In 1948, while a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Leo was appointed to head a committee to further the sport of baseball in the city. With his ideas and suggestions it was agreed that the ideal place to build a ball park was at the Junior Chamber of Commerce’s land, then called “the Rodeo Grounds.”Projects such as this are never done alone, but involve many willing workers before they come to fruition. Therefore, the entire story of this project is going to have to come from several different biographies. It is the writer’s suggestion that you keep reading the biographies of SPUHS alumni, as she keeps searching the documents regarding the formation of the park, so you too can learn the facts as they happened in Santa Paula.While working with the Santa Paula Police Department, combined with his Junior Chamber experience, Leo was instrumental in beginning the Police Boys Club. In 1952 it was decided there was a need for the Police Boys Club building, and this was later renamed the Boys and Girls Club; this project, too, will be incorporated in other biographies.Leo married the love of his life, Mary Wimberly (‘33), and they had one son, Dale (‘57). Dale and his wife gave them two grandchildren on which to dote, Jyl (‘85) and Jon (‘89).Life was good for Leo and Mary as they retired and traveled around the U.S.A. in their 29 foot mobile home, and bowled and played shuffleboard with friends. In 1996 they lost their son Dale, and this so devastated Leo he passed away in November of 1997.
Leo E. Forgey, Class of 1931
June 15, 2001
Santa Paula High School
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By B. J. Harding, President, SPUHS Alumni Association
(Biography #141, Have you submitted yours?)
Leo Forgey was the youngest child of Landon and Letha Forgey, the others being Jesse (‘23) and Annis (‘24). The family came to Santa Paula when Leo was but 4 years old.
He attended the local grade schools and was a member of the Class of 1931 at SPUHS. While in high school Leo was a member of the outstanding track, basketball and football teams under the guidance of Coach Stan Summers. Other members of these teams were classmates Saba Murr, Norb Duarte, Klare Strange and Shannon Sheldon.
By B. J. Harding, President, SPUHS Alumni Association(Biography #141, Have you submitted yours?)Leo Forgey was the youngest child of Landon and Letha Forgey, the others being Jesse (‘23) and Annis (‘24). The family came to Santa Paula when Leo was but 4 years old.He attended the local grade schools and was a member of the Class of 1931 at SPUHS. While in high school Leo was a member of the outstanding track, basketball and football teams under the guidance of Coach Stan Summers. Other members of these teams were classmates Saba Murr, Norb Duarte, Klare Strange and Shannon Sheldon.During his senior year, Leo went to work to help the family and was delivering milk for the Sanitary Dairy, owned by the Orr family and later run by Linden Orr (‘33). Leo left them after a few years, and went to work for the Arrowhead Water Company delivering water. He stayed with this job until 1952, at which time he joined Santa Paula’s finest, the Santa Paula Police Department.
