Cheyenne Mountain High School Memorial Page for:
Written by my dad's friend from Colorado-
Gene Kawamoto - Class of 1950
Created by: Robert Rusty Lomax
Memorial Message:
Gene was born in California of Japanese ancestry on 21 January 1933. Immediately following the declaration of war against Japan, Gene and his family were placed in the California "Merced Assembly Center". Shortly thereafter they were moved to the "Granada Relocation Center", known as "Camp Amache", near Granada. Colorado. Upon the termination of WWII in August of 1945, persons of Japanese heritage were released back into the general population and the Kawamoto family moved to Colorado Springs where Gene's father was employed as a Chef at the Broadmoor Hotel. There Gene and his two sisters, Agnes and Arlyne, enrolled in Cheyenne H.S. in the fall of 1945. Gene, a bright student, became interested in ice skating and hockey and by the fall semester of 1948 Gene had become an accomplished ice skater and hockey player. He was selected as the hockey team "Captain" and played at the "Center" position on the team's first line. By the end of the 1948-49 hockey season Cheyenne won the Colorado Springs Hockey League and Gene was named "most valuable player" for Cheyenne, and was voted "All League Center" by the other League players. Following his graduation in 1950, Gene, short in stature at 5'5", enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps He served in combat status during the Korean War. Following his release from active duty Gene returned to Colorado Springs at a strapping height of six feet and 220 pounds. The Marines had fed and conditioned him well. Gene later moved to California and was employed as a Field Service Technician by Bank of America. As time passed he married and fathered three children. He also progressed to the position of Manager, Field Services, Southern California Division, for Bank of America. Gene passed away at age 77, on 9 February 2010. He was still a Marine! He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Kiko, a son Gregg, daughters Janet Hertogh and Joan Adams, and sisters Agnes Hirotsu(1950) and Arlyne Kawamoto (1952). A lifelong friend and brother Marine. May he rest in peace.(see also "Memories - Sporting Events - Hockey")
Memorial Messages from CMHS alumni:
Relive alumni memories from CMHS Sporting Events
Posted by:
Robert Rusty Lomax Class:
1950 Memory:
Students should not lose track of the origins of ice hockey at Cheyenne. The tradition goes back more than half a century. The initial team was formed in 1948-49, but it did not participate in any league competetion. In 1949-50, I was privileged to participate in the first league sport permitted at Cheyenne H.S. in 25 years - ice hockey. In the mid 1920's the Principal, Dr. Lloyd Shaw, eliminated league sports for "they glorified athletes and sports teams". Elimination of sports adulation would permit the students "to concentrate on academic excellence". Through the efforts of teacher and hockey Coach Jack Chamney (a former Colorado College hockey standout), a league was founded and he persuaded Dr. Shaw to permit us to participate. Cheyenne won the League in the last game against Fountain Valley Boys School. Following completetion of League competetion a post season game was scheduled pitting the Cheyenne squad against a team made up of the other teams "all stars". Cheyenne won with a score of 5-1. Scoring for Cheyenne: First period, Don Parsons; Second period, Rusty Lomax; Third period, Jack Wilbur and, Team Captain, Gene Kawamoto, two goals. Following the game there was a League awards ceremony. Five of Cheyenne's six starters were awarded "All League Team" status, selected by the League players themselves. The goaltender: Bob Jones; at defense: Rusty Lomax; the forward wingmen: Don Parsons and Jack Wilbur; at center: team Captain Gene Kawamoto, was also named "most valuable player" for Cheyenne. The other "All League Team" defenseman was Jerry Hanes,(former Cheyenne student) who represented Palmer H.S., and was an outstanding skater and stick handler. He won out over Paul Floyd, the other Cheyenne first team defenseman. Other Cheyenne team players were Bill Simmons, Ned O'Brien, Bill Collins, Merle Huddleston, Bob Catlett, John Baratelli, and John Gwillim. Following League competetion the team also traveled to New Mexico to compete with the Albuquerque high schools "All Stars". Cheyenne won the fitrst game by a score of 11-0 and the second game by 12-1. The Cheyenne hockey team members received their school "Letter" but were not permitted to wear it until the final two weeks of school. No adulation permitted. Due to the continued efforts of Jack Chamney, who replaced Dr. Shaw as Principal in 1951, ice hockey remained a sport in league competetion. Upon Jack's elevation to school Principal, league competetion was forever insured. Academic standards and excellence were not diminished by the addition of sports league competetion to the Cheyenne itenerary. (see also "In Memoriam" for Gene Kawamoto. Other team members who are known to have passed are: Don Parsons, John Cesario and Bob Catlett. Jack Chamney, the Coach and later Principal, has also passed.)
