Mr. Don Kemp

Teacher, Baseball Coach: 1956 - 1991

Don Kemp was a legendary coach and teacher at Covina High School for thirty-five years from 1956-1991.  Don’s impact on students and staff at CHS as a mentor, coach, teacher, and friend has had a lasting impact beyond his teaching days at Covina High.  As a teacher, Mr. Kemp was renowned for his love, knowledge, and a keen interest in the shop classes at CHS.  Numerous students enjoyed his classes and gained lifelong skills in metal shop, woodshop, an auto-shop. Coach Kemp coached baseball at CHS for seventeen years capturing league titles and impacting his students on the athletic fields as well.  Mr. Kemp was also known for dedicating his time outside of class too.  He worked as a Driver’s Education instructor for twenty-five years, taught self-defense classes for free at the YMCA for nine years, taught adult education at night for seventeen years and after his retirement for from CHS for another twenty-four more years! He is also still currently involved with Drug and Alcohol programs in the community.   “For the most part of my working life, I have dedicated my time to helping people. The community of Covina has been my focus to improve where I live. Cooperation, diligence, dedication, and kindness has been my mantra.”

John McDannel

Class of 1959

John McDannel is a former Athlete of the Year as a football player and track athlete at Covina High School upon graduating in 1959.  While still at CHS he was a member of the Letterman’s Club and the Esquire Club.  In 1961 he won the Mt. Sac Decathlon and was also a US National Record holder in the 480-yard shuttle hurdles. John graduated college from the University of La Verne with a B.A. in Economics where he also continued his athletic career in football and track.  John began his flying career with the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer in 1965. In addition to his flying career, Captain McDannel flew at the time Republican Presidential nominee and future President Ronald Regan around the nation during his presidential campaign.  Captain John D. McDannel earned his MBA from the USC Graduate School of Business. He is also a former commercial airline pilot with a 32-year career with United Airlines retiring in 2001. While a pilot, he was awarded the United Airlines Captain of the Year in 1993 and received the UAL Humanitarian Award in 1987. He also has a strong background in community banking and small business financing.  John’s 25-year banking career at the $500,000,000 thirteen branch TransWorld Bank Corp. (TWB) ran concurrently with a 32-year career at United Airlines until he retired in 2001.

Mr. Ray Wilson

English Teacher, Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, Track/Cross Country Coach: 1967 - 2005

Ray Wilson began his teaching career at Covina High School in 1967 and retired in 2005. As an English teacher, Mr. Wilson’s impact on his students was everlasting.  His passion and love for teaching were evident daily and he took most of his pleasure in teaching Junior English.  He enjoyed creating an opportunity for a special relational experience with young adults while challenging them to think and communicate.  Mr. Wilson served CHS as English Department Coordinator for fifteen years, helped develop a core-curriculum, and also as a Physical Education teacher in his early years.  Within athletics he coached lower level-basketball for seven years and assisted Doc Sooter before succeeding him for eight years.  As a basketball coach, he led his teams to three league championships, a final four appearance, and was named San Gabriel Valley Tribune Basketball Coach of the year in 1978 and Southern California Basketball Coaches Association League Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1978.  Mr. Wilson remained athletic director for fifteen years and also coached cross-country and track for six years. As a track/cross country coach he had three league team titles in track, one in cross country, two CIF individual track champions, and had numerous athletes as CIF Finalists. He was and still remains very blessed for his life at Covina High School.

Mr. Stewart Bates

Science/Math Teacher: 1948 - 1986

Mr. Stewart Bates is regarded as one of the best science teachers in the history of Covina High School.  In 1948, Mr. Bates started teaching at Covina High where he taught physics, chemistry, and math. He also coached basketball and track and was the advisor for the HI-Y club. Mr. Bates also coordinated the behind the wheel driver training program for the Covina Valley School District. He also served as Vice President of the Covina Emergency Aid food bank after his school retirement and has been a member of the Covina Presbyterian Church for 65 years. He retired in 1986 after 38 years of teaching and dedicating most of his life to the Covina High Community.

Mr. Stephen Iverson

Science Teacher

Mr. Stephen Iverson was an influential and legendary teacher at Covina High School for thirty-three years. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in natural science in 1951 from the University of Minnesota, Mr. Iverson completed his Master’s Degree in Education from UCLA. Mr. Iverson began teaching at Covina High in 1955 and taught mainly chemistry and physics during his tenure at CHS impacting thousands of lives.  Mr. Iverson married his high school sweetheart in 1950 and had two children.  Their son Scott followed in his father’s footsteps also becoming a chemistry teacher as well while their daughter is a nurse.

