23 High School Athletes Get Faith Awards

California Angels pitcher Don Sutton was emcee of the sixth annual Faith, Family and Football Awards Night held at the Anaheim Hilton and Towers last week. The $125-per-person event was sponsored by parents of students attending Catholic high schools in counties from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

The affair turned out to be a night of good cheer and good news for 23 young men who received plaques of recognition for scholarship, leadership, community involvement and prowess on the gridiron.

Representing Orange County were Servite High School seniors Gary Giese, Michael Hirou and John DiGiambattista. The three were ecstatic about their awards.

Said DiGiambattista: “When I was a freshman, I saw the plaque naming some real important seniors as Faith, Family and Football winners. I only dreamed that some day my name would be up there too. It’s really a thrill.”

Former Rams quarterback Pat Haden was keynote speaker. General chairman for the event was R. Lynn Livingston of Villa Park, who kept things running smoothly for the more than 500 guests crowded into the Pacific Ballroom. Livingston greeted guests, including Jack Gerken, national chairman of Faith, Family and Football; Msgr. Charles Motsko, Servite principal who serves on the national Faith, Family and Football committee; Mary B. Jones, Orange County chief of protocol; Cochrane Chase, a member of the Faith, Family and Football executive committee; A. E. Patterson of the California Angels, who is also on the executive committee, and sportscaster Bob Elder, who presented the All-Star Awards.

Summing up the celebration, Don Sutton said, “This award night is all about becoming, relating and achieving. These winners have done it all and have done it extremely well.”

Untallied event proceeds will be divided among those schools represented by All-Star Award recipients.