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2012 Hall of Fame Inductees |
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Name |
Category |
Class |
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Major General Daniel J. Hernandez |
Government Service |
1952 |
Major General Daniel J. Hernandez graduated from John Muir High
School in 1952 and was selected in the category of Government
Service. At Muir he was involved in the Golden Gloves Boxing team.
After graduating from Muir, he enlisted in the California Army
National Guard.
General Hernandez eventually held every enlisted rank at the time,
attended Officer Candidate’s School in 1958 and graduated with the
highest class honors while earning his commission. General Hernandez
held every office rank up to Major General, earned his Bachelors of
Science Degree from State University of New York, and went on to
serve his country and community for over 44 years during his career
in the United States Army and California Army National Guard.
Major General Hernandez served as a Platoon Leader
(Watts Riots), Unit Commander, Battalion Supply Officer, separate
Brigade Supply Officer, Support Battalion Executive Officer,
Infantry Battalion Operations Officer, Division Management Center
Commander, 540th Main Support Battalion Commander, Mechanized
Infantry Brigade Executive Officer, 40th Infantry Division
Logistician, Commander of State Area Command Detachment 3, Division
Chief of Staff, Assistant Division Commander of both Maneuver and
Support, and his final assignment as the 40th Infantry Division
(Mechanized) Commander of 16,000 troops from California, Arizona,
and Nevada. This assignment included the responsibility as the Army
Force Commander (Los Angeles Riot).
He was the first American of Mexican descent to achieve
the rank of Brigadier General in the California Army National Guard
in 1987. In 1992, his promotion to Major General was also the first
time an American of Mexican descent had ever attained the rank of
Major General. Less than one half of one 1% ever attain the rank of
Major General. His performance was unparalleled as noted by his
Federal awards. The General earned the Legion of Merit, Meritorious
Service Medal (4 times), Army Commendation Medal (2 times), and the
Army Achievement Medal. His California State recognition included
the Order of California, the California Memorial Medal and the
California Commendation Medal (3 times).
In 1991, he was quoted as saying that his
accomplishments represented “the impossible dream come true. What it
says is that the system works and if you do what you have to do and
make the necessary commitments it can happen. That’s what is so
great about the U.S.A. It can happen and you’re limited only by how
much you are willing to put out.”
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Dr. Steven G. Clarke |
Science (Medicine/Health) |
1966 |
Dr. Steven G. Clarke graduated from John Muir High School in
1966 and was selected in the category of Science
(Medicine/Health). At Muir he participated in the Blazer staff,
Conservation Club, CSF, CSF Seal bearer, Civil Affairs
Commission, Rooters Club, Senior Class Counseling Honors,
National Merit Finalist, Bank of America Certificate (Lab
Science) and the Neuropsychology Summer Institute. After Muir he
attended Pomona College and earned a B.A., went to Harvard
University and earned a Ph.D. and has done post-doctorate work
at UC Berkeley all in the fields of Molecular Biology and
Biochemistry.
He has been on the faculty of the UCLA Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry since 1978. He is director of the
Institute for Molecular Biology at UCLA, an institute that is
world renown and has Nobel-prize winning scientists. He has won
numerous science awards, including international recognition.
His research concerns aging, and one of the things he became
noted for in the public mind was his discovery of an enzyme in
which a lotus seed over 1000 years old bloomed!! (Dick Clark
tried to convince him to join him in a business venture, but Dr.
Clarke does not like to leave his lab and leaves the business
success end to his students).
Dr. Clarke has also won UCLA’s Distinguished Teaching
Award and this year was selected to give the annual Faculty
Lecture. His topic was the Biology and Chemistry of Aging, and
over 1000 people attended, with standing room only. He has won
numerous prestigious grants for his research, and has a
distinguished publication record. He is a consultant for the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and foundations supporting
science research and policy in the U.S., and an invited lecturer
at many institutions. He has been a visiting scholar at
Princeton University (1986-87) and at the University of
Washington (2004-2005). He runs a full-time lab at UCLA, and
works with undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctorate students
in training and inspiring their scientific journeys.
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Dennis E. Muren |
Visual Arts |
1964 |
 Mr.
Dennis E. Muren graduated from John Muir High School in 1964 and
was selected in the category of Visual Arts. At Muir he was
involved in Photo Production, the Shutterbug Club and the Pep
Activity Movie. After graduating from Muir he attended Pasadena
City College (PCC) and developed an interest in film-making and
special effects from an early age.
At PCC, Muren spent $6,500 to make Equinox (also known as The
Beast), a short science fiction film. The film was picked up by,
Tonylyn Productions, a small film company, hired film editor
Jack Woods to direct additional footage to make it a full-length
movie that was released in October, 1970. Muren was credited as
a producer in spite of having directed much of the film and
creating the special effects himself. Thus began his over 40
year illustrious career.