Mr. John Bachman

Teacher, Baseball Coach, Administrator

Mr. John Bachman was a successful teacher, coach, and administrator at Covina High School for 30 years. Mr. Bachman began teaching at Covina High School in 1970.  During that time he taught in the English department also serving the school as an AP English teacher and in charge of the school newspaper for 10 years producing the only eight-page school paper in the state.  Coach Bachman was also the head baseball coach at Covina.  He led the Colts to CIF Divisional Championships both in 1979 and 1981.  He was acknowledged as CIF Coach of the Year also in 1979 and 1981.  He has been placed in the San Gabriel Valley Hall of Honors for his coaching accomplishments. After his coaching and teaching career, Mr. Bachman continued to serve Covina High as Dean of students for fifteen years and also as an assistant principal for two years. 

Lieutenant General W. Raymond Peers

Class of 1931

Raymond Peers graduated from UCLA in 1937. He then entered the Army serving with the 30th Infantry Regiment at the Presidio of San Francisco and was granted a commission. He rose through the ranks as a Major and served as the Operations and Training Officer planning and coordinating guerilla, espionage, sabotage and other clandestine operations in Burma during WWII. He was promoted to Colonel in 1945 and was transferred to the China Theater where he was responsible for Strategic Service operations. Raymond Peers was promoted to the rank of General in 1968. He also served as Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his service to our country, General Peers was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and many others. Raymond Peers was a member of the Varsity Colt Football team.

Mr. Frank Haven

Teacher/ASB Director/Dean 1954 - 1985
Mayor/City Councilman 1966 – 1984

Mr. Frank Haven served in many capacities on the Covina High School campus for 31 years. After teaching Social Science for two years he was named the first Director of Activities in California in 1956 and served in that capacity through 1962. He then became Dean of Boys, a position he held for 24 years, retiring in 1985. Mr. Haven also was very involved in the community. In 1961 he was instrumental in acquiring a swimming pool for Covina High School. In 1966 he entered politics in the City of Covina when he was elected to the City Council. He served as on the Covina City Council from 1966 to 1984 and as Mayor for six of those years. The area in front of the Student Store was named “Haven Way” in 1985.

Dr. Stephen Morgan

Class of 1964

Stephen Morgan served Covina High School as Associated Student Body Vice President for the Class of 1964. Dr. Morgan currently serves as the President of the University of La Verne. As Chief Executive Officer of the university, he maintains an annual budget of over $40 million while overseeing Bachelors, masters, and Doctoral programs in a variety of liberal arts and professional areas. He also serves as Director for the Mount Baldy United Way, Los Angeles Area United Way, McKinley Home for Boys, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and Inter Valley Health Plan and member of the Los Angeles County Fair Association. Dr. Morgan earned a degree in Social Science from the University of La Verne, a Master of Science Degree from USC in Educational Administration, and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

Dr. John Heffner

Class of 1967

While a student at Covina High School, John Heffner served as Associated Student Body President. Dr. Heffner currently serves as Program Director, Internal Medicine Training Program, Co-Director Medical Intensive Care Unit, Chairman, Academic Internal Health Sciences Center. He was listed in Best Doctors of America and Who’s Who in the West in 1994 and Best Doctors of the Pacific Region in 1996. Dr. Heffner matriculated from USC in 1970, UCLA Medical School in 1974, and completed his Internship, Residence and Pulmonary Fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Services Center in Denver. He has written ten books, 26 book chapters, 151 articles and numerous grants.

Mr. Donald W. Evans Jr.

Class of 1961

President Lyndon B. Johnson has awarded in the name of The Congress, the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to Specialist Four Donald W. Evans Jr., United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist Evans distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman in combat operations north of Tri Tam, Republic of South Vietnam on January 27, 1967. With his platoon not yet committed to battle, Specialist Evans answered calls of another platoon heavily engaged in battle. Dashing across one hundred meters of open area, through enemy fire, he administered life saving treatment to wounded soldiers. Through the battle he managed to move four severely wounded soldiers to safety, despite being seriously wounded himself. He refused medical treatment while continuing to treat and evacuate the wounded with his waning strength and was fatally wounded while administering aid to another injured soldier. Don Evans’ extraordinary valor, dedication and indomitable spirit saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers.

Mr. Jim Hanifan

Class of 1951

Jim Hanifan was a letterman in football, basketball, and track and field. He was captain of the football team, ASB Vice-President and a member of the Lettermans Club, Esquires and Hi-Y. He continued his athletic career at the University of California at Berkeley where he received All-American honors. He then played in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts. In addition he has had a distinguished coaching career as the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and the offensive line coach of the Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins. In 1977 Coach Hanifan was named NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.

Mr. Robert H. Clark

Class of 1930

Senior Class President and three sport letterman at Covina High School, Robert Clark went on to become one of the outstanding track stars in the United States. Mr. Clark won the National Decathlon Championship in 1934 and 1935 and earned a Silver Medal in the Decathlon in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. He was an American record holder in the Pentathlon from 1936 to 1955, and held the world record in the Decathlon long jump at 25’ 11 ¼” from 1936 to 1960. He graduated from the University of California in 1936.

