Los Banos Rotary Club History
Chuck Taylor Is Featured Speaker At Grid Banquet

"A coach can teach a football player the fundamentals of the game, but it takes deep down desire and determination to play rock'em and sock'em football."

So said Charles "Chuck" Taylor, head football coach at Stanford, in his address before the annual football banquet in the Los Banos Grammar School cafeteria Monday night.

In pointing out that football is 90 per cent desire, Taylor said it is very frustrating to a coach if a player has real ability but has no determination and plays only for press writeups.

In his talk, Taylor stressed the importance of keeping up high school grades by students interested in playing college football. "Put a little bit of extra effort in it," he said. "You are making a big mistake if you don't."

Football builds character only if the leadership is of the right type. Taylor said, "A little of this good leadership will rub off on the boys."

The speaker declined to comment on the recent firing of Buck Shaw, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers pro-football team. "They just didn't renew his contract," Taylor said in reply to a question from the audience on the Shaw firing.

Taylor held a question and answers session and answered such queries as how the Stanford team will fare next season, and which team will win the Rose Bowl classic.

He commented that the Indian gridders will be a more experienced team next year and some of the weak spots will be filled out by junior college transfers.
In answer to why a team is not allowed to play twice in succession in the Rose Bowl, Taylor said this was prohibited in an effort to eliminate over-enthusiastic player recruiting among colleges. However, Taylor said he favors this decision since it 'gives other teams a chance to be on top."

The speaker declared UCLA was the greatest team Stanford has ever played—"as a team, not individual players."

UCLA has tremendous spirit, and they never let up, according to Taylor. In reference to scoring, he said "the more they get, the more they want."
Master of ceremonies for the dinner sponsored by the Los Banos Rotary Club to honor the high school varsity and lightweight teams was Judge D. Oliver Germino.

He introduced Enos Bettencourt, Lions Club president, and 20-30 Club President Bud Smith, and Mayor John Erreca, all of whom spoke briefly.
Carlyle Loftin, principal of the local high school, also spoke and commended the students who aided the team during the season. He also thanked the local doctors who were on hand during the games to treat injured players.
"Our varsity didn't have such a good record in the win and loss column," Loftin said, "but we are put all they had into the game."

He also praised the sportsmanship of the lightweight players who had an undefeated season. Doug Pederson, B football coach, who suffered a polio attack at the start of the season, was present at the dinner and was introduced.

Bob Williams, coach of the champion Los Banos B's, presented gold footballs to the senior lightweight players. They are Gary Beck and Charles Rafatti. The other squad members also were introduced.

Senior members of the varsity squad who were presented gold footballs were Frank Bettencourt, Joe Gargano, Wayne Harris, Charles Hawkins, Eddie Lagrutta, Tony Latronica, Herbie Low, Delbert Odle, John Reno, Oscar Reno, Eddie Souza and Keith Wheeler.

Gil Mendonsa, varsity coach, spoke briefly, and predicted the Tigers will have a very successful season next year. "We'll start where we left off this season."
Guests of the Rotary Club were members of the Los Banos Lions and 20-30 Clubs. Members of the high school band entertained during the banquet.
Taylor made a trophy presentation to Frank Bettencourt, Tiger varsity tackle, who was named the most outstanding player this season. The perpetual trophy was donated by the Del Mar Jewelers.

December 17, 1954

---