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All Dons Reunion brings Santa Barbara High School classes together

All Dons Reunion brings generations of graduates together at Santa Barbara High School

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-Whether you attended Santa Barbara High School or not, you've probably heard the saying, "Once a Don, Always a Don."

A Don is a Spanish term for gentlemen and Dons of all ages visited their alma mater and shared their stories at the All Dons Reunion.

Some are veterans including Paul Lopez of the Class of 1944.

Lopez said,"I quite school in  '43 to go in the Navy but I spent the entire war aboard a battleship."

Norma Pere Marquez went to school during the Vietnam War. She graduated in '68.

"That was at the height of Vietnam so there were a lot of protests that were happened a lot happened in 68 it was a memorable year," said Marquez.

Many athletes recalled making it to college and pro teams.

Victor Vartolome of the Class of 1966 ended up playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Another female athlete recalls being on the men's water polo team for three seasons.

Vaune Kadlubek from the class of 1976 said, "There was no women's team to play so coach said, 'Want to try our men's team?' I said okay."

Bossie the plaster cow that sat on a roof on Milpas Street also made an appearance at the reunion.

The cow started as an icon of McConnell's Ice Cream.

As reunion emcee Paula Lopez explained how it survived numerous pranks.

She said it will always be part of Dons history.

If you missed the All Dons Reunion Santa Barbara High grads will be happy to welcome you back during the next one.

Article Topic Follows: Santa Barbara - South County

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Tracy Lehr

Tracy Lehr is a reporter and the weekend anchor for News Channel 3-12. To learn more about Tracy, click here

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