Gavilan’s championship football team celebrating 50 years
In the five decades since the Gavilan College football team won the national championship in 1973, Coach Bob Garcia has helped organize three reunions with the players, coaches and everyone else involved in the historic run.
Now, Garcia is heading up a reunion for the big five-oh.
The 50th reunion of the Rams’ championship run will be celebrated over the Sept. 8-10 weekend, and Garcia is hoping to get the word out to let the former players and everyone involved in the program know about the festivities.
The reunion starts off Sept. 8 with a dinner at Old City Hall Restaurant in downtown Gilroy. Guest speakers expected to attend include Garcia’s son Jeff, a Gilroy native who enjoyed a lengthy career in the National Football League, and Rhett Hall of Morgan Hill, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers, among others.
On Sept. 9, the 1973 team will be introduced during Gavilan’s football game against De Anza College.
To wrap up the weekend, Garcia is hosting a barbecue at his house on Sept. 10.
“It was a great group of guys,” Garcia said, reflecting on the team that went undefeated despite trailing many of their games at halftime. “The community was unbelievable. They turned out and supported the program.”
Tickets for the Sept. 8 dinner are $30, and must be purchased by Aug. 15. For information, call Garcia at 408.843.8826.
Gilroy Rodeo kicks off Aug. 11
The Gilroy Rodeo returns in full swing on Aug. 11-13 at 2365 Dunlap Ave.
The gates open at 3pm on Aug. 11 with Mutton Busting, a rodeo pre-show, the Buckin Bash and more, including live music by American Mile.
The rodeo continues Aug. 12 at 3pm with events such as the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Performance and live music by Western Divide.
On Aug. 13, the gates open at 10am, with events throughout the day, including live music by San Benito County Line.
Pre-rodeo festivities kicked off July 29-30 with a barrel race, team roping and the Miss Gilroy Rodeo Contest. The events continue Aug. 5-6 with the Gilroy Junior Rodeo and Gilroy Ranch Rodeo.
The Gilroy Rodeo is a nonprofit organization that donates funds to various local charities. In 2022, the rodeo donated more than $22,000 to nonprofits, as well as $11,000 to Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services during its Kick’n Cancer fundraiser.
For information and tickets, visit gilroyrodeo.com.
Mayor, city administrator to talk budget
The public is invited to discuss Gilroy’s two-year budget with Mayor Marie Blankley and City Administrator Jimmy Forbis during Conversation and Coffee on Aug. 12 at 9:30am in the Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna St.
To read more about the budget, view the July Spotlight with the Mayor at tinyurl.com/49r6vz72.
To request Spanish language interpretation for the meeting, email co************@ci**********.org at least 72 hours before the date.
Book sale returns Aug. 12
The Friends of Gilroy Library holds a book sale every second Saturday of the month from 10am-1pm at the library, 350 West Sixth St.
The next sale is Aug. 12.
Books will be $5 per bag for members and $8 a bag for non-members. DVDs and CDs are also on sale.
The Isabel Jewell Bookstore is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1-3pm, Wednesday from 1-4pm, Thursday from 10am to 3pm and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10am to 1pm.
‘American Pickers’ filming in California
Antique collectors are encouraged to dust off their collections and share their stories with the crew from the “American Pickers” TV show.
The History Channel series is filming in California in September, and is looking for collectors to apply for the chance to be featured on the show.
The series explores the world of antique “picking,” following skilled pickers in the business as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics.
The show’s producers are looking for leads. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to am*************@ci******.com or call 646.493.2184.
The Pickers do not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums or anything open to the public.