In 1976, he was hired at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) founded
by little-known director George Lucas. Their first film, Star
Wars, was released in 1977. Muren has been an important voice
for pioneering new technologies in special effects, models and
miniatures, and computer-generated imagery. His skills and
talents were used in dozens of movies including the following:
Star Wars (all six films), Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of
the Third Kind, Battle Star Galactica, E.T. (handled the
bicycle-flying effects), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,
Captain Eo, Ghostbusters , Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mission:
Impossible, and Artificial Intelligence: AI. He also appeared
(small parts) in the following films: Raiders of the Lost Ark,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and From Morf to Morphing:
The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking. He also appeared in television
movies and special television appearances.
In June, 1999, Muren was honored with a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame, the first visual effects artist to ever be so
recognized. He has also been the recipient of nine Academy
Awards (including special achievement awards), the most of any
living movie-maker.
Muren continues to work for ILM to this day; his title is Senior
Visual Effects Supervisor. Currently he is taking time off to
author a book on visual effects; he also consults for Pixar. His
most recent project was War of the Worlds, in which he led a
team to create complex effects in a span of only three months.
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Joseph Peron |
Sports/Coaching |
1981 |
Mr. Joe Peron graduated from John Muir High School in 1981 and
was selected in the category of Sports/Coaching. At Muir he was
involved in playing JV and Varsity basketball and the Sports
Club. After Muir, he attended PCC and played basketball for
legendary coach, George Terzian, where his 1983 team was the
state runner-up. After PCC he attended Biola University where he
received a B.A in Communications, Radio, T.V and Film. He then
attended Azusa Pacific University where he earned his Master
degree. He is currently a Professor in Kinesiology and Head
Women's Basketball Coach at Pasadena City.
Joe Peron went to the mountain top in 2009 when his
underdog Lancers captured the CCCAA state title as head coach of
the PCC women’s basketball program. He will enter his 17th
season in charge of the Lancers in 2012-2013, the longest
current tenure of any PCC athletics head coach. In his 16
seasons running the women’s basketball team, Peron has coached
six South Coast Conference champion teams and seen his teams
make the postseason in all but one of those years.
His teams have accomplished the following: seven Southern
California Regional Bracket Champions, seven consecutive
appearances in State Championship Tournament (2004-2010), three
appearances in the State Championship game (2004, 2005, and
2009) and one State championship in 2009. In addition, his teams
had a 9-year streak of winning 24 or more games (2004-2012).
Peron has done a strong job of helping move Lancers to
the next level. Thirty-five of his players have earned 4-year
University playing scholarships. For the 2008-2009 school year,
Peron was honored as the South Coast Conference Women’s Coach of
the Year for all sports. It was the first time any PCC coach
earned the award since the college joined the SCC in 1987. Peron
has coached three State Player of the Year selections in Jeanine
Deno (2007), Dionne Pounds (2005) and Tiana Sanders-Muir c/o
1997 (1999).
In 2010, Peron passed his former coach and mentor,
George Terzian, in career wins (334 wins) as PCC’s all-time
winning basketball coach. Through last season, Peron increased
his career mark at PCC of 390 wins, 110 losses for an impressive
78% winning percentage. His conference record is nearly as
strong at 111-35 or a 76% winning mark.
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Loren
Shirar |
Rufus Mead Award |
1952 |
Mr. Loren Shirar graduated from John Muir High
School in 1952 and was selected to receive the Rufus
Mead Award. Rufus Mead was the first principal of
John Muir Technical High School from 1926 to 1938.
This award was installed to recognize individuals
that have served John Muir High School in many
different categories with overwhelming service above
and beyond the normal. At Muir he played football,
and in the community he played basketball and
baseball. After Muir, he went to UCLA and earned his
degree and teaching credential in Art. In 1969,
while on sabbatical leave, he earned a Master degree
in Sculpture and Painting at the University of
Guanajuato, Mexico
He was a dedicated Art teacher at Muir from 1970 to
1995.
He was also an avid Muir sports fan and hardly ever
missed a game (in many sports) whether at home or
away. He also used to time track meets at Muir and
also served as advisor to the Pep Squad for several
years. He coordinated the spirit posters each week
that decorated the campus halls and fences before
athletic events. With the assistance of students
from his art classes and pep squad, colorful Muir
Pride spirit posters were hung in the Rose Bowl for
the annual Turkey Tussle game each year. Loren
Shirar was co-advisor to the Pride Task Force at its
inception. Meetings were held in his classroom
during lunch periods to plan the activities of the
Pride Task Force. His knowledge of John Muir’s rich
history and traditions was valuable in establishing
The John Muir High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career, he has had many extracurricular
activities and interests. He has stated that “travel
is my mantra for living.” He has traveled all over
the world, visiting most major countries while
studying archeology, heritage, art, photography,
ancient cultures, Indian cultures, and visiting
museums. He also spent time on cruise lines giving
lectures on batik/tie-dye, mask collections, etc. He
also did art exhibits locally and nationally for
many students. He also worked as a counselor,
teacher and coach for many disadvantaged students.
