BCC honors the past

Staff photo by Steve Saenz Teammates from the 1974 Barstow Community College Baseball team, left to right, Danny Norman, Mordy Castillo, and Bruce Mitchell respond with laughter to Congressman Joe Baca's joke during the First Annual Barstow Community College Athletic Hall of Fame

I had the opportunity to be part of this awesome event recognizing great athletes of the past. It was probably the best reunion I have ever attended. Cheerful, emotional and motivating are the best words to describe this induction ceremonies. Congratulations to Lefty Olguin and Peter Perez for making this event a success.

Hall of fame inductees recognized By DAVID HELDRETH, staff writer BARSTOW — There’s not much that can make a group of grown people cry. However, one person after another left the front of the room at Ambiance Steakhouse choked up on Saturday evening. They, presenters and inductees, were part of the first ever Barstow Community College Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony. The ceremony honored eight inductees as well as a team. Robin Brown, Danny Norman, Mike Shipley, Bruce Mitchell, Curt Mitchell, Albert Canizales, Dale Fries, Ted Dominguez and the 1974 BCC baseball team were inducted into the hall Saturday evening. “For being the first ever event it was great,” hall of fame organizer and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Lefty Olguin said. “There were great inductees and a great community and that made the event. It’s great to see how tight the community is.” Before the ceremony the inductees, presenters and those in attendance took in the atmosphere and visited with friends from the past. The walls of the Ambiance Steakhouse were covered in Viking colors with old uniforms, banners and hats on display and every table held a trophy from BCC’s past. Several members of the 1974 baseball team came in from around the country including Sid Ravelli who flew in from Ohio. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be back in Barstow,” Ravelli said. “It’s so much fun to see guys I haven’t seen in over 25 years. I came here from Ohio and didn’t know anyone at first, but people here make you feel at home. I didn’t have much money back then but I never went hungry. Someone always helped you out.” As each inductee came forward to be honored they were given a hall of fame ring and a plaque. Barstow City Councilman Joe Gomez and Congressman Joe Baca then presented the inductees with proclamations from the city of Barstow and the 43rd District of California. Baca was also on hand to speak in honor of his brother-in-law and hall-of-fame inductee Ted Dominguez. Dominguez died from complications of diabetes in 2003, but left a strong athletic legacy at BCC. The idea for the hall of fame actually came from Olguin. He has coached and played sports at several schools and is preparing to be inducted to the Los Angeles Harbor College Hall of Fame himself. “This whole thing wouldn’t have been possible without Lefty,” BCC Board of Trustee member Tim Heiden said. “He helped get it started. The hall helps show how great the people who graduated from BCC are and how much they give back to the city.” Olguin will now hand over the reigns of the hall of fame committee to Peter Perez. Perez will run next year’s ceremony and is in charge of the selection process. Anyone wishing to nominate someone for the hall of fame can pick up a form in the Dean of Student Services office at BCC.