CourierPicks: most distinguished alumni

              MOSt 4isti:O.giiislied ~Ulluii
The Courier staff has decided to serves as an example to all who about his athletic perfonnance. The Police . Department, where he
put together its own nominations to have roamed the halls and class- prediction came true: Bartlett was' reached the rank of detective. But
the distinguished alumni list. It may rooms of Pasadena City College, eventually named to the' Allj even as a police officer. Bartlett
not come as a surprise that we reminding us that greatness some- Southern California team his senio~ remained a member of the U.S.
selected baseball legend Jackie . times starts from humble begin- year, along with his pal, Jackie? Anny Reserve Corp~ serving in
Robinson as one of our choices. nings. Robinson. - t~ Korea and the Berlin Wall crisis. He
Our second choice, however; may Those humble beginnings for That year, Robinson and Bartlett' retired from the anned forces as a
be somewhat of an unknown to Bartlett began in the crude canvas were the kings of the Pasadena grid~ ChiefWarrent Officer in 1979.
man_v. Ray Bartlett was a fellow tents that served as classrooms at iron, leading the Bulldogs (the mas.) Despite his many thrilling expe­p
JC classmate of Robinson s, an what was then the Pasadena junior cot that was later passed on to' riences, Bartlett regards his years at
accomplished athlete who per- College campus. The classrooms, Pasadena High) to 11 straight vict0.:: the college as some of the best of
formed on the field gallantly next to -which were located where the V ries and the Southern California his life. "Our athletic years at PCC
his now famous friend. Banleit s life - building now stands, were not championship. They also held the' were very special, because we won
has been dedicated to public - - - • exactly an optimal Western Conference title along with the championship," he says. "Here
service, as the following learning environ- -Santa Monica City College. The we were, two people of color and
article by Fred ment. "They 1939 Campus wrote glowingly we were the only All-Americans on
Onega can attest. were heated about the two football prodigies, the team!" He also is proud of the
As for Eddie, we in winter, hailing Robinson's over 1000 rush- fact that both he and Robinson were
all thought it but - boy ing yards and their All Southern the only two PCC athletes inducted
would be pretty was it hot California nominations. into the California Community
cool to put his in the In Bartlett's yearbook that senior_ Colleges Hall of Fame, Robinson in
picture in the summer," year, there was a little note written 1984 and Bartlett in 1986. Besides
issue. Enjoy. s a y s under the picture of Robinson, the his accomplishments as an All-
A I I Bartlett, now legendary Dodger. It said: ''To ' American, Bartlett .. believes his
American foot- h . o a sweet player. Luck and happiness;· nomination as Grand Marshal of
ball star, decorat- here's hoping you come over next . last year's Tournament of Roses
ed army veteran, yea~. Sincerely, Jack." Robinsoq· Parade was one of the greatest
police detective, during the tenth was referring to UCLA~ and Bartlett. momerits of his life. I would do it
Rose Parade Grand grade. At the time, took him up on the offer. The deci-~ again tomorrow if they asked me
Marshal. With all that on the school included sion was a wise one; the two went _ to," he says ·of the event in which he
his resume, it's no wonder that 78- . both high school and college on to lead UCLA football to new : represented his friend Robinson,
year-old Ray Bartlett is so busy • classes on the same campus. Once heights. Both went on to -play on a ' who passed away in 1972.
nowadays. . __ . he graduated from the twelfth professional football team · in J Bartlett credits much of his per-
The vivacious PCC alumnus and grade, he was able to move up to the Hawaii. It was while there that - sonal success to the college. "I feel
fonner Jackie Robinson teammate _ newly renovated C, D and E build- Bartlett's career in the Army started; _ fu.at PCC is a very fine institution,"
serves on numerous boards and ' ings, where college courses were and quite abruptly at that. Two days ' he says, "and even though there was
committees, despite having retired taught: Bartlett was a voracious after Robinson returned to the '; some prejudice back when I was
in the early 1980s from the Los athlete, playing on the college's mainland on his way to baseball attending; it was still a great institu­Angeles
County Department 'of - baseball, football, basketball and immortality, Bartlett was caught up ~- tion imd still is to this day. I hold my
Social Services. He worked fo,r the track teains. His first appearance in in the frenzy and horror of World :1 head up high when I say that I went
county for over 10 years, including the college annual,' the_ Campils, War II; he witnessed first hand the ;. to Pasadena junior College." ·
a stint . as deputy for County .. ·_ w~ in 1936 as a freshman standout _ attack on Pearl Harbor. He eventu- ;~ It must be hard to hold that head
Supervisor Warren - Doni;~ all that :·:who led the baseball team _ in bat./ ally served two years of active duty T up with his post-retirement sched-
. after a-20~yeai- illustrious ~areef _~· tmi "Bartlett • : • is an outstanding : in both the -European and Pacific · - ule. Besides serving on the board of
withl~t' the ~: Pasadena··:.· Police' ,Bullp~p. 'and future laurels may be · -_. theaters. He then returned to his ~~ direct~~ and · e.~tecutive committee
Depaitlnent. .His extrilOrdlmiry life 'his~~· an article in the Campus said hometown to join _the Pasadena~t of the PC~ Fomidation~ Bartlett is