Cheyenne Mountain High School Memorial Page for:
Written by my dad's friend from Colorado-
Gene Kawamoto - Class of 1950
Created by: Robert Rusty Lomax
Memorial Message:
Gene was born in California of Japanese ancestry on 21 January 1933. Immediately following the declaration of war against Japan, Gene and his family were placed in the California "Merced Assembly Center". Shortly thereafter they were moved to the "Granada Relocation Center", known as "Camp Amache", near Granada. Colorado. Upon the termination of WWII in August of 1945, persons of Japanese heritage were released back into the general population and the Kawamoto family moved to Colorado Springs where Gene's father was employed as a Chef at the Broadmoor Hotel. There Gene and his two sisters, Agnes and Arlyne, enrolled in Cheyenne H.S. in the fall of 1945. Gene, a bright student, became interested in ice skating and hockey and by the fall semester of 1948 Gene had become an accomplished ice skater and hockey player. He was selected as the hockey team "Captain" and played at the "Center" position on the team's first line. By the end of the 1948-49 hockey season Cheyenne won the Colorado Springs Hockey League and Gene was named "most valuable player" for Cheyenne, and was voted "All League Center" by the other League players. Following his graduation in 1950, Gene, short in stature at 5'5", enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps He served in combat status during the Korean War. Following his release from active duty Gene returned to Colorado Springs at a strapping height of six feet and 220 pounds. The Marines had fed and conditioned him well. Gene later moved to California and was employed as a Field Service Technician by Bank of America. As time passed he married and fathered three children. He also progressed to the position of Manager, Field Services, Southern California Division, for Bank of America. Gene passed away at age 77, on 9 February 2010. He was still a Marine! He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Kiko, a son Gregg, daughters Janet Hertogh and Joan Adams, and sisters Agnes Hirotsu(1950) and Arlyne Kawamoto (1952). A lifelong friend and brother Marine. May he rest in peace.(see also "Memories - Sporting Events - Hockey")
Memorial Messages from CMHS alumni:
Written by my dad's friend from Colorado-
Gene Kawamoto - Class of 1950
Memorial Message:
Gene was born in California of Japanese ancestry on 21 January 1933. Immediately following the declaration of war against Japan, Gene and his family were placed in the California "Merced Assembly Center". Shortly thereafter they were moved to the "Granada Relocation Center", known as "Camp Amache", near Granada. Colorado. Upon the termination of WWII in August of 1945, persons of Japanese heritage were released back into the general population and the Kawamoto family moved to Colorado Springs where Gene's father was employed as a Chef at the Broadmoor Hotel. There Gene and his two sisters, Agnes and Arlyne, enrolled in Cheyenne H.S. in the fall of 1945. Gene, a bright student, became interested in ice skating and hockey and by the fall semester of 1948 Gene had become an accomplished ice skater and hockey player. He was selected as the hockey team "Captain" and played at the "Center" position on the team's first line. By the end of the 1948-49 hockey season Cheyenne won the Colorado Springs Hockey League and Gene was named "most valuable player" for Cheyenne, and was voted "All League Center" by the other League players. Following his graduation in 1950, Gene, short in stature at 5'5", enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps He served in combat status during the Korean War. Following his release from active duty Gene returned to Colorado Springs at a strapping height of six feet and 220 pounds. The Marines had fed and conditioned him well. Gene later moved to California and was employed as a Field Service Technician by Bank of America. As time passed he married and fathered three children. He also progressed to the position of Manager, Field Services, Southern California Division, for Bank of America. Gene passed away at age 77, on 9 February 2010. He was still a Marine! He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Kiko, a son Gregg, daughters Janet Hertogh and Joan Adams, and sisters Agnes Hirotsu(1950) and Arlyne Kawamoto (1952). A lifelong friend and brother Marine. May he rest in peace.(see also "Memories - Sporting Events - Hockey")
