Even though they are two of Carson High's all-time greats, it's still a humbling experience for Tom Pardini and Ross DiLipkau to be selected for the Carson High Hall of Fame.
The two will be inducted during Carson High's second annual Hall of Fame dinner at Adele's on Saturday.
Pardini, a 1956 Carson graduate, played on the Senators undefeated 1955 football team. He was a tailback and safety for that team and earned all-state and honorable mention All-American honors.
He also participated in track where he did the broad jump, threw the shot put and ran the 100-yard dash. Pardini went on to break the school record in the 100-yard dash. He was also the senior class president at Carson.
Pardini attended Coalinga (Calif.) College where he also played football and participated in track and the University of Nevada where he played football. Now retired, Pardini went on to serve as a personnel manager for the state of Nevada.
"It sure is, it really is," said Pardini about the honor. "I was pretty surprised, I tell you."
About Carson, Pardini said, "I have real warm memories."
DeLipkau was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track at Carson. He was a fullback, halfback, quarterback, linebacker and safety for the football team and did the sprints, hurdles, shot put, discus, broad jump, pole vault and relays in track. His specialty in track was the 180 low hurdles,
"In track in those days, you basically did everything," DeLipkau said.
DeLipkau played football and participated in track at the Merchant Marine Academy in New York. Now an attorney, he attended McGeorge Law School in Sacramento.
"I think it's an honor because looking back my high school days were as happy of days as I ever had," said DeLipkau about being honored. "Carson High, particularly football, set me up for where I went and that set me up for now."
Saturday's event will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m., with dinner wet for 6 and the induction ceremony scheduled for 7. A dance will follow the induction ceremony.
Drawing tickets will be sold for prizes and there will also be silent and live auctions. Among the items in the live auction will be four tickets on the 30-yard line for a San Francisco 49ers game and a football autographed by Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden.
The event will be limited to 200 people. Tickets are $20 and available by calling Ron Pacheco, 775-882-5974, Dennis Binder, 775-883-8030 or Mike Whitcome, 775-887-9014. Tickets should also be available at the door.
