St. Paul High School (Santa Fe Springs, California)
Encyclopedia
St. Paul High School is a Catholic, co-educational high school serving the Gateway Cities
of Los Angeles County owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
, and was founded in 1956. The campus is located in Santa Fe Springs approximately 14 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
high schools. It was known then as Santa Fe Catholic High School, located in two classrooms at St. Marianne School in Pico Rivera, with 100 freshmen from the surrounding Whittier area parishes. The staff consisted of: School Sister of Notre Dame Michael Marie (principal), Franciscan Brother Martin, and Dominican Sister Siena. It is said that a Disney came to the school and told a student to build his dreams up. In 1989 George Lopez
also came to the school to give a speech to a class.
In 1957, the school name was changed to St. Paul to avoid confusion with the recently opened local public high school named Santa Fe. In January 1958, St. Paul High School moved to its present location on Greenleaf Avenue with a student body of 325 freshmen and sophomores. The first class graduated in May 1960.
Since its beginning, St. Paul has been staffed by members of the Order of St. Francis, clergy from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
and, at various times, members of eight different religious congregations. For the past 50 years, there have always been at least two Franciscan Brothers on the faculty. The majority of the teaching faculty is made up of lay men and women. Today St. Paul High School has an enrollment of nearly 700 students.
. In 1959, after college, Ancich started as an assistant coach. After being named head coach two years later, he went on to coach from 1961 to 1981 and again from 1993 to 2005, before returning for a third stint in 2009. He is the winningest high school football coach in California history with a record of 344-123-4, as of the 2008 high school football season. In his long career, Ancich's teams have won three CIF titles ('68,'72,'81), two California State titles and 19 league championships.
Gateway Cities
The Gateway Cities of Southern California are those located in southeastern Los Angeles County. There is some cross-over between these cities and those composing South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, the South Bay, and the San Gabriel Valley...
of Los Angeles County owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
, and was founded in 1956. The campus is located in Santa Fe Springs approximately 14 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
History
St. Paul began in the fall of 1956 during a decade in which Cardinal James Francis McIntyre opened an astonishing 24 CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high schools. It was known then as Santa Fe Catholic High School, located in two classrooms at St. Marianne School in Pico Rivera, with 100 freshmen from the surrounding Whittier area parishes. The staff consisted of: School Sister of Notre Dame Michael Marie (principal), Franciscan Brother Martin, and Dominican Sister Siena. It is said that a Disney came to the school and told a student to build his dreams up. In 1989 George Lopez
George Lopez
George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture...
also came to the school to give a speech to a class.
In 1957, the school name was changed to St. Paul to avoid confusion with the recently opened local public high school named Santa Fe. In January 1958, St. Paul High School moved to its present location on Greenleaf Avenue with a student body of 325 freshmen and sophomores. The first class graduated in May 1960.
Since its beginning, St. Paul has been staffed by members of the Order of St. Francis, clergy from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and, at various times, members of eight different religious congregations. For the past 50 years, there have always been at least two Franciscan Brothers on the faculty. The majority of the teaching faculty is made up of lay men and women. Today St. Paul High School has an enrollment of nearly 700 students.
Football
The head football coach of the St. Paul Swordsmen is Marijon AncichMarijon Ancich
Marijon Ancich is a high school football coach at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California. Still coaching, he is already the winningest high school football coach in California history with a record of 344-123-4, as of the 2008 high school football season...
. In 1959, after college, Ancich started as an assistant coach. After being named head coach two years later, he went on to coach from 1961 to 1981 and again from 1993 to 2005, before returning for a third stint in 2009. He is the winningest high school football coach in California history with a record of 344-123-4, as of the 2008 high school football season. In his long career, Ancich's teams have won three CIF titles ('68,'72,'81), two California State titles and 19 league championships.
Notable alumni
- Bill Bain, NFL player
- Jamie QuirkJamie QuirkJames Patrick Quirk is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. Quirk attended Whittier College.-Playing career:Quirk was also a Parade Magazine All-America quarterback at St...
, MLB player - Mike GallegoMike GallegoMichael Anthony Gallego is the Oakland Athletics third base and infield coach, and a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Athletics, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals from 1985 to 1997.-Baseball career:Gallego was the A's starting second baseman during their three-year...
, MLB player - Andy StankiewiczAndy StankiewiczAndrew Neal Stankiewicz in Inglewood, California, U.S. is a retired Major League Baseball middle-infielder, presently minor league field coordinator for the Seattle Mariners...
, MLB player - Matt WilligMatt WilligMatthew Joseph "Matt" Willig is an American actor and former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He stands 6 feet, 8 inches .-Acting:...
, NFL player and actor - Lawrence McCann, LMB player
- Andy RinconAndy RinconAndrew John Rincon is a former Major League Baseball pitcher born in Monterey Park, California on March 5, 1959. He was drafted out of St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs California by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 5th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft. He was a "September...
, MLB player - Ed LutherEd LutherJoseph Edward Luther is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Jose State.Luther was a backup quarterback behind Dan Fouts with the Chargers...
, NFL player - Jaime Gomez