St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs presented its 17th Annual Golf Classic on May 11 at the Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier in memory of Tom Klemens, a 1968 alumnus who was a longtime supporter of his alma mater.
Klemens, who passed away in 2006, initiated the first golf tournament for the school and served as event chairman for many years. His wife, Pat Klemens, remains a generous sponsor of the yearly tournament and supporter of the school, funding a $5,000 scholarship for a deserving student each year.
Several celebrated former professional athletes joined St. Paul faculty and staff, students and alumni, and community members to support this year’s golf classic, which raised more than $30,000 for St. Paul athletics. Ed Luther, former NFL quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and a 1975 graduate of St. Paul’s, was a guest speaker and emcee for the live auction portion of the tournament.
Other notable guests in attendance included Cephus Weatherspoon, former wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints; Reggie Doss, former defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams; John “Blue Moon” Odom, an MLB pitcher who won three consecutive World Series championships with the Oakland Athletics; and Leroy Irvin, former cornerback for the L.A. Rams.