Since he retired in 1995, he has volunteered
thousands of hours in re-opening and maintaining the
Alumni Museum in the A Building. As curator he is
responsible for the great John Muir High School
Alumni Museum, one of only three in Southern
California. The Museum is housed in two old
classrooms (A100 and A101) and houses memorabilia
since Muir opened in 1926. Tours are available for
Muir students, staff and the community. He also
conducts tours for alumni when they have their
reunions.
As a result of all his outstanding accomplishments in
serving the John Muir “family” for 60 years, Loren
Shirar has earned this award that has only been
given twice in the History of John Muir High School.
John Muir High School and the John Muir High School
Alumni Association are grateful for his dedication,
expertise and loyalty to Muir and are proud to
induct Mr. Loren Shirar into the 2012 Hall of Fame.
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Chuck Malouf |
Jim Brownfield Service Award |
---- |
 Mr.
Chuck Malouf is this year’s recipient of the Jim Brownfield
Service Award that began in 2010. He has been involved in the
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) since 1967. In 1967, he
started his career as a business teacher and basketball coach at
Pasadena High School (PHS), went to Wilson Jr. High in (1969-70)
for one year and returned to PHS for two more years (1970-1972).
He was involved in these schools as a teacher, coach, club
advisor, and the accolades just keep coming.
In the fall of 1972, he was transferred to Muir High,
which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him. In the
PUSD (including Muir) he taught a total of 38 different classes
within the following eight departments: Business, Consumer
Homemaking, English, Math, Physical Education, Social Science,
Non-Departmental and ROP. He also coached basketball with his
own team (1972-1987) and as a volunteer coach from (1987-2005).
In addition, he taught at PCC (25 years) and at Cal State (Los
Angeles and Northridge) for 5 years. He was a master teacher
where he trained 12 student teachers from local colleges and
universities.
He also helped create/implement/participated in the following:
Office Careers (simulated clerical office), Consumer Education
course (graduation requirement for all 10th graders, taught life
skills), School Site Council (charter member, vice chair),
Education/Career Planning (ECP)/Computers (graduation
requirements for all 9th graders, and the 1st Muir Academy
(Business and Finance Academy, Teacher-Coordinator). During his
career he was a member of many professional organizations, gave
talks at many conferences, served on over 30 different
committees in the PUSD and the community, was a teacher union
rep and member, was a club advisor, and helped conduct staff
development for the Muir faculty.
He has earned the following awards while at Muir: PTSA
Teacher Service Award, Faculty Award winner, Rotary Club award
representative from Muir (top 4 in the PUSD), one of the most
inspirational teachers at Muir and teacher of the month. In
addition, he is a coauthor of a high school textbook (Consumer
Education and Economics, now in its 6th edition), author/co-
author of many curriculum guides, reviewer for high school and
college textbooks and has written a few articles for magazines.
When he retired in 2005 (after 33 years at Muir), he
continued his service to Muir by the following: sharing resource
materials with staff, basketball shooting clinics, speaking in
some classes, attending many Muir events (sports, etc.) and
attending many reunions and promoting the pride, spirit and
traditions of Muir.
His major service since retirement includes helping with the
newly-formed (2004) John Muir High School Alumni Association
(JMHSAA). He is co-chair of the “Friends of the Mustangs,” one
of the Vice Presidents on the Executive Board and a chair/member
of or a contributor to the following committees: Hall of Fame,
Yearbooks, Reunions, Membership, Muir Sports Champions, and Muir
fundraising efforts.
Although he is not a graduate of Muir, he has adopted
the school as if it were his own. He is a Muir “icon” and truly
a Mustang at heart and warrants this honor. He has earned the
respect of many of those who knew him and worked with him. As a
result of his outstanding service and dedication to the John
Muir High School “family” the John Muir High School Alumni
Association is proud to award the 3rd annual Jim Brownfield
Service Award to Mr. Chuck Malouf.
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Muir Cheer Squad escorting newly inducted
Hall of Fame Members onto the field
during half-time of the Turkey Tussle at the Pasadena Rose Bowl |
2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for
Saturday, November 5th at 1:00 PM
(Location to be determined)
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