ESCONDIDO -- Is there another school in the North County with a deeper sports tradition than Escondido High? I don't think so.

Many of our local schools have terrific booster clubs, and some schools can argue that they have won more games and collected more trophies than Escondido.

That isn't the kind of tradition I'm referring to. I'm talking about how a group of Escondido High graduates have taken loyalty a step further with the formation of the Cougar Athletic Club.

These Cougars have come together to link the past with the future.

The Cougar Athletic Club, which is a separate entity from the school's booster club, meets four times a year and draws an array of former athletes.

It held a breakfast meeting Saturday and the age range went from 85-year-old Robert Houser (Class of 1939) to 18-year-old Kailyn Servis (Class of 2006).

The gathering drew about 70 individuals who came to renew friendships and listen to guest speaker John Kentera (XX Sports Radio 1090) spin stories.

Servis was there to receive $1,500 as the club's student-athlete. The hefty award is given annually to an Escondido athlete who will attend Palomar College in the fall.

Club president Danny Gabbard ('68) got the idea of having the alumni meet three years ago.

"I kept going to funerals and running into a lot of these guys," Gabbard said, "so I figured we should see everyone without a funeral."

With the help of others, Gabbard started making phone calls and set up a breakfast.

"We didn't know who many would show up, but we had to guarantee 25 servings and 35 showed up," Gabbard said.

Since those humble beginnings, the Cougar Athletic Club has a membership of approximately 150.

The event was really nothing fancy, just a good meal, and a lot of conversations all without any pretentiousness.

"The stories always get bigger," former basketball coach Mike Williams said.

There is an obvious need for the club because Escondido is not the sleepy little town it used to be 40 or 50 years ago.

"The town has gotten so big that you don't run into anyone you know anymore," Williams said.

The Cougar Athletic Club seems to be the perfect remedy for meeting old-new friends.

"The way this has taken off is one of the most amazing things I've been associated with," club secretary George Cordry said.

Why does this alumni association work so well in Escondido?

"There has always been a deep sense of loyalty in Escondido for so long because there was only one high school until the 1960s," Cordry said.

Escondido High is one of the oldest schools in the county, opening in 1893. It began playing sports in 1898. Only San Diego High (1886) is older.

Dave DeWitt ('69) has another thought why the club works.

"I think it goes back to the mentoring and coaching we received," DeWitt said.

DeWitt was referring to former Escondido players Dick Lievers, Don Portis, Chick Embrey, Mike Moreno and Mike Dietz, who all came back to the school as teachers. All were not only outstanding athletically but also the cream of the crop in the teaching profession.

It's pretty easy to get support for those who have dedicated their lives to helping others.

Even to an outsider like me, it was fun listening to some of the fascinating stories, especially the ones from Houser, the oldest alumnus in the room.

Houser was named the best shortstop in the state in 1939 and played against Jackie Robinson of Pasadena.

Houser, like most of his generation, fought in World War II. He had a two-year pro baseball career before becoming a postal worker. In his spare time, he umpired baseball games.

And take it from me, he doesn't look a day over 65.

Houser explained his age this way: "When I hit 75, I started counting backward. I'm 65 now and shortly, I'll be 64."

He's a delight.

My wish is that alumni from other schools get together and copy what the Cougar Athletic Club is doing. It's a winner.

Steve Scholfield is senior sports columnist for the North County Times. He can be reached at (760) 740-3509 or stevescho@cox.net.