Relive alumni memories from CMHS Sporting Events
Posted by: | Robert Rusty Lomax |
Class: | 1950 |
Memory: | |
| Students should not lose track of the origins of ice hockey at Cheyenne. The tradition goes back more than half a century. The initial team was formed in 1948-49, but it did not participate in any league competetion. In 1949-50, I was privileged to participate in the first league sport permitted at Cheyenne H.S. in 25 years - ice hockey. In the mid 1920's the Principal, Dr. Lloyd Shaw, eliminated league sports for "they glorified athletes and sports teams". Elimination of sports adulation would permit the students "to concentrate on academic excellence". Through the efforts of teacher and hockey Coach Jack Chamney (a former Colorado College hockey standout), a league was founded and he persuaded Dr. Shaw to permit us to participate. Cheyenne won the League in the last game against Fountain Valley Boys School. Following completetion of League competetion a post season game was scheduled pitting the Cheyenne squad against a team made up of the other teams "all stars". Cheyenne won with a score of 5-1. Scoring for Cheyenne: First period, Don Parsons; Second period, Rusty Lomax; Third period, Jack Wilbur and, Team Captain, Gene Kawamoto, two goals. Following the game there was a League awards ceremony. Five of Cheyenne's six starters were awarded "All League Team" status, selected by the League players themselves. The goaltender: Bob Jones; at defense: Rusty Lomax; the forward wingmen: Don Parsons and Jack Wilbur; at center: team Captain Gene Kawamoto, was also named "most valuable player" for Cheyenne. The other "All League Team" defenseman was Jerry Hanes,(former Cheyenne student) who represented Palmer H.S., and was an outstanding skater and stick handler. He won out over Paul Floyd, the other Cheyenne first team defenseman. Other Cheyenne team players were Bill Simmons, Ned O'Brien, Bill Collins, Merle Huddleston, Bob Catlett, John Baratelli, and John Gwillim. Following League competetion the team also traveled to New Mexico to compete with the Albuquerque high schools "All Stars". Cheyenne won the fitrst game by a score of 11-0 and the second game by 12-1. The Cheyenne hockey team members received their school "Letter" but were not permitted to wear it until the final two weeks of school. No adulation permitted. Due to the continued efforts of Jack Chamney, who replaced Dr. Shaw as Principal in 1951, ice hockey remained a sport in league competetion. Upon Jack's elevation to school Principal, league competetion was forever insured. Academic standards and excellence were not diminished by the addition of sports league competetion to the Cheyenne itenerary. (see also "In Memoriam" for Gene Kawamoto. Other team members who are known to have passed are: Don Parsons, John Cesario and Bob Catlett. Jack Chamney, the Coach and later Principal, has also passed.) | |
Dad's friend, Sgt Rusty wrote this up for Dad and sent us the link. SO awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteRusty- I will NEVER be able to express my gratitude to you for doing this for Dad and our family. Arigato Gozaimasu!
Nice blog. I had fun reading this. And it is easy to understand. Nice going. obituary
ReplyDeletePlease help me find his family if you can. I bought stuff from a storage unit and his year book was apart of it and I would love to return it to his family.
ReplyDelete