Beyond being a celebration of achievements in sports, Weed High School’s first Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony was a celebration of a small town and its remarkable people.
More than 250 people crowded into Weed’s Sons of Italy Hall Saturday evening as some two dozen former Cougar stars were enshrined in the new Hall.
Many of those who were there to receive their plaques expressed appreciation to their former coaches, teammates, and teachers, as well as their families, and the community or Weed itself.
“It’s not where you came from, it’s how you play the game,” said Eugene Hilliard, a four-sport letterman and member of the WHS class of 1958 who went on to play at Oregon State before starting his career as a teacher and coach. “The legacy I want to leave is that Eugene Hilliard gave his best – not always being the best – but he always gave his best.”
As many did, Hall of Famer Aaron Thomas, who went on to become an All American at Oregon State and a Pro Bowler in the National Football League, praised Weed’s now deceased legendary coaches, Mort Kaer and Al Shipman, who were also inducted.
“I’m here because of Mort Kaer and Al Shipman,” Thomas said. “What I did in sports was dictated by what they did for me. It changed my entire life.”
Thomas, a member of the class of 1957, said he played as a Cougar in the first football game he ever saw and was only planning on going into the Army after high school.
“I’ve always said I was fortunate to go to Weed High School,” Thomas said, and he described how coach Kaer recognized his talent and told him, “‘Aaron, if you study real hard, get good grades and work hard in sports, someday you’ll be All-American.’ And I believed him.”
“I’ve had a lot of great times in Weed, California,” said Bill Duchi, a four-year letterman from the class of 1964. “I was born and raised in this town, and I feel very fortunate.”
“This is a wonderful community,” said Louie Sbarbaro, a member of the class of 1976 who still holds the school high jump record. “To grow up here and have people look after you; it inspires you as a person and to be a better athlete and to want to help others when you get older. It’s a wonderful place to be from, and we should all be proud of it.”
Presenting the inductees were members of the Hall of Fame’s board of directors, Mike Carpine, Arlandus Clark, Peggy Soletti, and Bob Zalunardo.
Clark, a current member of the Siskiyou Union School District Board of Trustees, had the audience in stitches during some of his introductions and recollections.
He got a particularly hardy round of applause when he described the many times he gets approached by people in Mount Shasta with the idea of combining the high schools to create a strong sports program.
“I tell them not over my dead body,” Clark said.
Zalunardo introduced and presented a Hall of Fame plaque to his brother Reno, a member of the Class of 1948, and he described how he once borrowed inductee Bob Groppi’s glove “and pretended to be the slick fielding Bob Groppi.”
“It was great,” Bob Zalunardo said of the event. “It was like a big reunion. I was looking forward to it for month. I wanted to make sure I did my part just right, with the right inflections and everything.”
Soletti helped present the 1937 football team that went undefeated and was unscored upon, and she also presented the only two female inductees in the first Hall of Fame class, Lisa Cattaneo Memo and Amy Escatel.
Memeo said, “I’m truly honored to be in such incredible company.”
The Weed High School Athletic Hall of Fame was organized in 2007 after alumnus Martin Garcia donated funding to get it started. Many thanked Garcia during the ceremony.
Athletes had to meet at least one of the following criteria to be considered for induction.
• All-county or all-league.
• Most valuable player.
• Four year letterman.
• Played a sport at the varsity level for three years.
• Teams attaining record status or state recognition.
• Any individual or team winning a state championship is automatically inducted after 10 years.
• Coaches who have given at least five years of service.
• An athlete will not be eligible for nomination until 10 years after his/her graduation.
Carpine said consideration will begin for next year’s class of inductees in a couple months and they will be announced after the first of the year.
Names may be submitted by community members as well as members of the committee.
Carpine also pointed out that the students who helped with the event are donating all their tips, about $370 worth, to the family of Corben Brooks, the Mount Shasta High School football player who suffered serious neck and spinal injuries during a preseason scrimmage on Aug. 22.
Below is a brief description of the inductees as presented by the committee. 
Jim Fruzza Class of 1932
Jim Fruzza always loved sports. He played for the Weed Sons baseball team for many years. In 1953 they declared a Jimmy Fruzza Day. He always enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, golf and bocce ball.
While at Weed High School Jim lettered in football, baseball and basketball. He was named All-County in football in 1932.
Jim attended UC Berkeley for one year, where he played baseball. He then returned to Weed and was employed by Long Bell Lumber Company.
He purchased the Weed Laundry and Cleaners in 1946, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1977.
Jim married Katie Barbieri in 1939. They were married 51 years before Jim passed away in 1990. They have two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Fred Pillon Class of 1933
Fred Pillon was involved in football, basketball and baseball at Weed High School. After high school he joined the military and returned to Weed when his service was over.
Fred continues to live in Weed. He has two children, Fred Jr. and Sharon. He enjoys fishing and hunting.

