2018 Hall of Fame Induction: John Fairchild (’61)

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This years Hall of Fame inductee is Class of 1961’s very own John Fairchild, a former L.A. Laker who played five years of NBA/ABA basketball; a prolific scorer and rebounder who got his start with Coach Dick McCracken here at San Dieguito.

We will induct him into the Hall of Fame at the end of our Founders Reception, October 25. All are invited to come to the Founders Reception at 1:30 pm to meet John Fairchild prior to the induction ceremony at 3 pm.

As a Mustang, Fairchild and the San Dieguito varsity basketball team won 25 games in a row; they won the league, county, and Southern California championships and John was named to the All-League, All-Southern California, and All-CIF teams.

After graduation he played at Pepperdine as a freshman before moving on to Palomar, where he became all-conference, all-state, and a junior college All-American, as well as his team’s Most Valuable Player. He set a season scoring record of 622 points and a record of 21.4 points per game and added 14.0 rebounds per game.

During his junior and senior year at Brigham Young University, he was named to the All- Conference Team and set many scoring and rebounding records, some of which still stand today, including the career scoring average per game of 20.92 ppg; the career rebounding average per game, 12.8 RPG; the single season record with 22 Double/Doubles; the single season rebounds record of 13.4 rebounds per game; and the BYU rebound record average for NCAA tournament games played, of 17.0. He was BYU’s first player to score double digit figures in all 28 games.

At BYU Fairchild earned First Team All-WAC honors twice, and Third Team All-American honors as a senior. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the WAC as a senior and played in the East-West College All-Star game.

According to sports writers with the San Diego Tribune, John was believed to be the first player from the county to make All American at a major university, not to mention the first player from the county to sign an NBA contract.

The Los Angeles Lakers took notice; he was their second round draft pick for the 1965-66 season, 16th overall. After playing with Lakers players like Jerry West and Elgin Baylor in his rookie season, Fairchild moved on to the American Basketball Association for the rest of his career, playing for the Anaheim Amigos, the Denver Rockets, the Indiana Pacers, the Kentucky Colonels and the Dallas Chapparels (AKA the San Antonio Spurs) with a career average of 6.6 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, and .7 assists per game.

His best season was 1967-68 with the Anaheim Amigos, when he averaged 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in just over 20 minutes in each game

His stellar career started at San Dieguito, with Coach Dick McCracken’s 1960-61 varsity team that finished 25-1, losing only to Helix High School by 2 points (on their court) but winning 25 straight games after that.

Our alumni basketball team honored his 1960-61 Varsity Basketball Team in the 2016-17 academic year, and John made two trips to the school that season, in which he spent a good deal of time coaching and encouraging our team. BYU inducted him into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980, Palomar College inducted him in 2012, and now it is his high school’s turn!

Please join us on October 25, 2018 for our annual Founders Reception, held from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Media Center/Library on the San Dieguito High School Campus. The Hall of Fame Induction ceremony is always held at the end of the reception, at approximately 3 pm; we encourage you to come early for the free Founders Reception in order to meet John and avoid the traffic jam when the final bell rings.

This is event is FREE.

Schedule:

• Founders Reception: 1:30 to 3:00 pm (click here for more info on this event)
• Hall of Fame Induction: 3:00 pm (Please see note at bottom of page about parking)

Both events will be held in the Library / Media Center / Learning Commons on campus.

At the end of the reception, we will induct JOHN FAIRCHILD (’61) into the San Dieguito Hall of Fame!

Questions? Want to RSVP?

• Call Bonnie Wren (760) 753-1121 x5085
• Mail SDAF/Alumni Association, PO Box 235109, Encinitas, CA 92023-5109
• Email sda.alumni@gmail.com

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*Parking is always an issue between 2:45 and 3:30 because the school bell rings at 3:10. Parents begin to fill the front parking lot as early as 2:30 and the parking lot becomes a zoo until at least 3:30. We recommend that you avoid the crunch and come early to the Founders Reception.

At the Founders Reception you will enjoy campus tours, light refreshments, and a chance to chat with our most senior alumni. Avoid the rush! Click here to RSVP!