Fred C. Beyer High School
Encyclopedia
Fred C. Beyer High School is a high school
in Modesto, California
, located in the San Joaquin Valley
.
ity, enrollment was about 1800. With the addition of numerous portable buildings, the number of enrolled students was as high as 3150, but since Enochs High School opened enrollment has returned to 1800.
When built, Beyer was on the outskirts of the city, halfway between Riverbank
and Modesto. In anticipation of the 1976 United States Bicentennial, the Patriots were chosen as the school's mascot
, and the school colors chosen as red, white, and blue.
Beyer High was intended to incorporate the latest advances in the science of education, the most prominent of which was Daily Demand Scheduling (DDS). It taught students the fourth R (Responsibility). DDS worked so well that school administrators from around the world would tour Beyer to observe how it was done. Unfortunately, DDS was terminated in 1981-82 school year by a decision of the Modesto City School Board of Trustees, over the objections of administrators, staff, students, and parents.
and Color Guard
programs. Their rise to excellence started under the instruction of Bill Parks, but the program grew to be nationally recognized under the direction of Gary P. Gilroy
. Under Gilroy, the band traveled extensively and won numerous awards and competitions including Bands of America
, The Fiesta Bowl
and others.
Although a shadow of its former glory (and half the size), the band continues to experience competitive success in local California lower division marching competitions. The band last saw national success in 2001 under the direction of Michael R. DuFour (a former student of Gilroy) when they placed 2nd at The Fiesta Bowl. The band won two parades on St. Patrick's Day 1999 in Ireland
, also under the direction of DuFour.
Beyer has maintained both a successful Winter Guard
and Winter Drumline. Both groups are multiple WGI
medalists.
For various reasons, Beyer has seen many directors come and go since DuFour's departure in 2001, as well as dwindling attendance. But even with the lower numbers, the band has been greatly successful. Hovering around 85 members and in WBA
Class AAA, Beyer won the Class A/AA/AAA championships in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The Beyer band also won third place in 2008 and second place in 2009, both close competitions. The band is currently under the direction of Marcos Rivera.
teams and individual competitors won numerous state and national awards in the National Forensics League.
Playoffs in 2006. In 2007 the Beyer Patriots made their second trip to the Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs.
Severe played on the 1975 Beyer football team, (nicknamed, the Laun Mower), led by coach Dean Laun, when Beyer won the CCC title while allowing opponents a total of 28 points, including the post-season. There being no Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in the 1970s, Beyer and Stagg High School
played a Sac-Joaquin post-season game called the Turkey Bowl.
In 2011, Beyer's varsity football team went undefeated in league, and 8-2 overall. They beat Downey in decision to who won the MMC title, and won that in their division, continuing to proceed into the playoffs.
Won frequent conference championships in the 80's including a C.I.F. Sac-Joaquin Section AAA Tournament 2nd place finish under P. Cornwell in 1985.
Individual Section/Master's Champions include: Darin Loucks, Jason Yonan, Justin Willingham and Thomas Peterson.
Individual C.I.F. Champion (Division I): Justin Willingham, 1998
Beyer Girls' Cross-Country team went undefeated in the Central California Conference for six years (1994–1999).
Individual Section/Master's Champions include: Lorraine Ricci
(CIF) State Wrestling Championships.
- actor, who graduated in 1986.
Jeremy Renner
- actor, star of The Hurt Locker
Doug Burke, athlete; Olympic Silver Medal, Men's Water Polo, Los Angeles, 1984
Eric Bell, athlete; Pitcher for Baltimore Orioles
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, located in the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
.
Facilities
Although when it was opened in 1972 to an enrollment of 975 students, mostly freshmen and only a smattering of upperclassmen who transferred from other schools voluntarily, Beyer was originally designed to serve approximately 2000 students. By the time the first class of freshman had advanced to seniorTwelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
ity, enrollment was about 1800. With the addition of numerous portable buildings, the number of enrolled students was as high as 3150, but since Enochs High School opened enrollment has returned to 1800.
When built, Beyer was on the outskirts of the city, halfway between Riverbank
Riverbank, California
Riverbank is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 22,678 at the 2010 census, up from 15,826 at the 2000 census...
and Modesto. In anticipation of the 1976 United States Bicentennial, the Patriots were chosen as the school's mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
, and the school colors chosen as red, white, and blue.
Beyer High was intended to incorporate the latest advances in the science of education, the most prominent of which was Daily Demand Scheduling (DDS). It taught students the fourth R (Responsibility). DDS worked so well that school administrators from around the world would tour Beyer to observe how it was done. Unfortunately, DDS was terminated in 1981-82 school year by a decision of the Modesto City School Board of Trustees, over the objections of administrators, staff, students, and parents.
Band
Beyer High School is renowned for its outstanding Marching BandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
and Color Guard
Color guard
In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...
programs. Their rise to excellence started under the instruction of Bill Parks, but the program grew to be nationally recognized under the direction of Gary P. Gilroy
Gary P. Gilroy
Dr. Gary P. Gilroy is a musician, composer, and educator. Currently he is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at California State University, Fresno.Dr. Gilroy also substitutes at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Hanford, California.Gary P...
