One of Morningside's most famous graduates will be returning to the school.Billionaire John Arrillaga, the MVP of Morningside's first CIF championship team in 1955, will return to his alma mater on Friday for a full day of activities.
Not only will there be a 2 p.m. school assembly in his honor, Arrillaga will have his uniform number retired at halftime of Morningside's Ocean League game against Beverly Hills. He will be presented with a glass-encased uniform as well.
Principal James Lofton also said that eight of Arrillaga's teammates are scheduled to celebrate Arrillaga's return to Morningside.
"This is a big-time event," Lofton said.
After graduating from Morningside, Arrillaga played basketball for Stanford and eventually became one of America's wealthiest men -- No. 281 on Forbes' 2008 list -- as the largest property owner in the Silicon Valley.
It serves as the perfect backdrop for a Morningside team that is unbeaten in Ocean League play and is enjoying a sort of basketball renaissance.
Morningside has had some high-powered basketball graduates -- Byron Scott, Elton Campbell, Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson -- to name a few.
Yet Arrillaga has been one of Stanford's main benefactors. Who knows, maybe Morningside is next.
Either way, Friday will be a triumphant day for Morningside.
I was there and it was truly a highlight memory of my high school years. I later came back to Morningside as the art instructor and continued as an athletic supporter (sic.) decorating the gym wherever we played, at rally"s and attending ballgames. I wish I could have been there for John's celebration but alas, I had no knowledge of it.