque was accepted by Trevor Pierce, next year's ASB President. 

The plaque is titled, "They Gave the Last Full Measure of Devotion".  It will hang in the school library.  The following twelve names are listed: Allan Goff, Jr., WWII, Class of '38, Lloyd Babcock, WWII class of '38, Gordon Shive, WWII, class of '39, Weston Balfour, WWII, class of '40, Malcolm Shive, WWII, class of '41, Harry Ritter, WWII, class of '41, Milton Henry, Korea, class of '49, John Adams, Korea, class of '50, Arnold "Riley" Wester, Korea, class of '50, Henry Toro Herrick, Vietnam, class of '64, Daniel Neiswender, Vietnam, class of '64, and Steven Larrabee, Vietnam, class of '67.

The reason I was involved with the plaque is because of the 2004 lifeguard reunion.  That is where I first met Paul.  He was the oldest attending lifeguard.  There were two older guards that I knew of at the time, but neither one could attend because of health problems.  They were Don Brown and Bud Kerrigan.  Both Don and Bud guarded in the 30’s.  Don died in 2004.  Marjorie Burns Savage is still alive, but I didn’t know about her when the reunion was being planned.  Marjorie was a volunteer lifeguard from 1930 to 1933.  The city paid for training girls to be lifeguards during those years, but the city would not hire girls to be lifeguards.  Therefore any girl who wanted to lifeguard had to do it as a volunteer.

Paul had made a plaque earlier and had given it to the school.  It had been hanging in the library for ten years.  He had found three additional names and wanted to replace the old plaque.  He asked me to have the new plaque made.  The Plaque was made by A 1 Awards in Mission Viejo.  The cost was $164.32.

During the time the plaque was being made Paul called me and asked if I would help him attend the annual LBHS reunion.  It is held the second Saturday of every May.  It is held in Heisler Park and is for all past graduates.  He is not able to walk very well so I asked the lifeguards for the use of their sand wheel-chair.  He had a great time at the reunion.  Afterwards he and Marian took Marilyn and me to Las Brisas for most enjoyable lunch. 

I met Father Chuck Maier while at the reunion.  It was after the reunion that I thought of asking him to make the presentation of the plaque.  He said that he would be honored.  The presentation went well.