e-mail: keithconning@aol.com.
I have been a fan, athlete, coach, official, prep editor, author, blogger, and photographer since 1953.
I have announced the NCAA West, the Pac-12, the Stanford Invitational, the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, the Mt. SAC Relays, the North Coast Section, the Sac-Joaquin Section, and the California State High School Meet.
I have attended five Olympic Games and four World Championships.
I am a U.S. Correspondent for Track and Field News.
October 12, 2010 Keith, what a beautiful article about Ralph! I was engaged to him during his senior year at Berkeley High School. I have thought of him often over the years. It was amazing to watch him at all of his track meets. He was a superior athlete, as well as an intelligent, handsome, fun young man, always fighting for his rights. Ralph, if you see this, please contact me at Yosemitelady@aol.com. I'd love to know how the world is treating you. You deserve the best! Remembering you always, Kathy
Mr. Keith Conning, Thank you so much for posting my story on your web site: The Story of Ralph Gámez (Berkeley High School 1966). Mr. Dan Martinez along with Ralph Serna did a lot of work to get my address and photos to write my story. They did a great job, what a gift. I attended their reunion last year and it was great to meet runners who came after me. I was especially grateful to meeting Ralph Serna, Curtis Beck, and many others what an amazing gathering of athletes. I have been blessed over and over of late beginning with Mr. Martinez's inquiry looking for the Ralph who ran at Berkeley High. I was able to reconnect with BHS Coach Richard Hacker a few years ago. He passed away this past September after battling illnesses for a long time. You have one posting on your web site in regard to your article about me from my long lost love Kathy. Thanks to you perhaps I may be blessed to finally seeing her again after decades searching for her. I am in San Jose semi-retired. My life has been an amazing string of ups and downs battling the inevitable cares of life. I was able to have a second running career running Master's age-group 5-10Ks along with a few 1/2 marathons. My experience at Berkeley High is always one of the highlights of my life. I went to what I believe is the best High School in America. BHS gave me my first opportunity to stay in school and learn something; to pass college entrance exams. Kathy made sure I went to class. I eventually earned my degree in Criminology SJSU. Blessed when I think of how I almost never even finished High School. Bill Lewis, SJSU Class of '39, and Dr. Julius Debro, UW Professor, were my mentors dedicated to the notion that I could bypass prison on my life's path. I list them knowing no one ever accomplishes anything of value alone. Thank you for allowing others to get a glimpse of Ralph and hopefully it will inspire others to never give up, to realize that everyone has abilities but few have the opportunity and the concern of people who will help. God bless you this holiday season. You have given me a wonderful Christmas. Sincerely yours, Ralph BHS Class of '66
I taught Ralph in a sociology course at SJSU in 1997 and it was a pleasure to have such a hungry mind in my class: hungry for information, discussion, as well as for justice.
Ralph is a runner, mentally and spiritually as well as physically. Keep on keepin' on!
Hi Ralph, I enjoyed reading this article about you . Hope you remember me as another person who was special in your past. I would love to catch up. My email address is lizlehr87@yahoo.com (liz loyd)
To Kieth, Anonymous (2) and Friends, Actually I ran 8:56.9 for my two mile against Tim at the Golden West. In those days times were not recorded in the hundredths of a second but in tenths. And, times were rounded UP. I wanted to keep my tenth of a second thus went back to my official time. My 8:56.9 is also noted at Berkeley High School as my official time too. Berkeley High tried hard to take my Golden West time away too; go back to my 9:01.6 that I ran st State in 1966, claiming that since I had officially graduated from Berkeley High my time was NOT my High School time. We all know better today that Golden West High School track times are all high School times as far as records go. As far as being out of the top marks in N. Cal or State, I look at whether I would still place in the State Two-mile run. Looks like I would still be able to be competitive and garner points with my 1966 time. this consoles this Old Man who's pushing 67 years young. Ralph
8 comments:
October 12, 2010
Keith, what a beautiful article about Ralph!
