A fair share of happy birthday cards and gifts used to flow Coach
Al Irwin's way down through the years at Newport Harbor High, Orange
Coast College and UC Irvine.
But when the grand mark of 85 arrives on Tuesday, Irwin has
decided "that's enough."
With amusement, he said, "At my age, I don't need any more gifts."
It is fair to say that he never discouraged a big smile or a pat
on the back.
One of his main regrets years ago was that he wasn't born in
Newport Beach, although he would spend most all his life in Newport
Beach right on the ocean front. He was born in Central California.
Fortunately, he and his brother, Ralph, were blessed and found
themselves growing up right near the Newport Pier.
Father William Irwin died when his boys were very young and their
mother took charge in an admirable fashion. Her husband had launched
the early day two-story structure on the ocean front, but it required
her skill and courage to finish the task. In time, numerous upstairs
rooms were created and she could rent them out.
She also worked out plans to rent store fronts at the street level
and that produced a sound income in future years.
A memorable gift would come her way when the boys entered Newport
Harbor High. Both became starters on the varsity grid team, coached
by the late Ralph Reed, who became the school's first athletic
director in 1930.
And Al Irwin recalls with fondness that his mother never missed
their football games at Davidson Field.
In time, Al Irwin won 16 letters in the major spots across a
four-year period. Both boys were honored on all-league teams in
football before the graduated.
Then Al Irwin entered the Navy in World War II and would be
shipped off to the South Pacific as a flight deck officer on the
U.S.S. Lexington while Ralph was drawn into duty with the Coast
Guard.
Al Irwin returned to coach the Harbor High gridders from 1948-55,
then directed Orange Coast to a grid title in '56 and a Potato Bowl
game and later shifted to UCI where he eventually became the athletic
director.
He also coached numerous champion swimming teams at all three
institutions for years.
*
Many can recall numerous nicknames from high school days, but it
is not surprising to find that the monikers fade after prep days. It
is also interesting to find that many don't remember why many
nicknames originated.
One of local interest arose recently when they corner was
wondering how the nickname of "Shiner" came to Bill Roberts, a
versatile athlete from Newport's Class of '57.
