Ronald Reagan and Loara

photo shows future Orange County Supervisor Bruce Nestande, Governor Reagan, and Coach Herb Hill 
on the field at Loara High School in Anaheim in 1970. Happy birthday, Mr. President.

As the Presidential election of 2012 fast approaches we are reminded of a simpler time and when the State, Federal and Local Government all came to a stop and Loara High School stood in the limelight.

On October 20, 1970, Ronald Reagan, then governor of California and on a campaign tour, stopped by Loara High School's practice filed to wish the Saxon Football players good luck and to give them his famous, "Win One for the Gipper Speech" (Ronald Reagan played the part of Gipp in the 1940 film Knute Rockne: All American.) Head coach Herb Hill had his picture taken with the future President, caught a few of his football passes and then proceeded to lead the Saxon football team in a cheer for the Governor.  The Saxons were victorious in their game that week.

Newsweek, November 2, 1970

Ronald Reagan returned 20 years later to Loara High School as the President of the United States on October 31, 1986 for a special speaking engagement at the Anaheim Hilton Towers (as seen in the Orange County Register Nov. 1, 86 archives).  The Loara football field was a nice open are to land his Marine Helicoper on.  He landed on a Saturday and students and parents lined both sides of Euclid street to view the President who was surrounded by numerous secret service agents.

Anaheim Bulletin Monday November 3, 1986

"It was supposed to be a secret, but the band found out," said Becky Hannum, Loara's student body president as she waited for the president's arrival Saturday morning.  "It was easy to guess, there were Secret Service guys all over the place since Monday."

The Anaheim Bulletin Monday, November 3, 1986 Reported the landing and took some impressive pictures of the helicopter on the Varsity Baseball field. (see below)

Reagan's secret landing in 1986

(information taken from the November 4, 1970 issue of the "Saxon Shield", November 1, 1986 issue of the Register, the November 3, 1986 article in the Anaheim Bulletin, and a first hand account)