Mrs. Paula Jean Myers-Pope

Class of 1952

Active at Covina High School as Freshman Class Treasurer, member of the Senior Class Council, the Girls’ Athletic Association, and California Scholastic Federation, Paula Jean Myers went on to become one of the greatest woman divers in the Nation’s history. She participated in the 1952, 1956, and 1960 Olympic Games where she won a bronze and three silver medals. In addition, she won two gold medals in the 1959 Pan American Games. Paula Jean also distinguished herself by winning seventeen National Diving titles and was honored as Los Angeles Times Woman of the Year. Mrs. Myers-Pope continued to coach young divers at her athletic facility in Ojai, until her passing in 1995. She is survived by her five children; three girls and two boys. Paula Jean Myers-Pope is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Mr. Peter Schabarum

Class of 1947

Peter Schabarum was a distinguished school leader and athlete while attending Covina High School. He held the offices of Junior Class President, Commissioner of Athletics, and Student Body President. He was captain of the football team and won All League and All CIF honors. He attended the University of California at Berkeley where he continued an outstanding football career winning All-American honors, and playing in three Rose Bowls. After graduation, he played three years for the San Francisco 49ers. Mr. Schabarum was elected to the State Assembly in 1966, 1968 and 1970. He was appointed in 1972 to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was elected Chairman of the Board on December 5, 1972.

Mr. Robert Earl

Principal, Counselor, Teacher Coach and Community Leader 1953 - 1988

Mr. Robert Earl contributed 34 years as an educator to the students of Covina High School as a teacher, coach, counselor, Assistant Principal, and Principal. While working at CHS, he was very involved in the community. As a member of the Covina Breakfast Lions Club and the Covina Masonic Lodge, he has helped establish programs that provide aid to members of the community. Mr. Earl’s contributions include a fine list of programs for people in need, such as an eye program which offers free glasses for needy CV-USD students as well as glaucoma testing. His other accomplishments include the support of an annual tennis tournament whose earnings go to help WINGS – a shelter for battered mothers and children. One of Mr. Earl’s most beneficial activities has been his creation of a “Students in Government Day”, wherein CV-USD high school students have the distinct opportunity to observe business persons, administrators and officials in the Covina area.

Rear Admiral Fred L. Lewis

Class of 1958

Senior Class President, California Scholastic Federation President, Lettermans Club Secretary, Esquires Treasurer, and Basketball Captain, Fred Lewis excelled in all aspects of high school life. Fred went on to the United States Naval Academy where he earned All-American honors in LaCrosse. As a fighter pilot in Vietnam he won eight air medals while flying the F-4 fighter. Fred Lewis has also won two Meritorious Service Medals, four Legion of Merit Medals and numerous other medals, ribbons and accommodations. He was the commander of VF-142, Carrier Air Wing EIGHT and Fighter Wing ONE, which successfully conducted operations in the Gulf of Sidra and downed two Libyan aircraft. In March of 1993 Rear Admiral Lewis became the first Commander of the Naval Doctrine Command, located in Norfolk, Virginia.

Mr. W. M. "Doc" Sooter

Teacher, Counselor, Coach 1947 - 1974

Coach Sooter headed the Covina Colt Basketball Program from 1947 to 1974. During this time he was one of the most respected high school basketball coaches in the country. He led the Colts to 11 league championships and his teams won over 600 games. He also initiated the famous Covina Christmas Basketball Tournament in 1954.

Dr. Roy E. Harris

Class of 1916

Roy Harris was one of the most honored American composers during his lifetime. His works are preserved in the archives of the Library of Congress. The music of Dr. Harris has been featured in the capitols of the world by the greatest orchestras, choruses and chamber music groups, and referred to for over thirty years by lead critics and historians from around the globe as an American addition to world culture. Roy Harris has been recognized with 22 special honors from federal, state and municipal governments, universities and honorary societies. He has fulfilled over 110 commissions from major organizations, and written over 130 works including eleven symphonies. Dr. Harris was also the Composer-in-Residence at Cornell University and the University of California at Los Angeles, and the Director of the International Institute of Music, of the Inter-American University, in Puerto Rico.

Mr. Gaius Shaver

Class of 1928

From the time he was a member of the CIF Championship football team at Covina in 1926 to the time he captained the Varsity in 1928, Gaius Shaver was an outstanding athlete at Covina High School. Not limited to football, he tied for third place in the CIF Finals in the Pole Vault, setting a school record of twelve feet in the process. He was a member of the University of Southern California Rose Bowl teams of 1929 and 1931 and was voted a member of the "All American Football Team of 1931". He continued an active participation in football as Freshman Football Coach at USC in 1938 and Varsity Backfield Coach from 1940 - 1945.

