A Night That Felt Like Coming Home
Some events are special because of what happens on the stage. Others become unforgettable because of who walks through the door. The Chico High Sports Boosters’ Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday, September 19, 2026, was both. That evening, 350 alumni, coaches, families, and friends gathered in The Westport Ballroom to celebrate the second class of the Chico High School Athletic Hall of Fame. It was a night of recognition and tradition, but for me, it was also deeply personal.
A welcome only Chico High could give.
The evening began before anyone stepped inside. The Chico High School band played outside, welcoming guests with the school alma mater. Those first familiar notes set the tone for everything that followed: pride, nostalgia, and a sense that generations of Panthers were coming together again. From there, guests moved into the Ballroom for dinner and the induction ceremony. The room was full, but it never felt anonymous. Everywhere we looked, people were reconnecting, retelling old stories, and introducing family members to the teammates, teachers, and coaches who had once been such an important part of their lives.
For us, this one was personal
My sisters and I are all Chico High graduates, and Nicole has watched all three of her children graduate from Chico High. That connection made the evening especially personal for me. I was not simply opening the doors of our venue; I was welcoming back a community that helped shape my life, my sisters’ lives, and Nicole’s family. I loved seeing so many athletes we grew up with and still count among our friends. The conversations felt wonderfully familiar—old seasons, unforgettable games, shared friends, and the kind of memories that return as soon as the right people are standing together in the same room.
Familiar faces made the night feel like a reunion
It was especially meaningful to see former teachers and staff members who helped define the Chico High experience for so many of us. Dan Sours was there with his wife, Mary, who worked in the front office. Mrs. Merlow, another familiar face from the front office, joined the celebration as well. And seeing Gerald Circo, my student government teacher back in the day, brought back another whole set of memories. Those reunions were happening all around us. The evening may have run long, but no one seemed eager for it to end. It had the warmth of a school reunion, the emotion of a family gathering, and the purpose of a ceremony that gave extraordinary athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors the recognition they deserved.
Every room held part of the story
The Ballroom held the dinner and ceremony. We were happy to donate the Conservatory for the bar and tables filled with Panther memorabilia. In the Library, the Chico High Foundation recorded alumni video stories in preparation for the school’s 125th anniversary in 2027. I loved watching each room take on a different part of the evening: celebration in the Ballroom, shared history in the Conservatory, and the preservation of personal stories in the Library. It was exactly the kind of gathering my co-owners and I imagined when we created The Westport—a place where Chico can come together, honor its past, and make new memories at the same time.
A closing we will always remember
Longtime coach Sam Simmons closed the evening with a heartfelt speech that brought laughter and tears to the room. After a night filled with awards, laughter, and reunions, his words brought everything back to what made the celebration matter: the people, the relationships, and the community that continue long after the final score. It was a beautiful ending to a night I will not forget.
Thank you, Chico High
To the Chico High Sports Boosters, the Chico High Foundation, the band, the honorees, and every guest who walked through our doors: thank you for allowing us to be part of this celebration. We were proud to host the second Hall of Fame class, proud to see so many familiar faces, and proud to share The Westport with a community that means so much to all four of us.
It truly was a night to remember—and for us, a night that felt like coming home.
