BURLINGAME HIGH SCHOOL

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

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The BHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony is held on alternating years
when the Burlingame - San Mateo Little Big Game is held at Burlingame High School.

INDUCTION CLASS 2006

Charles Edmund “Bud” Finger, 1937 (deceased), was an outstanding all-round athlete at BHS. He starred in football, baseball, basketball, track, and golf and made All-PAL in football, basketball and golf. Bud attended Menlo College and is in the Menlo Athletic Hall of Fame for football and golf. He was a Small College All-American for football and golf. Bud went to Stanford where he was an NCAA medallist in golf and was on the NCAA Champions Team (1941-1942). He joined the Navy as a Lieutenant during WWII and served in Europe. After the war, he went back to Stanford as Director of Golf and Head Golf Coach (1946-1980). He coached the 1953 NCAA National Championship golf team and coached Stanford to 13 Pacific Eight Conference golf titles. He is in the Stanford Sports Hall of Fame for golf and was inducted into the NCAA Coaches Hall of Fame in Columbus, OH. His family tells us his best accomplishment was being their Dad. “He was a Great Dad and we miss him.”

Dan Hale, 1943, was a 3-sport athlete at BHS. He lettered in football, basketball, and tennis. He played first-string guard on the football team and in his senior year was All-PAL in basketball. He was one of the highest scoring forwards in the league. His coach, Lee Lancaster, once told him that he and Byron Van Alstyne were the best pair of forwards he had coached at BHS. He played tennis all four years at BHS. In 1941, he won the PAL doubles title with Bob Rubin and in 1942, he won the PAL singles title. That year he also reached the semi-finals of the California State Junior Tennis Championship. He entered the Army Air Corps after graduation and became a pilot. After the war, he played tennis at the University of California and recreational tennis during his working years. He now lives in Oregon where he has played in several senior tournaments. Lately he has been playing golf three times a week.

Robert “Bob” Kane, 1944, was a 4-sport athlete while attending BHS. He lettered 4 years in basketball and was picked 3 years as an All-PAL player. He lettered 2 years as a quarterback on the football team and received Honorable Mention All-PAL in 1943. His big thrill was catching a touchdown in the Little-Big Game. Burlingame won 14-0. He lettered 2 years as a catcher on the baseball team and 2 years on the tennis team. After graduation, he served in the US Navy for 3 years. Bob played on the SMJC championship basketball team coached by Ray Balsley. He graduated from USF law school and was appointed to the Superior Court bench in San Mateo Co. and in 1971 to the State Court of Appeals. He also served as the Ambassador to Ireland. He is now retired and lives with his wife, Keke, in Clovis, CA. They have been married for 55 years and are blessed with 3 sons, 2 daughters, and 10 grandchildren. Alumnus of the Year 1985, IN MEMORIAM (1926 - 2007)

John Treu, 1952, was a 4-year letterman in both football and track at Burlingame. He was coached by Vic Mangini and was a class pole-vaulter, high jumper, and hurdler on several championship teams. In football, he played tight-end on the co-PAL Championship team. John later played 1 year at Menlo College, joined the army and returned to football at the College of San Mateo and later at Cal Poly. He got his teaching credential and coached 9 years for the Department of Defense all over the world, including France, Italy, England and Japan. From 1971 to 2000, he taught physics and chemistry at San Marin High School in Marin where, for 27 years, he was a successful football coach. His teams won 13 league championships and 3 NCS titles. John currently resides in Capistrano Beach, CA.

Ted Treu, 1955, lettered 9 times at BHS. He was a 4-year starter on the BHS football and baseball teams. He played shortstop and pitcher all 4 years on the baseball team. He also played 30s basketball. After graduation, Ted entered the Army. He attended CSM and played 2 years of football where he was captain of the 1958 Big Eight Championship team. He went on to SF State and played on the only undefeated football team the school ever had. He was named to the All-Far-Western Conference Team. Ted played semi-pro football locally. He was invited to participate in 7 World Championships at the Ironman competition in Hawaii. In 1988 he competed against his son – a great bonding experience. (Ted says: “Oh yes, he kicked my butt.”) He and his wife live in Redwood Shores.

Jesse Undlin, 1955, was considered one of the county’s best pole-vaulters between 1953 and 1955. Vic Mangini was his coach during those years and Jesse steadily improved and won many titles and set many records. His best high school vault was 13’2” in 1955 (the best height in Northern California at the time). Through his efforts, the Burlingame varsity track team was able to win the PAL Championship, the NCS Group II, and the NCS Finals. Jesse received an athletic scholarship to the University of Colorado where he vaulted 14’ ¼” in his frosh year and became the top college freshman pole-vaulter in the nation. In 1957 he won the Kansas Relays 14’ 0” and the Big 8 Outdoor Championship. He and his family currently reside in Vacaville, CA.

Roberta Alpers was a Teacher/Coach at BHS for 35 years (1960-1995). She coached many championship teams including 10 boys’ tennis team championships, 17 girls’ tennis team championships, and 11 regional team championships. She also coached a National Collegiate Singles and Doubles champion, Linda Gates (1981), who was at Stanford for 4 years. (Linda is in the SM County and BHS Athletic Halls of Fame.) Roberta was director of the California CCS Individual Tennis Tournament for 10 years, PAL Chairperson for 20 years, and CCS Representative. She was inducted into the San Francisco State University Hall of Fame in 1992. Roberta taught many other sports, as well as academic subjects, at BHS and was chosen Coach of the Year at BHS in 1992. The list of her accomplishments goes on and on! She and her husband, Arthur, raised a son and two foster daughters.