. Under Gilroy, the band traveled extensively and won numerous awards and competitions including Bands of America
Bands of America
Bands of America , a division of Music for All, Inc., is an organization that promotes and organizes marching band competitions for high school students. Competitions include both Regional and Super Regional Championships as well as the Grand National Championships...
, The Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
and others.
Although a shadow of its former glory (and half the size), the band continues to experience competitive success in local California lower division marching competitions. The band last saw national success in 2001 under the direction of Michael R. DuFour (a former student of Gilroy) when they placed 2nd at The Fiesta Bowl. The band won two parades on St. Patrick's Day 1999 in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, also under the direction of DuFour.
Beyer has maintained both a successful Winter Guard
Winter Guard
The Winter Guard is a fictional team of Russian superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe.The Winter Guard are noted for being "Russia's answer to the Avengers",.. Several members of the group formerly belonged to the Soviet Super-Soldiers, the People's Protectorate and the Supreme Soviets...
and Winter Drumline. Both groups are multiple WGI
Winter Guard International
Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
medalists.
For various reasons, Beyer has seen many directors come and go since DuFour's departure in 2001, as well as dwindling attendance. But even with the lower numbers, the band has been greatly successful. Hovering around 85 members and in WBA
Western Band Association
The Western Band Association is a nonprofit organization that promotes high school music education in California, Arizona and Nevada. Specifically, the WBA organizes many marching band competitions for high school students...
Class AAA, Beyer won the Class A/AA/AAA championships in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The Beyer band also won third place in 2008 and second place in 2009, both close competitions. The band is currently under the direction of Marcos Rivera.
Debate and Competitive Speech team
Under the tutelage of Ron Underwood, Beyer's Competitive Speech and DebateDebate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
teams and individual competitors won numerous state and national awards in the National Forensics League.
Beyer Football
Former members of the Central California Conference (CCC). Current members of the Modesto Metropolitan Conference (MMC). Coach Doug Severe lead the Beyer Patriots to their first trip to the Sac-Joaquin SectionSac-Joaquin Section
The Sac-Joaquin Section is a part of the California Interscholastic Federation, governing high school sports in the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, the city of Sacramento, and the northern portion of the San Joaquin Valley...
Playoffs in 2006. In 2007 the Beyer Patriots made their second trip to the Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs.
Severe played on the 1975 Beyer football team, (nicknamed, the Laun Mower), led by coach Dean Laun, when Beyer won the CCC title while allowing opponents a total of 28 points, including the post-season. There being no Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in the 1970s, Beyer and Stagg High School
Stagg High School (Stockton, California)
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School or Stagg is a public four-year high school located at 1621 Brookside Road in Stockton, CA. It is part of the Stockton Unified School District...
played a Sac-Joaquin post-season game called the Turkey Bowl.
In 2011, Beyer's varsity football team went undefeated in league, and 8-2 overall. They beat Downey in decision to who won the MMC title, and won that in their division, continuing to proceed into the playoffs.
Beyer Baseball
Beyer's Baseball team frequently won conference championships in the 1970s.Won frequent conference championships in the 80's including a C.I.F. Sac-Joaquin Section AAA Tournament 2nd place finish under P. Cornwell in 1985.
Beyer Basketball
Beyer basketball saw a number of conference championships under coach Davis.Beyer Cross Country
Beyer Boys' Cross-Country team has taken three Division I Sac-Joaquin Section (Master's) Championships.Individual Section/Master's Champions include: Darin Loucks, Jason Yonan, Justin Willingham and Thomas Peterson.
Individual C.I.F. Champion (Division I): Justin Willingham, 1998
Beyer Girls' Cross-Country team went undefeated in the Central California Conference for six years (1994–1999).
Individual Section/Master's Champions include: Lorraine Ricci
Beyer Golf
Beyer's Golf team usually competed in section playoffs and occasionally went to state finals under coach Streeter.Beyer High Wrestling
Coached by Doug Severe, Beyer High has had several wrestlers place at the California Interscholastic FederationCalifornia Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
(CIF) State Wrestling Championships.
CIF State Placers
- Donnie Fontana (112 lbs. 5th-1987)
- Tim Louis (138 lbs. 3rd-1987)
- Shawn Hemiller (160 lbs. 6th-1992; 160 lbs. 3rd-1993; 171 lbs. 3rd-1994)
- Kasey Fischer (119 lbs. 6th- 2003)
- Pierre Bondoc (103 lbs- 3rd 2006)
Notable alumni
Timothy OlyphantTimothy Olyphant
Timothy David Olyphant is an American actor whose notable roles in television drama series include Deadwood as Seth Bullock, Justified as Raylan Givens, The Office as Danny Cordray, and Damages as Wes Krulik...
- actor, who graduated in 1986.
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
- actor, star of The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker is a 2009 American war film about a three-man United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and the screenplay was written by Mark Boal, a freelance writer who was embedded as a journalist in 2004 with a US bomb...
Doug Burke, athlete; Olympic Silver Medal, Men's Water Polo, Los Angeles, 1984
Eric Bell, athlete; Pitcher for Baltimore Orioles