Behind The Orange Curtain

A.G. Kawamura (NHHS Class of 1974) to discuss the history and future of agriculture in Orange County as well as his time at Newport Harbor High School. Mr. Kawamura served as the California Secretary of Agriculture for seven years under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Jim Newkirk (NHHS Class of 1955) not only attended Newport Harbor but also taught, coached, and gave major financial contributions to the high school. In this interview, he discusses why Newport Harbor High School is special and tells stories about playing baseball with John Madden at Cal Poly SLO. Mr. Newkirk is truly a community hero who every Sailor past and present could learn from.

Dennis O'Hern taught social studies at Newport Harbor High School from 1965-1998 and, among other things, founded the AP US History program and helped establish the first NHHS Teachers Union. O'Hern was also the Voice of NHHS Football at Davidson Field for 50+ years.

Robert House taught science at Newport Harbor High School for over 40 years and also founded the Environmental Nature Center in the 1970s. He helped start the OC Science Fair and spent his summers in the 1950s as a Yosemite Park Ranger.

David Grant, Newport Harbor Class of 1956, started the sailing club at Newport Harbor High School and went on to serve as president of Orange Coast College from 1989-1997. Grant was honored by the CA Governor, the State Legislature, Sports Illustrated, and has been inducted into the Intercollegiate Sailing Hall of Fame

Gregg Schwenk, Newport Harbor Class of '86, co-founded the Newport Beach Film Festival in 1999 and continues to run the prestigious event as well as serving as president of the OC Film Society.

Sharon Sheeley, NHHS Class of '57, is a rock n' roll legend who was the first female songwriter to ever pen a #1 hit when she wrote Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool." Sheeley passed away in 2002 but Joel Kellum is her family's attorney and the defacto keeper of her estate.

Tris Imboden, Newport Harbor Class of '70, was a founder of the legendary local rock band Honk and went on to drum for Kenny Loggins and Chicago and recorded music with Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and many more.