Gary Goodrich, 1971, was a 4-year letterman in wrestling at BHS under the coaching of Jack King. Mr. King said that Gary was the best wrestler he ever coached and that Gary was an extremely well polished wrestler with a great amount of technique. In his junior year, he was co-captain of the team and the Mid-Peninsula League Champion 168 lb. wrestler. He placed #2 in CCS. Gary was captain of the team in his senior year and was undefeated that year. He placed 1st in the Mid-Peninsula League, but was injured and was unable to participate in the CCS and State Tournament. He also lettered in freshman football and participated in shot put at BHS. Gary went on to Skyline College where he wrestled and went to the State Finals. He is in the Skyline Sports Hall of Fame. He graduated from Cal Poly, is married, and has 3 sons. He is the assistant wrestling Coach at Irvington High School.

Peter Diepenbrock, 1982, was a 4-sport letterman in basketball, baseball, tennis and cross-country. In his freshman year, Peter was frosh-soph first-team All-League in basketball and the team’s MVP. During his sophomore year, he was on the cross-country team, the frosh-soph basketball League Champion team, the first-team All-League, and was the team’s MVP. He joined the varsity basketball team in his junior year and was the BHS team’s MVP and Junior Athlete of the Year. In his senior year, he was first team All-League in basketball, first team All-County, first team All-Northern California and the BHS basketball team’s MVP. He went on to Menlo College and was All-League in basketball as a sophomore. He received his degree at UCLA. Peter coached the Women’s National Basketball Team in Denmark and was assistant basketball coach at UC Davis. He is currently a teacher/coach at Palo Alto High School and this year he led his basketball team to a State Championship.

Steve Bortolin, 1984, was an outstanding athlete during his four years at BHS. He lettered in football, soccer, and baseball in his last three years and won many titles. He was Sophomore Athlete of the Year, received the Frosh-Soph Coaches Award, and was the frosh-soph soccer team’s MVP. In 1982, he was the Soccer Championship goalie and MVP for the varsity football team. He was chosen Outstanding Athlete in his junior and senior years. Steve played in the North-South Boys Club All-Star game in 1983. After graduation, he attended CSM and received the Special Team Award in football. He and his wife now reside in Oregon where he works as a foreman for a major plumbing company. He joins his sister Corinne Bortolin Armstrong (1987) in the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Ernest A. Scheppler, 1934, was President of the ABS and in the German Club while at BHS. He played basketball and ran track. After graduation, he attended the University of Santa Clara and the Los Angeles School of Optometry. At Santa Clara he was on the basketball and baseball teams. He served 4 years with the Medical Corps in the U. S. Army. He has been an optometrist for 50 years in Burlingame. Ernie was the BHS alumnus of the year in 1993.

Arthur "Bud" Belton, 1937, was on the Student Council, an officer of the Block "B" Society and played in the orchestra. He was All-PAL in football, basketball and track. He attended College of San Mateo and UC Davis. As a Private and commissioned officer, he served with the Medical Service Corps from 1941-1945. He received his DDS degree from UCSF in 1950 and was a self-employed dentist in Burlingame until 1981.

Paul Armstrong, 1940, was All-League in basketball while at BHS and received letters in basketball and swimming. He was also active with ABS, played in the orchestra and was on the Student Council. He attended San Mateo JC (where he was VP of the Student Body), University of Minnesota, San Jose State, Stanford and San Francisco State. He was in the U.S. Infantry during WW II.

Ron Dawson, 1951, participated in football and track all 4 years at BHS. He held the PAL record in the 220 yard dash (a record that lasted for 29 years). Ron also set records in the broad jump as well as the 440 and 880 relays. He later served in the U.S. Army.

Carl Roepke, 1952, was president of his Junior class and on the Student Council. His sports included football, baseball and track. In 1952 he was captain of the football team, on the All-PAL Football First Team, Northern California Player of the Week and captain of the North-South Shrine All-Star game in LA. Carl attended the University of Utah and the University of Michigan.

George Cantaloub, 1953, played football, basketball and ran track while at BHS. He was president of the Block "B" Society, All-PAL, PAL Player of the Year, All-Northern California Lineman of the Year, All-NCS and Sixth Team All American. He played football at San Jose State and served in the U.S. Army.

Byron Van Alstyne, 1944, was an All-League basketball player while at BHS. He participated in music as well as sports. His schooling included Menlo JC, USC and Stanford. Byron was in the Navy for 1 -1/2 years. He taught and coached at Menlo JC, Jefferson and Westmoor High Schools.

Bruce Van Alstyne, 1945, was an All-Conference football player at BHS. He also played basketball and tennis and was President of the ABS. After graduation he served in the U.S. Navy. After the military he attended Menlo College and Stanford. While at Stanford he played in the 1950 East-West Game.

Wally Vickery, 1947, earned letters in tennis and basketball. In his freshman year he won the NCS doubles. In 1945, 46, and 47 he won the NCS singles. Wally attended San Mateo JC and won the #1 National JC doubles. He also attended Golden Gate College, USF, and Santa Clara. His military career included 2 years in the Army.

John "Phil" Hazelrig, 1965, was Student Council President, a class officer in his Sophomore and Junior years and won varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He attended Chapman College and the U.S. Naval Academy where he played football and basketball. Phil retired from the Navy as a Captain and is currently working at NASA's future Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.

Linda Saefke, 1984, was involved in three athletic programs while at BHS: volleyball, basketball and softball. She was on the varsity squad in each program for all 4 years. Linda was All-County in basketball and softball in 1983 and 1984. Linda attended College of San Mateo and San Francisco State.

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