Elvy Mazzoni Class of 1935
Elvy Mazzoni has been involved in sports since he was a young boy. His family always supported him and recognized his talent. He was All-County in football in 1933 and 1934. He played right halfback.
In track he ran the 100 yard dash in 9.9 seconds in 1935. He also excelled in baseball as shortstop from 1932 to 1935.
After high school Elvy went to work at the Weed Lumber Company. He and his wife, Lydia, have one son, Elvy F. Mazzoni. Elvy continues to live in Weed and is retired.
Peter Mazzoni Class of 1935
Peter Mazzoni was born in 1915 to Pietro and Lucia Mazzoni. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and sports.
While at Weed High School Peter was named All-County in football and baseball. He played four sports and was captain of all of them.
After graduation from WHS Peter enlisted in the Air Force during World War II, where he was a military policeman. After the war Peter returned to Weed and worked for International Paper until his retirement in 1978.
Peter and his wife, Sully, had two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Peter passed away in 1999.
Alford Linville Class of 1936
Alford Linville was born in Reubens, Idaho and moved to Weed at the age of three. His hobbies include photography, hunting and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He continues to enjoy working as the docent at the Weed Lumbertown Museum, as well as serving on the museum board of directors.
While at Weed High School Alford served as president of his junior class and student body president his senior year. He was named an All-County football player his senior year.
After graduation Alford went to work for Long Bell Lumber Company in June 1936. He retired in 1978. He also worked as a business agent for the local 2907 Union from 1955 to 1958.
Alford and his wife, Lucille, were married for 68 years before she passed away in July 2008. They have six children, 19 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Nathan Glover Class of 1942
Growing up in Weed Nathan Glover enjoyed football, basketball, track, volleyball and boxing. He continues to be an avid sports fan and supporter.
During his time at Weed High School Nathan was accomplished in football and track. He broke the low hurdles record in 1941 and 1942. He also ran the high hurdles.
After graduation Nathan received his AA degree in sociology and a certificate in supervisions from Laney College in Oakland, Calif. He worked with the Federal Civil Service for 45 years.
He also served during World War II and the Korean War. He spent a portion of his career in the Philippines during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Nathan and his wife, Lorenza, have nine children. He is currently retired for the Federal Civil Service and living in Weed.

Joel Fletcher Class of 1939
1939 — Football (the “Flash”); basketball, baseball, track.
1938 — Football, basketball, baseball.
1937 — Football, basketball, baseball.
1936 — Football, basketball - B team, baseball.

Bob Groppi Class of 1944
Bob Groppi was involved in all sports while he attended Weed High School. He was named to the All-Tournament team at the Aker Basketball tournament in Chico in 1944.
After high school Bob entered the Air Corps. After discharge he worked in the factory off and on until February 1947, when he opened his grocery store. He owned and operated the grocery store until 1989.
Bob has two children, Shelly and Randy. He is currently retired and living in Weed.

Bob Guerra Class of 1948
Bob Guerra was the youngest of four brothers. When they were little they would organize their own sports between the neighborhoods — C camp would play A camp and so on. They played marbles, rubber band guns, baseball, football and many other sports.
Bob was the captain of his high school football team. He felt he would not have made it through high school if he hadn’t played football. He enjoyed the friendships he made while in high school his entire life.
Bob enlisted in the military right after high school and served in the Air Force for four years. After his discharge he married Bruna, his little “Dolly.” He and Bruna had two sons, both of whom played football.

