LA 5 Rotary Hosts UCLA-USC Pre Football Game
Luncheon
by Tony Medley
On Tuesday, November 26, LA5
Rotary, the fifth oldest Rotary Club in the world, hosted a sold out
crowd of over 400 Rotarians and their guests at the LA Live Marriott in
downtown Los Angeles, preparatory to the UCLA-USC football game on
Saturday, November 30, at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Highlighted by a
bravura 20-minute performance by the USC Song Girls and band, after
lunch former UCLA coach Terry Donahue and former USC coach John Robinson
answered questions posed by moderator Tommy Hawkins that were sometimes
serious but which at times drew answers that had the crowd in stitches
laughing. The schools alternate each year providing band and song girl
support. This year it was USC’s turn, although four UCLA Song Girls
also appeared along with Joe & Josephine Bruin.
Former players in the audience
were introduced and each contributed a remembrance and told what the
game meant to them.
At 65+ years, this event is
one of the longest running traditions of LA5. Coaches Donahue and
Robinson have been the keynote speakers at this event a record 21 times
but this was the first time for each since retiring as head coach of
their respective schools.
LA5 President Ken Chong, a
UCLA alumnus who has been the chair of the event for 9 years, said, “To
both chair the event and be the President while having a rivalry between
2014-15 LA5 President-Elect Alan Bernstein, an SC alumnus, has been
fun.” He added, “It was a wonderful opportunity to hear both coaches
tell stories of their incredible careers and see the obvious respect and
friendship they have towards one another.”
Prizes like signed helmets and
other souvenirs were auctioned off, the proceeds going to LA5’s
endowment fund, and Chong presented $5,000 checks to each school’s
Athletic Department.
To view a slide show of the
event, click the link below:
Play slideshow
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