Hollister City Councilman and local Realtor Karson Klauer, along with his wife Vanessa, donated $15,000 for San Benito High School to purchase a new scoreboard, confirmed Superintendent John Perales.
Lights were failing on the previous one, from the 1950s or 60s, so Perales put out a request for help on his Facebook page, he said. Immediately, the Klauers came forward, the superintendent said.
Karson Klauer is a city councilman and Realtor with Nino Real Estate.
“They were just so gracious,” Perales said. “He just came in and he said, ‘The school has given so much to me and I’ve been successful and I want to give back,’ which is what I think everyone in the world should do.”
Klauer, who graduated in the spring of 2006, was a successful quarterback and led the Balers to a CCS championship, Perales said.
His senior year, he was named First Team All-Tri-County Athletic League and the Offensive Player of the Year, in addition to winning the CCS Large School Division championship. He also starred in baseball. He earned first team all-league honors three years in a row and TCAL Co-MVP his senior year. He later played baseball at San Jose State.
Perales expects the new scoreboard to easily last 20 to 30 years, he said. The bright, red sign boasts the words “Home of the Balers” at the top with Klauer’s business number, website, and a mention of Nino Real Estate at the bottom.
When one of the panels arrived with a small dent and the school requested it be replaced, the company said it was too expensive to ship back and advised the school keep it, Perales explained. That panel will replace part of the baseball scoreboard. Klauer gave an additional $1,500 donation to the baseball team, with no stipulation for what it would be used for, since his name would also be added to that scoreboard, Perales explained.
“I think it’s win-win. I don’t know how much business something like this would generate,” Perales said. “I’m very proud to be able to help him because he’s helped us.”
Free Lance archives contributed to this story.