Reno Zalunardo Class of 1948
Reno Zalunardo played baseball, basketball or football, rain or shine as a youngster. During the winter snows he and his friends would sled down School Hill and did some ice skating on the lake.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends. After graduation Reno, Geno Andreatta and Wayne Ove climbed Mt. Shasta.
While at Weed High School Reno played basketball, football, baseball and ran track. He was a member of Block W all four years of high school and received All-County honors for football his senior year.
He was offered a scholarship to play basketball and baseball at the University of Portland, but joined the Air Force instead.
Reno was discharged from the Air Force in 1954. He attended San Bernardino Valley College, where he played football his freshman year, but injured his knee. He went on to graduate from CSU Sacramento in 1959.
He worked for Aerojet General Corporation as a contract analyst until his retirement 34 years later at the position of contract manager.
He married his wife, Marilyn, in 1954. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Mort Kaer Jr. Class of 1949
1949 — Football - All-County quarterback, basketball, baseball, track.
1948 — Football - All-County quarterback, basketball, baseball, track.
1947 — Football, track.
1946 — Baseball, track.

Melvin Dawson Class of 1950
Melvin Dawson participated in basketball, football, track and baseball at Weed High School. He also played basketball while in the Air Force — as many as 40 games per season.
After his discharge from the Air Force in 1955 Melvin attended Chicago LaSalle Extension University with a major in accounting.
He worked in that field until June 2005 when he closed his office. He still does some income tax work in his retirement.
Melvin and his wife, Bertilla, have four children, Rodney, Gregory, David and Roxanne.
Aaron Thomas Class of 1957
Aaron Thomas moved to Weed in 1948 from Dierks, Arkansas with his family. He had his first job in his 8th grade year when he started washing dishes in his parents’ restaurant for 87.5 cents an hour.
He was a member of the Boy Scouts where he developed a love for camping, fishing and hiking. His hobbies in school were fishing, hunting, basketball and track.
He participated in Boys State, the North-South football game in Los Angeles, the 20-30 All-Star football game in Sacramento and was the recipient of the Neil Wade Award.
After graduation Aaron went on to play football at OSU. He graduated from OSU with a Bachelor of Science in 1962 and a Master of Education in 1967.
He joined the NFL in 1961 when he played for the San Francisco 49ers. He went on to play for the New York Giants from 1962 to 1970. He played in the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco.
He was in the Senior Bowl game in Mobile, Alabama, the All-American game in Buffalo and the Chicago All-Star game.
He has been inducted in the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame and the State of Oregon Hall of Fame.
Aaron and his wife, Joan, live in Corvallis, Oregon. He ha five children, Todd, Troy, Robb, Lance and Leslie.

Eugene Hilliard Class of 1958
Eugene Hilliard was a four sport letterman in high school and was a member of several league championship teams — track, baseball, football and basketball. He received all league honors in baseball, football and track.
He won the Neil Wade trophy for the most outstanding athlete his senior year. At the end of his senior year he was named to the Northern California All-Star football team and played in the Optimist All-Star game.
After high school Eugene enrolled at Yuba College where he played baseball and football. At the end of his second football season he was named the most valuable and the most outstanding player.
He was later inducted into Yuba College’s Hall of Fame. He left Yuba College after accepting a football scholarship to OSU where he played football for two season, starting at wingback and safety positions.
He also played baseball for OSU and was a member of two northern division baseball championship teams. As an athlete at OSU he earned five varsity letters.
Eugene earned a BS and two MS degrees at OSU. Following graduation he taught at Highland View Junior High School in Corvallis, Oregon. During two summers of his first five years of teaching Eugene played baseball with the Chicago Cubs baseball organization.
At the end of his fifth year at Highland View he was hired as an assistant football coach at OSU, where he coached for seven years. He later returned to the education field teaching and coaching, before retiring in 1998.
Eugene and his wife, Jerry Sue, have three children and reside in Corvallis.

Bill Duchi Class of 1964
Bill Duchi graduated from College of the Siskiyous and Sacramento State University. While at COS he played baseball and basketball.
He was named as an All-League player in the Golden Valley Conference in both baseball and basketball.
Bill and his wife, Susan, have two sons, Dennis and Darren. They have three grandchildren. Bill owns a lumber business with his brother in Weed.

