Posed in the gymnasium of Sooke Elementary School in 1972, this basketball team of Sooke youngsters enjoyed their participation in the inter-school league of Sooke School District No. 62. Vice-principal at the time was Del Clark, who also served as coach for the boys.
We’ve been able to do a bit of a check on the current whereabouts of some of the boys in the photo, whom we assume would be in their 50s today. At rear left is David Hansen who took up golfing and became a pro; today he is employed by the parks department of the City of Burnaby. Next is Russell Smith who we understand works for West Fraser Lumber in Lillooet.
At centre of the row is Chris Rumsby (when you see a tall fair young fellow, standing head and shoulders above his fellows, it’s almost certain to be a Rumsby); Chris is a Sooke contractor, partnering with his brother Brian. Next is Donald Thompson who has been a pipefitter/steamfitter for the past 32 years at DND in Victoria. Donald Gordon, standing next to coach Del Clark, is a welder by trade, and works in Whitecourt, Alberta.
Kneeling at front left is Mick Diebold, who we understand is in construction in Prince George, while next to him is Mike Musfelt, who has a position as warehouse manager for a hydraulic supply firm in Vancouver. Holding the basketball is Steve Banner, who became a mechanic and spent his life as a car aficionado. (We’d like to insert a note here, that at the memorial service held recently in Sooke Community Hall, it was Susan Braulin, wife of Chris Rumsby above, who did an eloquent job of paying tribute to the life of Steve Banner or “Skinny” as he was called, the only member of the team that has gone from us today.)
Final figure in the group is Mike Moss; we’ve heard that he became a taxidermist and also holds a coast pilot’s license. We’re thinking that if these hardworking men saw this photo today they would look fondly back on their days at Sooke School.
Elida Peers,
Historian
Sooke Region Museum