Neukom is coming home
By John Horgan
Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 6:35 am in Uncategorized.
In one sense, Bill Neukom is coming home. He’s going to be the new managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants when Peter Magowan retires from that post later this year. Neukom, who has worked as an attorney in the Seattle area for 40 years, is from San Mateo. He grew up on Warren Road in San Mateo Park and graduated from nearby San Mateo High School in the late 1950s. It was a good time to be a kid on the Peninsula. Neukom, a tall, lanky fellow, was part of an informal gaggle of male teens who hung out at South Hillsborough School during the summer months. It was there, on the rudimentary outdoor basketball court at the school, where the Hillsborough Athletic Club was formed. To be honest, the HAC was a club in name only. But it was a lofty label you could use to tell your parents where you were going on a hot July evening. When it got dark, games were illuminated by the lights from parked cars. An entire generation of mid-Peninsula prep basketball players tested themselves at the HAC. The names go on and on: Mike Toomey, Phil Rognier, John Egenolf, Terry Curley, Gene Chaput, Dale “Driller” Miller, Pete Carboni, Sil Vial, Geoff Smith, Ed Shuler, Mike Zocchi, Doug Kast, a guy who called himself “San Jose” and a host of others. Neukom was part of it. He just happened to be a bit sharper than the rest of us. He had a wider world-view. He left San Mateo County to attend Dartmouth College in New England. He returned and graduated from Stanford Law School. By the late 1960s, he was in the state of Washington and his legal career was taking off. The rest, as they say, is history. As for the HAC, well, it’s long-gone. So is that asphalt outdoor basketball court at South Hillsborough School.
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May 19th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
John…great nostalgia piece on all the good men who raced up and down the hardcourts on warm summer evenings in the late fifties at South Hillsborough school. All winners - may the intervening years be treating them well. One name conspicuous by its absence: Dave Mathis - San Mateo High School class of ‘56. Old timers like myself still swear that when Mathis had his sweet mid-range jumper working, the nets in the venerable SMHS pit would actually start smouldering. Present day shooting guards have nothing on him; and all the friends we had in days gone by were truly special. Peace, from mt
May 20th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Yes, Michael, those were indeed great days and nights. No gangs, no high gas prices, no traffic jams. We thought it would go on forever. Wrong. But the old HAC certainly had its moments. And, for sure, Dave Mathis could shoot the melon.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
right on john, great memories, a better time and lots of b-ball….. mike toomey
May 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Mike, as a final note on the 1950s, let’s have a moment of silence for the likes of Carter’s Creamery, Blimp’s Hot Dogs and the awesome lunch counter at Newberry’s on Fourth Avenue in downtown San Mateo.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Let’s not forget the open gym on Saturdays at Mills High in the mid-60s!
June 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
If Neukom can save the Giants, then he REALLY will have acomplished something. Glad to see that his knee is better and that he can go left and right, with or without the ball. Good wishes, Bill!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
Johnny H. –
What fun to read about the “good old days” when women were women and men wore Chuck Taylor low tops. And now, in my 67th year, my oldest son’s father is law is Gary Hughes, one of Serra’s most venerable alums - currently with the Cubbies (small world, eh). Gary and I attended a basketball camp run by Ray Balsey at the old SMJC gym in downtown San Mateo when we were in Jr. HS. What we would all give to have one more afternoon/evening at the ball yard. Hey Horgan, hand me another Spreckles milk shake.
g/
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Gene, great to hear from you. Gary Hughes is indeed a Chicago exec. And doing quite well if the NL Central standings are any indication. By the way, speaking of nostalgia on the Peninsula, if you haven’t checked out the photos on the walls of Bucky Kahler’s bar in San Mateo, do so. The youthful visage of Kris Kristofferson (sic?) is there for all to see.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Johnny H.
Was with Gary Costello (another great but unrealized hoopster) last week and he had been a bartender at Bucky’s up until a short time ago. Six degrees man.
Where are you residing? Love to buy you a beer sometime(SOON)when you and Hughes are around. I’ve been down in Portola Valley for 40 years…and still here. Phone number is (415) 613-0014 (cell) and home (650) 854-1312.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
PS –
JH, my claim to fame is that Kristofferson slammed a line drive into my face when I was in third grade (Park School - Neukom went to the same grammar school). What a treat. Do you think I can collect or has the statute of limitations run its course; besides it was unintentional.
g/
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 am
It is likely that the statute of limitations would apply in the case of that long-ago whack in the chops. But ask Bucky Kahler. I do believe he attended Park School as well. Ah, the luminaries. Bring back Sil and Serge Vial.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Johnny –
You are absolutely correct; both Bucky and big brother Bill attended Park School. I happened to be placed under the 6th grade teacher’s desk (Mrs. Tuttich) and, I, (along with many others), placed my John Hancock right next to Kristofferson’s. He must have been a bad boy every so often too. When SI had the full back page dedicated to the amateur athlete of the week, Kristofferson made it as the best rugby player on the West Coast. He was attending Pomona College and that was in the late ’50s. Trivia rules !!!