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Summer Welch-Romero Summer earned varsity letters in cross-country, swim, pom and cheer and track. It was in Track that Summer excelled. She was decent sprinter and jumper, but in her sophomore year she switched to the hurdles; where she dominated the state hurdling events for three years. She won five state championships in three years and broke the state record in the 100 High Hurdles that was formerly held by All American Adra Hysong. After her junior year she placed fourth in the national Junior Olympics in the hurdles. She earned a track scholarship to Northern Arizona University where she set a Big Sky conference record in the high hurdles for both indoor and outdoor track. Summer now lives in Gilbert. |
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Manuel Gonzales Manuel Gonzales exploded on the track scene his junior year. In that year he was an integral part of the 1972 state championship team, placing third at state in the pole vault and running a leg on the relay teams. His senior year he increased his best mark from 14’ 9” to one of the nation’s best 15’ 9.” This stood as an Arizona state record for 10 years. His senior year he won every major invitational and was invited to participate in the prestigious Golden West and International Meet of Champions. He attended Mesa Community College where he participated on their nationally ranked track programs. Manuel today lives in Apache Junction. |
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John Clem John Clem was born and raised in Chandler. While in high school at CHS, John participated on the basketball teams. While John loved sports, his love was Rodeo. He was a natural roper and competed in his rodeo at the age of 11. He won his first major championship at age 14 and was named Arizona All Around Champion Cowboy four times in a row starting at age 14. In 1946 while only 15 he was named the World Champion All Around Junior Cowboy. After graduating high school he joined the professional rodeo tour. He was a top ten team roper five times from 1959 to 1967. He won his last championship saddle in 1994 by winning the United States Team Roping Championship. His professional rodeo career spanned fifty years. John passed away in the summer of 2008, only a month after being selected for this years’ sports hall of fame. |
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Doyle Wilson Doyle earned varsity letters in both football and baseball. In football he was All Central region defensive back. Like his brother Rick, he played catcher on the Wolves baseball team. LOOK FOR STATS. He attended Mesa Community College where he was the team captain. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers, but instead of going pro, he attended the University of Arkansas. While a razorback, the team placed third in the NCAA and Doyle won All Conference honors. After his senior year he was drafted and signed by the Cleveland Indians. He has been a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks and is now a coach for the University of Southern California (USC) where he is the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. |
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Pete Harter Pete attended Chandler High School in the early 1960’s. He participated in six different Varsity sports while a wolf. He was on the first golf team fielded by Chandler High School; earned four varsity letters on the tennis team and earned two varsity letters in both football and basketball. He has the distinction of scoring the first basket in Payne Gym. Pete earned a scholarship to play football at Dartmouth College where he played one year. He suffered a concussion and was advised to give up football and try a new sport, Lacrosse. He lettered three years and earned All Ivy Conference Honors twice, while being the captain for the team. He then served as an Assistant Coach at Dartmouth for three years before beginning a long career in public education. He has been a principal for an elementary school in Durango, Colorado for the past 22 years. |
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Albert Howell Al Howell grew up in Colorado. After stints in Colorado and Wyoming, Al came to Chandler High School in 1959. Like many others of his time, Al coached three sports: Football, Basketball and Track. He was the head basketball coach for three seasons, including a league championship season in 1962. While coaching track, Al developed some of the best pole vaulters in the state, and arguably in the nation. His teams were state champions in 1972 and runner-ups in 1973. He was a nationally recognized and published pole vault coach. Starting in 1965 Al also served as Chandler High School Athletic Director. It was under his direction that girls athletics developed. Teams were added for volleyball, badminton, basketball, softball, swimming, archery and gymnastics. In later years he was appointed the district athletic director, a position that he held from 1976 till he retired in 1989. During that time among many honors he earned, he was inducted into the Arizona Track Coaches Hall of Fame and served on the National Federation Track and Field Rules Committee. Al stills in Chandler, across the street from Austin Field. |
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Gilbert Martinez Gilbert Martinez played three sports at Chandler High School and excelled at all three. In football he was the quarterback and kicker. He set a school record of five touch-down passes against Tempe HS in 1958. This record is still good after 50 years. In baseball he was one of the pitchers for the 1958 State championship team. He earned three letters on the baseball team. In basketball he was an integral part of 1959 team that went 20-3 . Gilbert won All Conference honors and was chosen to appear in the All Star game in Flagstaff. He played one year of basketball at Arizona State University, before transferring to L.A. State. He joined the Air Force in 1962 and served a three year term. After the Air Force he came home to Chandler and joined the fire department where he served the city for 20 years as an engineer and as an EMT. Gilbert is retired and living in Chandler. |
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Jay Bob Bickford Jay Bob was one of the most dominating fast pitch softball pitcher in Arizona History. Jay Bob played for a number of years on the premier teams in the state and nation. He played with the Turquoise Kings from 1974-1978. During those years the Kings won five I.S.C. Travel League championships. After the Kings he played for the 7th Avenue Auto Parts. Jay Bob is already a member of the International Softball Congress (I.S.C) Hall of Fame. |
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Will Vanley Will was the youngest of seven children that grew up in Chandler. He is the first brother tandem inducted. His older brother Lawrence was inducted 2006. Will was a three sport star while in high school. On the football team he was the quarterback and defensive back. His better sports were basketball and track. On the court he was a monster on the boards, pulling in 21 boards in one game against Kofa. He averaged 18.4 points his senior year. In track he was a member of the State championship season, scoring in multiple events. His best event was the long jump where he went 23’. He was .voted the senior athlete of the year for Chandler. He played collegiate basketball for Mesa Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso. Currently he lives in Chandler and works at Chandler High School. |
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Francine Akins-Arbuckle Chandler born, Francine was an active student at Chandler High school. She was a member of the student council, national honor society and the dance club, among many. Francine participated on the Varsity Track Team for four years. She excelled in a multitude of events, setting school records and scoring at the state meet in the jumps and shot put. She was also an excellent volleyball player and was the player of the year in 1978. Francine was also a member of the cheerleading squad. After high school Francine got her Masters’ degree in Psychology and is a licensed professional counselor. She currently lives in Gilbert. |
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Charlie Saunders Native born, Charles Saunders was a multiple sport standout at Chandler High school. He participated on the football and basketball team; but it was in track that he excelled. He was a top hurdler as well as a solid long jumper/high jumper. In the days of landing in sawdust, Charles high jumped 6’ 0” and pole vaulted 12’ 6”. During his prep days he earned 10 varsity letters and won numerous athletic awards, including the Lorenzo England and the senior athlete of the year award. Charles attended Northern State Teachers College earning a letter in football. After college Charles joined the Highway Patrol where he served 20 years before he retired. |