Sheridan Downey III Castlemont High School Oakland Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame 2009

I.  The Distinguished Knight in Shining Armor Alumni Award:

Sheridan Downey, III, Class of '59.

He received his BA from Stanford University, and juris doctorate from UC Berkeley, Boalt Hall. 

Sheridan lived in East Oakland for 65 years, and practiced general business law.  He also taught law at the University of Santa Clara.  Sheridan was appointed to California Fair Political Practices Commission by then-State Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and served as Commissioner for six years. 

Sheridan’s grandfather was a U.S. Senator from California.  His father was a federal bankruptcy judge.  His father helped officiate meets, transport athletes, housed them in motels at away meets and came to know the families of many athletes.  His father often arranged his court calendar around Castlemont’s track meets schedule.   

Sheridan also ran track at Castlemont, under the legendary coach, Nick Garedaki.  In 2003, he met Chuck Schneekloth, a track coach at Castlemont.  Sheridan was impressed with Chuck’s enthusiasm and love of the sport, and saw the "reincarnation" of the legendary coach Nick Garedakis.   

Over the past five years, Sheridan attended several track meets and helped organize them, along with contacting other alumni and community members to get them to donate their time and money.  He, himself, has donated time and money to Castlemont.  While at meets, he literally gets his hands dirty; one can often find him raking the sand, running the high jump event, or taking time at the finish line.  For one senior, he donated a computer to help her in college.   

He is also supportive of the track team’s coaching staff.  Be it over emails or dinner that he buys, Sheridan has been a great source of enthusiasm and encouragement to the staff over the years.

 

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Keith Conning: I was an assistant track coach at Castlemont High School in Oakland in 1968.  Nick Garedakis was the head coach. We ran at the West Coast Relays in Fresno. I was also a student teacher in U.S. History 1967-1968.  I graduated from Lincoln High School in San Francisco in January 1959.