Hollister
– The Baler Education Foundation honored eight local men and
women Saturday night for their contributions to the education of
local teens and their community at the annual Baler FameFest.
Hollister – The Baler Education Foundation honored eight local men and women Saturday night for their contributions to the education of local teens and their community at the annual Baler FameFest.
“It was a really special afternoon, cold weather or no,” said Kathleen Wright, one of the event’s organizers. “These are people who have taken their talents and really done something for the community, and that deserves recognition.”
The Baler FameFest is the foundation’s “signature event,” which helps fund a mini-grant program for academic activities at SBHS and, one day, a $1 million endowment to help out when state funding just isn’t enough – the foundation hopes to one day provide $50,000 in grants each year.
Bill Cagney, Fulton “Bumpy” Picetti, Ruth Cunningham, Helen Matulich, Mickie Luna, Bob Mattson, Tim Shellito and Gary Goularte were honored Saturday afternoon at a food and winetasting at the Jack Tyler Ranch – one resident for each decade from the 20s to the 90s. Honorees were selected based on their contributions to SBHS or what they accomplished for their community upon graduating from SBHS.
“What a great representation of what comes out of our high school,” said Michal Query, who helped organize the event. “It really shows the dedication of our faculty, our board members and administration.”
Over 250 people attended the event, which raised approximately $15,000 for the foundation.
“All of our honorees had quite a few friends and family with them,” said Wright. “Everybody was very supportive… seeing these friendships that go back 40, 50, 60 plus years is amazing.”
Past Baler Hall of Fame honorees presented the awards, and SBHS students representing the NJROTC and Associated Student Body volunteered to help things run smoothly and added their own special brand of enthusiasm to the event.
“I think that’s what’s really neat about the high school, its diverse student population, you have students at all levels and interests and it makes a difference,” said honoree Helen Matulich.
The foundation also announced at the FameFest its intent to form an SBHS alumni association – despite the fact that the high school has been running for over 100 years, no formal association exists.
“We’re really looking for input as to what an alumni association should do,” said Query. “Some ideas are special seating at homecoming games, and setting up a database of contact information for alumni, for class reunions or other get-togethers, and we really want to get alumni involved with the foundation.”
Although the foundation does not have any plans for events later on in the year, they are selling “Baler Bricks” for $1,000. The money goes to establish the foundation’s endowment fund and a brick is placed under the arched entrance to SBHS’ main building with a name and short message inscribed.
“Really, all we want is for our young people to see that there are wonderful role models in this community,” said Wright. “Most of them don’t come from families with money or even educated parents, but they succeeded and contributed to their communities, and I think that’s all any of us can ask for, is to give something back.”
For more information on supporting the endowment or purchasing a Baler Brick, write to the foundation at PO Box 328 Hollister CA 95024, or call 637-5504.
The following are San Benito County’s newest inductees to the Baler Hall of Fame, each one representing a different decade.
1920s: Bill Cagney, a 94 year old local resident who taught at SBHS for seven years and served as the County Superintendent of Schools for 25 years.
1930s: Fulton “Bumpy” Picetti, 90, graduated from SBHS in 1934, served in WWII and returned to Hollister where he has been extensively involved in the community ever since.
1940s: Ruth Cunningham graduated from SBHS in 1948 and returned to work in the social science, English and Counseling departments for 24 years until she was elected to serve on the school board. After her husband passed away, she reunited with her high school sweetheart at her SBHS class reunion.
1950s: Helen Matulich graduated from SBHS in 1948 and returned to work there for 34 years as a teacher, counselor and vice-principal.
1960s: Mickie Luna was graduated from SBHS in 1963 and went on to become an advocate and community servant, she currently holds the position of President of the local LULAC chapter.
1970s: Bob Mattson (deceased) served as a P.E. teacher, department chair, coach and athletic director at SBHS for 38 years, coaching baseball, wrestling, Golf and Girl’s Basketball. The Mattson gym at SBHS is named after him.
1980s: Tim Shellito taught multiple subjects at SBHS, served as a coach, division chair, special ed director, vice principal and principal and assisted with the design of the first San Benito County Gang Task Force.
1990s: Gary Goularte (deceased) graduated from SBHS in 1970. He served as a police officer and was president of the Baler Football boosters for ten years. He worked as Transportation Supervisor for 10 years where he secured several grants for SBHS and took an interest in helping and promoting special ed students.