Don Welch Class of 1964 
Growing up Don Welch enjoyed hunting, fishing, swimming, snorkeling and studying the wildlife habitat in the Weed area.
The summer of his junior year in high school Don and some of his classmates competed in the Junior Olympic Track and Field weekend meets. They all achieved personal medals and ribbons.
Don received a football scholarship to OSU, where he majored in art with a minor in biology. He played football for three years until a knee injury ended his college football career. He was inducted into the Oregon State Hall of Fame.
Don worked for Union Carbide and Elkem Metals for 13 years. He also worked in construction and built several homes in the Lakehead area.
He and his wife, Cyndie, have been married for 38 years and have five daughters, as well as two foster children. he is currently retired from Shasta Nurseries, Inc.
Don credits many of his achievements in team sports to the dedicated parents, teachers and coaches of our small community. Specifically, he remembers Art Fish, Vince Delgado, Jack Harris, Mort Kaer, Bob Linebarger, Al Shipman, Bob Burcell, Tom Pemberton and Mrs. Ewing.
Vernon Henderson Class of 1972
1972 — Football-co-captain, All-SCL defense, Bee SupCal Honorable Mention, Booster Club defensive back, basketball, track-co-captain, NSCIF semi-finals 100 meter record, SCL 440 relay record.
1971 — Football-SCL Honorable Mention, basketball.
1970 — Football (JV), basketball (JV).
1969 — Football (JV), basketball (JV), track-captain.

Louis Sbarbaro Class of 1976 
Louie Sbarbaro was honored as a member of the All Superior Small Schools Basketball All Star Team. He was also the record holder in track with a high jump of 6 feet, 10 inches.
After graduation from Weed High School Louie went on to receive a BA degree in economics from UC Davis. After college he moved back to Siskiyou County and began his career in the insurance business.
He lives in Mount shasta with his girlfriend, Maggie, and his son, Miller. He enjoys playing golf, hiking and biking as much as possible.
Lisa Cattaneo Memeo Class of 1979 
Lisa Cattaneo Memeo grew up in Weed with her parents and two brothers. They enjoyed many camping trips and vacations on the coast. She was active in swimming, skiing, basketball, softball, fishing and hunting.
As an adult she is still active, especially with golf and keeping up with her students. She is fortunate to have been able to travel and vacation every summer.
At Weed High School Lisa was recognized as an All-League player in basketball in her sophomore, junior and senior years. She has been included in Who’s Who in American High School Students.
Lisa attended COS and Chico State University, where she received a BA degree in physical education. She played basketball and softball while at COS and softball at Chico State.
She earned All-GVC honors as a freshman and sophomore in basketball and in softball as a sophomore.
Lisa and her husband, Gary, have tow sons and live in Cottonwood, where she is a physical education teacher, athletic director and volleyball coach at Evergreen union School District.
Amy Escatel Class of 1988
Amy Escatel started playing sports at a young age. She was the first freshman to play on the girls varsity basketball team.
She was named to the All-League team for three years in both softball and basketball. She was voted MVP of the league her senior year in softball and basketball.
After graduation Amy attended COS and Cal State Sacramento. She played basketball and softball while attending COS.
Amy graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy and is currently serving in Roseville, California. She has two daughters, Kylie and Claire, who are also very involved in many sports — swimming, soccer, T-ball and basketball.
Mort Kaer
Football Coach 1945-1973
State Track Meet Champion, US Olympics Representative, All-American Halfback, Shasta-Cascade Co-Coach of the Year, Northern California Coach of the Year, 28 years of teaching, 28 years as WHS Football Coach, 27 winning seasons, 21 League Championships or Co-Championships, 189-48-7 Over-all Record.
Al Shipman
Basketball Coach 1955-1966
Basketball, 10 Championships, League Record 114-13, Overall Record 218-51.
‘A’ Champs 1937-1938
Woodrow Sheppard, Melvin Soletti Sr., Victor Acquistapace, Joel Fletcher, John Leonetti, Frank DeLuca, Bill Kolda, Jim Paletta, Irvin Andreazza, Melvin Carpenter, Tony Bilotti, Jack Linville, Louis Piva, George Meline, Bill Pratt, Louie Tosi, Ernie Chiodo, Dick Belcastro, Herbert Kent, Clyde Lewis, Sam Catalano, Angelo Giorgis, Wilbur Pitt, Jack Kegg.
Head Coach, Jack Danilovich; Assistant Coach, Noel Bonelli; Assistant Coach, William Nixon.