"Saga of the Saxon"

In looking for information in regards to the Alma Mater I was lucky enough to stumble upon this poem written by one of the first Counselors in Loara High School's History, Mr. "Molly" Wampler.  Both of her daughters taught in the AUHSD as well, Penelope Wampler was at Ball Jr. High School as an Art teacher and "Alex" Wampler ended her career as Counselor at Loara High School.

Mrs. Wampler was also key in the re write of the Alma Mater that we sing today:

Saga of the Saxon

Poem by "Molly" Wampler

In the city of Anaheim on a street

Where Euclid Avenue and Cerritos meet,

Stood a grove of oranges, bright and green.

Just about the prettiest grove you’ve ever seen.

But across the way and behind the trees

Over the freeway and thick as fleas

Grew a crop of youngsters, special all through,

Who needed a school that was special, too.

They hired a man-he was hard to find –

A man who was special, good and kind,

Who was crazy ‘bout kids, and he treated them well,

And they liked what this wonderful man had to sell.

He believed that honor is greater than fame.

He knew that what mattered to attain a name

That would stand unrivalled in truth and strength

Throughout the city’s width and length

Was to look for others who taught as he.

So he searched and ferreted, and eventually

Collected administrators, one, two, three,

Whose values were grounded spiritually.

Then he sought out teachers, one by one.

Till he knew his faculty was excelled by none.

They opened their books and collective heart,

And now, at last, they were ready to start,

Like children who followed the Pied Piper man

Along came the students—they shoved and they ran.

They came by dozens, by the hundreds and then

They increased as if multiplied by ten.

There were the Adams, the Millers, the Beckettsand Dobbs,

The Fielders, the Adlers, the Williams, and Hobbs

The Moons and the Pences, the Kozitzkys and Brights

The Rumery and Normintons, the Smiths and the Knights,

The Turanitzas and Ulloms, the Austins and Griggs,

The Saitos, Van Leeuwens, Balsers and Briggs

The Vargoes, Buchleiters, Meadows and Clarks,

The Harpers, MacDonalds, Feethams and Parks,

The Greenbergs, the Menkins, the Longtins and Schmidts,

Bald and Barkers, Tenhagens and Lycks,

Ikemotos and Linkers, Farrows and Brooks,

Carrs, Linds, and Lawrences, Taylors and Cooks,

The Lightseys, the Jansens, the Gillons and Haynes,

Tilloccos and Schwartzes, the Walks and the Spehns,

DeAngelos, Yontzes, Franzens and Foxes

The Dykes and the Lehmers, Schoenings and Coxes,

Radoviches, Rodaways, Catuccis and Stones,

Valuseks and Thomases, Espositos and Jones,

Tingleys and Lipskys, Wheatons and Woods,

Manheimers, Hodges, Burguenos and Goodes.

There were Hagens and Hactens, Fosters and Fords,

The Herberts, the Salisburys, Wamplers and Wards,

The Murdochs, the Sills and McKays,

Winterbergs, Rusbults, Merchants and Hayes

The Kretchmans and Kovaletezs, Ivens and Hills,

The McWerters and Peters, Martins and Wills,

The Passmorese and Armstongs, the Walps and the Chases,

And on and on.  There were thousands of Faces.

They came in such countless numbers so fast,

That they had to house in Quonsets at last.

They bulged at the seams before they were through,

But with them a marvelous spirit grew.

They said, “We are new, this we’ll have to face,

But our future’s as big as all outer space.

Let’s build us a  name that’ll be honored by all.”

And they did it!  They did it, as I recall

By giving their best through thick and thin

By helping each other to get in there and win,

By setting their goals as high as the sky,

And reaching and working to achieve.  That’s why.

They brought home the trophies time after time.

Their awards were longer than even this rhyme.

They excelled in the spoken and written word,

And their band was the best that was ever heard.

Their athletic contestants took cup after cup,

And their scholars won honors on their way up.

The arts and the sciences were their meat.

There just wasn’t anyone they couldn’t beat

Till at last their prowess was something to fear,

And their rivals began broadcasting loud and clear,

Those people out on the South end of town

Have passed us all by,” and they frowned a big frown.

“They’re excelling at everything, why Man, do you know

They even have sophomores who can steal the show?

Their juniors have proved how superior they are,

And their seniors are the best in the district, by far.

“It’s their spirit, I guess, what else could it be?

We’ve never witnessed such loyalty.

It’s a unit school, or… it’s supposed to be.

But they just won’t divide themselves into three.

“They’re one for all and all for one.

They all join together in having fun.

They all join together in creating success.

And that’s why they do it, those Saxons, heck, yes.”

And so on the corner where Euclid Street

And Cerritos once did modestly meet

Stands a monument that now about a thousand feet high

A monument that will grow to the sky.

As the legend Loara continues to grow

And its searching Saxons are on the go

For more and more knowledge, courage and pride,

Marching together, side by side

And for ages to come folks will tell the tale

How the Saxon banner was raised to sail

More proudly, more nobly than any before

By a school of students who knew the score,

Who practiced the age old Golden Rule,

Who loved their banner and were proud of their school

Those rugged Saxons whom no one could stop

Who marched onward together and up to the top.