I’ve mentioned the name Dave Haskell here on the Blog quite a bit. He was the first guy I contacted back in 1990 when we put the Team together for Verdugo Hills Post 288. Haskell was also the guy who pulled a hundred bucks out of his pocket and challenged the rest of the Post to match it when they were arguing amongst themselves about whether or not they wanted to sponsor our Team. Ken Zuetell did the same thing. Let me tell you something….if it weren’t for the two guys standing next to me in this picture we may never have had a Team or the great memories we shared. These guys wanted us to have a ballclub and they wanted to WIN.
They were incredibly kind. They were generous with their money and their time. They loved our Team. They were thrilled with what we did the last two seasons, but loved the battle we showed everyone the first two seasons. I can go on and on about what these two guys meant to us behind the scenes. The last season they basically handed us a blank check….
Dave Haskell was my friend. I kept in touch with him until his death in 2001. I went to USC Football games with him every year from the first year I met him in 1990. He took an interest in me. He was patient with me. He loved writing letters. He wrote me 8-10 letters every year and would always include something in the letter that he thought would interest me. He helped me get through the first few years of my sobriety. Thanks in part to his friendship, it has been almost 16 years since I have had even a sip from an alcoholic beverage. He never judged me. He only supported me and said positive things. Somehow, ‘Ol Dave Haskell did for me what no one else had done….he reached me.
I can effectively say that to this very day I carry a piece of ‘Ol Dave Haskell with me everywhere I go. I had been looking for this picture that I found today for quite a long time. When I found it….I cried. I loved these guys. They gave us a chance. They knew I wanted to coach and they knew you guys wanted to play ball. They also knew how much I wanted to win.
Haskell took me to a place called “Pastmasters” in the off-season. He said it would help my public speaking. It was a group of old geezers who were honing the craft of public speaking. Even in their 70’s and 80’s, these old guys were GOOD. I can’t tell you how much I learned from them and how hard they were on me the first few speeches I gave. But I kept coming back, battling, and ultimately won them over. It was a great experience.
He gave me ideas of what to say at the meetings when I had my annual “State-of-Verdugo” speech to the members of The Post. He taught me how to (in his words) “work the room.” It meant more and more money to our Program every year. Everything he suggested that I do or say to the Post Members worked. By the time ’92 came around, it was no longer an “annual” speech I would give to the Post….it had become pretty much a “monthly” thing. Yes indeed, Haskell was teaching me how to “work the room.”
I love this picture because this was taken right before the ’92 season. Right after a Post 288 meeting where I had gone in and made another speech. I was getting good at it. I wasn’t nervous anymore when I spoke in front of strangers. Haskell taught me well. He insisted that I communicated all that was happening with our Team to the Members of The Post. I’m thankful he pushed me into doing it.
I know I’ll never forget these two guys. Most of you never met either of them. But I’ll say this….they knew ALL of you guys.
I consider Dave Haskell to be “The Father of Verdugo Hills.” America has George Washington….and Verdugo has Dave Haskell!!!!
On the left is Dave Haskell. On the right is Ken Zuetell. What a great picture!
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