Where Are They Now

Where Are They Now?

LEROY MAAS WAS THE GUEST OF HONOR AT AN ALHS MINI REUNION IN

MALIBU, CA. JAN 26 - JAN 31, 2005

Former teacher and coach, LeRoy Maas, was the honored guest at an ALHS mini-reunion in Malibu, California. His wife Lillian was also invited but was unable to attend due to medical problems.

Mr. Frank Gallagher, (the captain of a former ALHS wrestling team) and his friend Toni Berget were host and hostess of the event which included expenses, was held in the new multimillion dollar mansion that Toni built and Frank supervised the construction of.

The home was built in a gated community high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There were thirty guests in attendance including the following ALHS graduates and their spouse or friend:

From Left to Right: Dale Robinson, Bill Wedge, Manny Steil, Coach LeRoy Maas, Frank Gallagher, John Wong, Clay Lyon, Bill "Wangen" Eriksen, and Pete Veldman

Other guests were friends and relatives of Frank and Toni.

On Sunday afternoon, January 30th, coach Maas and Frank Gallagher went for a walk outside the gated grounds. They met the next door neighbor ad Frank introduced Roy to him. They shook hands and Frank asked how his birthday party went and he said just fine. When Roy and Frank moved on, Frank said,

"Do you know who that was?"

Roy said, "No".

Frank then told Roy that it was Anthony Hopkins, the famous movie actor.

This is a strange world, with this former little 103 pound wrestler from down on Clark Street in Albert Lea introducing LeRoy Maas to the famous movie star. Frank worked for the Walt Disney organization for 41 years and is now retired.

After meeting Anthony Hopkins, Maas got on the phone and called one of his former students, Robert Haukoos who is the son of Bob and Grace Haukoos. Maas said it was more exciting and rewarding talking to a former student who is successful in life than it was to talk to Anthony Hopkins the great movie star.

This was a mountain top experience for Coach Maas to see so many of his former students so far away from home and about 50 years after they graduated.

Coach Maas gave each former wrestler a picture of their time of competition and he also gave them a picture of the old turn around on the north end of Broadway. For recreation, the kids used to drive from the south end of Broadway to the north end, turn around and then repeat the process. They said it was "Fun".

Three of the fellows who were at the reunion are the founders of the Leroy Maas Scholarship Fund. They are Frank Gallagher, Manny Steil, and Pete Veldman. To date the fund has given 17 scholarships to deserving ALHS students with a total value of $20,800.

From left to right: Pete Veldman, Manny Steil, Coach Maas, and Frank Gallagher

These Directors have a basic goal of raising at least $100.000 for the fund. they are near the $85,000 level at the present time. this is truly an ALHS scholarship. It is funded by ALHS alumni, friends, and relatives. The scholarship is for ALHS students.

If you would like to become a part of this scholarship and help the directors reach their goal, log on to our web site where there are instructions for making a donation. The address is:

The Scholarship Funds address is: