By Randy Economy
Los Cerritos Community Newspaper
www.loscerritosnews.net
I am proud of Cerritos College for starting a "Hall of Fame." Long overdue. This past Thursday night, I was honored to be a guest of Dr. Edward Bloomfield and his family to attend this incredible evening. Congrats to the "First Class" of Hall of Famers.
Here is my take from Los Cerritos Community Newspaper, and this will be featured in this weeks print edition and is also ON LINE NOW at www.loscerritosnews.net.
Bloomfield, Yary, Kincaid top first Cerritos College Hall of Fame inductees
Cerritos College has inducted seven people into the Inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony and it includes legendary names that have become synonymous with the campus and surrounding community.
Dr. Edward Bloomfield, Ron Yary, Wally Kincaid,
PHOTO: Cerritos College Hall of Fame Inductees inclulde Wally Kincaid, Ron Yary, J.P and Alice Wang (front), Dr. Gerald Roodzant, Barbara Reinalda, John Gallant and Dr. Edward Bloomfield.
Dr. Edward Roodzant, John Gallant, Barbara Reinalda, and local business owner J.P. Wang of GST Inc. were all presented with accolades and crystal awards during a two hour ceremony held last week at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel.
In front of a pack ballroom of 380 dignitaries, elected officials, faculty, and former and current students, the seven inductees each recalled their memories at Cerritos College and many of them fought back tears during their acceptance speeches.
Here is more about this year’s inductees:
Dr. Edward Bloomfield, Distinguished Faculty Member, Philosophy:
During his 35 years of teaching philosophy at Cerritos College, Dr. Bloomfield guided and nurtured the intellectual life of thousands of students, and his love for teaching continues to benefit his students. Upon his retirement in 2003, Dr. Bloomfield, a longtime resident of Artesia, established the “Dr. Edward Bloomfield Philosophy Scholarship” and donated his extensive library to the Cerritos College Library.
Dr. Edward Bloomfield, Distinguished Faculty Member, Philosophy:
During his 35 years of teaching philosophy at Cerritos College, Dr. Bloomfield guided and nurtured the intellectual life of thousands of students, and his love for teaching continues to benefit his students. Upon his retirement in 2003, Dr. Bloomfield, a longtime resident of Artesia, established the “Dr. Edward Bloomfield Philosophy Scholarship” and donated his extensive library to the Cerritos College Library.
Ron Yary, Distinguished Male Athlete, Football:
Although Yary only played football for one season at Cerritos College back in 1964, Yary went on to have a Hall of Fame career for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. In his one season with the Falcons, he was an all-conference selection and then played three years at the University of Southern California where he won the Outland Trophy as the national top offensive lineman. Yary was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001. He thanked his family and former players and coaches and said Cerritos College provided him the “solid foundation to succeed in life.”
Although Yary only played football for one season at Cerritos College back in 1964, Yary went on to have a Hall of Fame career for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. In his one season with the Falcons, he was an all-conference selection and then played three years at the University of Southern California where he won the Outland Trophy as the national top offensive lineman. Yary was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001. He thanked his family and former players and coaches and said Cerritos College provided him the “solid foundation to succeed in life.”
Coach Wally Kincaid: Distinguished Coach, Baseball:
Kincaid was lauded as being on the “key innovators” of how baseball is coached at the college level. He was the first baseball coach at Cerritos College and spent 22 years at the helm and won two six state championships, while posting an amazing career record of 678-163 for an astounding .806 winning percentage. Over 100 of his past players have moved on to be coaches at all levels including in the major leagues. In 1992 the Cerritos College Baseball Field was named in his honor.
Kincaid was lauded as being on the “key innovators” of how baseball is coached at the college level. He was the first baseball coach at Cerritos College and spent 22 years at the helm and won two six state championships, while posting an amazing career record of 678-163 for an astounding .806 winning percentage. Over 100 of his past players have moved on to be coaches at all levels including in the major leagues. In 1992 the Cerritos College Baseball Field was named in his honor.
Barbara Reinalda: Distinguished Female Athlete, Softball:
Reinalda literally help place the Cerritos College Softball program on the national map. As a member of the first two Falcon teams in school history, she was voted the conference’s Most Valuable Player for both seasons, went undefeated in her career as a pitcher and batter over .500 during her legendary career at Cerritos College. During the past 11 years, Reinalda has been the head softball coach at Yale University. She flew cross country to accept the award, and stayed less than 12 hours before she was back on a plane for a weekend series against Princeton. “I owe my career to Cerritos College,” she said.
Reinalda literally help place the Cerritos College Softball program on the national map. As a member of the first two Falcon teams in school history, she was voted the conference’s Most Valuable Player for both seasons, went undefeated in her career as a pitcher and batter over .500 during her legendary career at Cerritos College. During the past 11 years, Reinalda has been the head softball coach at Yale University. She flew cross country to accept the award, and stayed less than 12 hours before she was back on a plane for a weekend series against Princeton. “I owe my career to Cerritos College,” she said.
GST Inc., J.P. Wang: Distinguished Corporate Partner:
Cerritos business GST Inc. and owner J.P. Wang is the first business to be inducted into the Cerritos College Hall of Fame. Located on 166th Street in Cerritos, Golden Star Technology went into business in 1985 and is now one of the largest independent computer system integrators and solution providers in Southern California. Wang and his wife Alice Wang had donated more than $5 million in scholarship funds and also founded the International Buddhist Foundation, and have been active with the Cerritos College Foundation since 2007. The Wang’s have also established the Alice Wang Scholarship for single mothers majoring in childhood development at the college.
Dr. Gerald P. Roodzant, Distinguished Alumnus:
Dr. Roodzant has been a practicing dentistry in the La Mirada, Whittier, Norwalk, Cerritos area since 1979. He attended Cerritos College and then transferred to UCLA School of Dentistry and has been one of the most active members of the community for the past four decades. He was lauded for being a “great example” of someone willing to “give back” to Cerritos College through his past leadership as Chairman of the Cerritos College Foundation Board of Directors and serving as the leader of the Cerritos College Foundation Golf Tournament.
Dr. Roodzant has been a practicing dentistry in the La Mirada, Whittier, Norwalk, Cerritos area since 1979. He attended Cerritos College and then transferred to UCLA School of Dentistry and has been one of the most active members of the community for the past four decades. He was lauded for being a “great example” of someone willing to “give back” to Cerritos College through his past leadership as Chairman of the Cerritos College Foundation Board of Directors and serving as the leader of the Cerritos College Foundation Golf Tournament.
John Gallant, Distinguished Classified, Confidential Employee
Gallant worked for Cerritos College for over 35 years until his retirement in June 2011. He served as the administrative assistant to 16 different Vice Presidents of Academics Affairs, and is also a past part-time court reporter instructor from 1983-2003. Gallant had many in the audience laughing when he shared humorous stories about the number of college administrators he “personally trained” as a “rank and file employee, year in and year out.”
MORE AT www.loscerritosnews.net
Gallant worked for Cerritos College for over 35 years until his retirement in June 2011. He served as the administrative assistant to 16 different Vice Presidents of Academics Affairs, and is also a past part-time court reporter instructor from 1983-2003. Gallant had many in the audience laughing when he shared humorous stories about the number of college administrators he “personally trained” as a “rank and file employee, year in and year out.”
MORE AT www.loscerritosnews.net
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