Bob Keller
Downey High School
Class of 1956
At Downey High I belonged to several school clubs and discovered swimming and water polo. When I first arrived from Jr. High I wanted to go out for football. I was rather smallish and had never played football before. The coach nearly wet himself from laughing when I presented myself for service. Dejectedly, I trudged across campus with a newly met friend and we were waved into the swimming pool for tryouts for water polo. My new-found friend, Fred Tissue, went on to set international records in the breast stroke, finished college and became a dentist. I lettered all three years in water polo, swimming and diving and was the only diver Downey had for several years. I became well skilled as a goal tender in water polo and made the State championships in three meter springboard diving. I entered the finals a clear 20 points ahead, absolutely unbeatable. Unfortunately, I lost my trunks on my second dive in crystal clear water in clear view of all of the song and cheerleaders from my school. Never regained my composure. Finished dead last. I worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor all through high school. In my senior year I was elected head cheer- leader. That was a very fun year.
I have only just begun to contact my clasmates of Downey High School class of 56 and there is much to be added to this page. Patience
Downey High School 1956 Varsity Yell Leaders Team. Bill Lacey, Barbara Rowe, Bob Keller, Barbara Riley and Cliff Widdowson. My mom made the skirts.
Bob Keller lettered in water polo, swimming and diving three years attending Downey High School. Coach was John Schultz who was a strong influence over all of the boys on his team. Downey was a powerful force in swimming and water polo in Southern California, producing many Olympians over the years. Bob had the opportunity to compete and swim with the best in the world. Photo taken senior year in 1956
Bob Keller diving. The only diver DUHS had for four years
Bob Keller, 1956 after graduation
Hey, I do remember the names of about ten of these guys. I'm in the front row behind the ball. If you remember any of them, drop me a line and I'll add 'em to the list. When we have them all I'll add them in this caption. No fair looking in the year book.
Howdy. If you are a 1956 graduate of Downey Union High School in Downey, California, we are looking for you. We have over 580 graduates listed on our roster but only have current information for a small percentage of them. Zip me an email at
da Cpt
and check in. We really want to contact as many of our clan as possible for our 50th reunion in 2006. We have a great communication going on between many of us now. For information on your '56ers classmates, click below. I am collecting all information about our classmates and positing it on this page. So, jump in and catch up.
