Bruce Flanders, the longtime voice of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, passed away last Friday at the age of 75. Flanders had been the official race announcer for the race since 1978, with an energetic and enthusiastic voice that became synonymous with the sunshine and excitement of Long Beach’s signature event. “The ‘Voice of […]
PHOTO BY Stephen Dachman; Susan Pescar and her son Spencer accompany Wilson volleyballer Cynthia Barboza for her induction into the school’s Hall of Fame last Fall. Legendary Wilson volleyball coach Susan Pescar passed away earlier this month at the age of 70 after a long battle with cancer. Pescar, who coached both girls’ and boys’ teams […]
10/2/41-7/1/20 The Long Beach sports world lost a unique and irreplaceable figure earlier this month with the passing of baseball/softball champion and longtime Century Club volunteer Jim Herrick. Herrick was golfing at Little Rec with three friends when he passed away at the age of 78. “You don’t find guys like him very often,” said […]
Three-time Paralympian Angela Madsen died at sea over the weekend while attempting a solo row from Southern California to Honolulu. Madsen was about halfway through her record-setting solo row when she stopped responding to messages on Sunday. A cargo ship enlisted by the U.S. Coast Guard discovered Madsen in the water with her boat, Row […]
The Long Beach basketball world is mourning a pair of losses with the passing of Millikan alum Naomi Iman Wright and Poly alum and longtime volunteer Matthew Mosley. Wright, 23, was tragically killed in late January after being stabbed while dancing at Catch One, a nightclub in Los Angeles. A recent Millikan alum, Wright was […]
There is a hole in the Southern California sports world after the loss of Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others. Bryant was an inspiration for generations of athletes in Long Beach, and not just basketball players. “I met Kobe at the […]
Jordan alum Ron Fairly had one of the most unique lives of any Long Beach athletes, making his name twice over as a baseball star and as a beloved broadcaster. Fairly died on Oct. 30 after a years-long battle with cancer, at the age of 81. Fairly grew up in Long Beach in the 1940s […]
A Long Beach water polo legend passed away last week as Bob Horn passed away at 87 after a long illness. Horn was known most for his legendary career as a men’s swimming and water polo coach at UCLA, but he was a two-time All-American player at Long Beach State in 1957 and 58. Horn […]
Image from Basketball in Long Beach; Tex Winter draws a play on the hardwood.This story features excerpts and a photo from Basketball in Long Beach, available in bookstores, online, or from the authors. Additional reporting by Chris Trevino. Former Long Beach State men’s basketball coach Tex Winter passed away Wednesday at the age of 96; […]
One man is known for being the architect of the famed triangle offense, and he coached five seasons at Long Beach State. Legendary coach Tex Winter died on Wednesday evening at age 96. His is survived by his wife, Nancy, his sons Chris, Brian, and Russ, and three grandchildren. Winter coached the LBSU men’s basketball team […]