1962 Flashback

1962 Flashback

As 1962 begins, I am now in the 12th Grade (my Senior year) at Castlemont High in East Oakland. On June 15, 1962 I would graduate from Castlemont. We would be the first class to graduate from the hideous new building. In the Fall of 1962 I would begin classes at Oakland City College (later to be called Merritt College). At this time Oakland City College was located at 5714 Grove Street (this street would later be named Martin Luther King Way). This building on Grove Street was once University High School, built in 1923. Eventually Merritt College would be located in the Oakland hills. Below is an old photo of University High School (this was the building that housed Oakland City College circa 1962 (this is an older picture, but the building looked just like this in 1962).

———————————————-News Events————————————————-

This was the year that we made great advances in the space race. On February 20, John Glenn would be the first American to orbit the Earth (he would do it 3 times in the Friendship 7). On May 24, Scott Carpenter would become the second American to orbit the Earth (he would do this aboard the Aurora 7) and on October 3, Walter Schirra would become the third American to orbit the Earth (he would accomplish this feat aboard the Sigma 7). August 27 would see the passing of the 24th Amendment-this would ban the poll tax (politicians would now find other creative ways to take away voting rights). This was the year that saw the death of Hollywood Icon, Marilyn Monroe. November 7 of this year saw the death of former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. This was also the year that Richard Nixon lost to Pat Brown in the race for Governor of California. He wrongfully said “you won’t have Richard Nixon to kick around anymore” (it turns out that we had a few more years of kicking him around ). This was also the year of Telstar, the Communications Satellite. The biggest news event of this year, however, would occur toward the end of October, as the world would hover on the brink of World War 3.

February 20, 1962——John Glenn orbits the Earth

May 24, 1962-Scott Carpenter will orbit the Earth

—————————————-Cost Of Living————————————————-

———————————————The World Of Sports—————————————

In the NBA, this was the year for the record game of Wilt Chamberlain. On March 2 he would score 100 points, leading the Philadelphia Warriors over the New York Knicks 169 to 147. The Boston Celtics would defeat The Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 to win the NBA Championship. In the world of baseball, Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Hall Of Fame . The New York Mets, an expansion team, finished the season with a record of 40 wins and 120 losses. In the World Series, The New York Yankees defeated the San Francisco Giants 4 games to 3. In the NFL, The Green Bay Packers defeated the New York Giants 16 to 7 to win the NFL Championship. In the AFL, The Dallas Texans defeated The Houston Oilers 20 to 17.

Final 1962 NBA Standings