I was engaged to him during his senior year at Berkeley High School. I have thought of him often over the years. It was amazing to watch him at all of his track meets.
He was a superior athlete, as well as an intelligent, handsome, fun young man, always fighting for his rights.
Ralph, if you see this, please contact me at Yosemitelady@aol.com.
I'd love to know how the world is treating you. You deserve the best!
Remembering you always,
Kathy
Mr. Keith Conning,
Thank you so much for posting my story on your web site: The Story of Ralph Gámez (Berkeley High School 1966). Mr. Dan Martinez along with Ralph Serna did a lot of work to get my address and photos to write my story. They did a great job, what a gift. I attended their reunion last year and it was great to meet runners who came after me. I was especially grateful to meeting Ralph Serna, Curtis Beck, and many others what an amazing gathering of athletes.
I have been blessed over and over of late beginning with Mr. Martinez's inquiry looking for the Ralph who ran at Berkeley High.
I was able to reconnect with BHS Coach Richard Hacker a few years ago. He passed away this past September after battling illnesses for a long time.
You have one posting on your web site in regard to your article about me from my long lost love Kathy. Thanks to you perhaps I may be blessed to finally seeing her again after decades searching for her.
I am in San Jose semi-retired.
My life has been an amazing string of ups and downs battling the inevitable cares of life. I was able to have a second running career running Master's age-group 5-10Ks along with a few 1/2 marathons.
My experience at Berkeley High is always one of the highlights of my life. I went to what I believe is the best High School in America. BHS gave me my first opportunity to stay in school and learn something; to pass college entrance exams. Kathy made sure I went to class.
I eventually earned my degree in Criminology SJSU. Blessed when I think of how I almost never even finished High School. Bill Lewis, SJSU Class of '39, and Dr. Julius Debro, UW Professor, were my mentors dedicated to the notion that I could bypass prison on my life's path. I list them knowing no one ever accomplishes anything of value alone.
Thank you for allowing others to get a glimpse of Ralph and hopefully it will inspire others to never give up, to realize that everyone has abilities but few have the opportunity and the concern of people who will help.
God bless you this holiday season. You have given me a wonderful Christmas.
Sincerely yours,
Ralph
BHS Class of '66
This is nice to see.
I taught Ralph in a sociology course at SJSU in 1997 and it was a pleasure to have such a hungry mind in my class: hungry for information, discussion, as well as for justice.
Ralph is a runner, mentally and spiritually as well as physically. Keep on keepin' on!
Hi Ralph, I enjoyed reading this article about you . Hope you remember me as another person who was special in your past. I would love to catch up. My email address is lizlehr87@yahoo.com (liz loyd)
Ralph, I have been trying to get hold of you brother!!! I miss you and want to talk to you. Please call me at 510-927-1771. Jimmy
looks like Gamez will drop out of the top 10 ncs all time at the end of this 2014 season
The eve of the Golden West Invite
Danielson vs. Gamez in the 2 mile
Gamez PR 8:57.0 took second.-
To Kieth, Anonymous (2) and Friends,
Actually I ran 8:56.9 for my two mile against Tim at the Golden West. In those days times were not recorded in the hundredths of a second but in tenths. And, times were rounded UP. I wanted to keep my tenth of a second thus went back to my official time. My 8:56.9 is also noted at Berkeley High School as my official time too. Berkeley High tried hard to take my Golden West time away too; go back to my 9:01.6 that I ran st State in 1966, claiming that since I had officially graduated from Berkeley High my time was NOT my High School time. We all know better today that Golden West High School track times are all high School times as far as records go.
As far as being out of the top marks in N. Cal or State, I look at whether I would still place in the State Two-mile run. Looks like I would still be able to be competitive and garner points with my 1966 time. this consoles this Old Man who's pushing 67 years young.
Ralph
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