Mr. Robert Ihsen

Class of 1950

Mr. Ihsen was a legendary teacher on staff at CHS from 1965 to 1988. He did not miss a day of work for 27 straight years until he acquired a case of phlebitis and was carried out of his classroom! Mr. Ihsen has been a member of Covina Historical Society (currently serving as President) as well as serving on numerous volunteer programs within the city and on campus. He continues to proctor AP exams as well as provide AP review sessions well into his retirement. He has been a longtime CHS sports fan and has been nicknamed “Mr. Covina”. He was named to the CHS Honor Faculty countless times as well as receiving the PTA Honorary Service Award.

Mr. Shigeru "Shig" Kinoshita

Class of 1952

Mr. Kinoshita is of Japanese decent and his family was sent to an internment camp during WWII when Shig was only 7. Shig and his family returned to Baldwin Park after the war and continued farming. He attended CUHS and lettered in basketball and baseball and served as senior class president. His family moved to Anaheim and then sold their farmland to developers near Disneyland. Shig continued farming and then began his community service career in San Juan Capistrano. He served as president twice for his local Rotary Club, is a member of the police Associated Senior Action Program, and was named volunteer of the year in 2004 donating over 4700 hours to the San Juan Capistrano Police Department. He was then asked by the Orange Country Sheriff, Brad Gates, to help improve the farming techniques at the Musick jail facility in Irvine. In a short time the prison was growing most of their own fruits and vegetables through his program saving many thousands of dollars. The City of San Juan Capistrano purchased his farmland to build a sports park and an elementary school on the property. "Kinoshita Elementary School" opened in 2000. Shig and his wife, Miyeko visit the school weekly and read and lecture to the students and also take 5th grade students to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles every year. Shig and Miyeko were named Grand Marshals of the San Juan Capistrano Swallows Day Parade in March 2005. Shigeru Kinoshita has truly made an impact on his community.

Dr. Devorah Lieberman

Dr. Devorah Lieberman is the 18th president of the University of La Verne, a nationally ranked and Carnegie-designated private institution for community engagement. As President, she demonstrates unwavering commitment to the mission and vision of the University of La Verne, and constant dedication to the remarkable students the University serves. Dr. Lieberman has broadly published books and articles in higher education literature on the topics of intercultural communication, faculty development, diversity, and institutional transformation. President Lieberman currently serves as an elected commissioner on the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accreditation Council, is a member of the National Campus Compact Board of Directors, a member of the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission on Inclusion, a member of the Board of Directors for Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, and a member of the L.A. County Fair Association Board. She graduated with her Ph.D. from the University of Florida; with her MA from San Diego State; and with her BA from Humboldt State.

Prof. Donald L. Paul

Donald Paul is the Executive Director of the USC Energy Institute, Professor of Engineering, and holds the William M. Keck Chair of Energy Resources. The USC Energy Institute supports university-wide research, education, and workforce development initiatives with industry and governments in the areas of advanced energy systems and infrastructures. Dr. Paul had a distinguished 33-year career with the Chevron Corporation, retiring in June 2008 as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. During his career, he advanced through positions of increasing responsibility in research and development, exploration and production operations, and executive management, including appointment as the president of Chevron’s Canadian subsidiary. Dr. Paul serves as a Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. and in 2014, was re-appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to the National Petroleum Council. He participates in advisory roles at several universities (including MIT, Harvard, and Stanford), government, national laboratories, oil and gas companies, utilities, and technology companies. He is frequently recruited to speak at national and international forums on the future of energy, the security of energy systems, intelligent energy infrastructures, and energy careers. He holds B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees from MIT and an honorary doctorate from the Colorado School of Mines.

William McIntyre

William (Bill) Louis McIntyre, Jr. attended Covina High School from 1961 to 1965 where he played both football and basketball and served in student legislature. In 1969, he earned a degree in business from the University Of Southern California and in the years that followed applied his skills to the historic and unprecedented growth of the East San Gabriel Valley. In 1972, Bill became president of The McIntyre Company, one of the City of Covina’s largest single family home builders. To date, the Company has been involved in the development and construction of over 1500 homes in the City of Covina. The Company in total has built roughly 2,200 homes, and over 600,000 sq. ft. of office/retail space in Southern California. During his professional career Bill has served on the boards of the Intercommunity Hospital, Citrus Valley Health Partners, Covina Irrigating Company, Covina Lions Club, Covina Chamber of Commerce, the University of La Verne and was founder and chairman of Empire Bank. Bill has also received honors such as Covina Citizen of the Year (2010); Developer of the Year from the Covina Valley Board of Realtors, Family of the Year from Citrus Valley Hospice and Company of the Year from Citrus Valley Health Partners. Finally, Bill is a life time member of the California Highway Patrol 11-99 foundation.