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.
1967 - Cheri Lessley
1984 - Nancy Reiss
