RAMIREZ'S FONDEST FAREWELL; `MR. BIRMINGHAM' RETIRES AFTER 44 YEARS ON CAMPUS.Byline: VINCENT VINCENT Vital Information Necessary Centralized (movie, The Black Hole) BONSIGNORE It was the type of moment Lou Ramirez shared with students many times during 44 years at Birmingham High.But for Scott Doherty, the gesture was poignant and special. Doherty's high school football career had ended moments before. Beaten by Banning in the City 4-A playoffs last October, the Braves' senior quarterback cried as he lay by himself in the end zone. Just then Ramirez reached down to Doherty and consoled him. ``He was basically telling me that I had a great career and that I shouldn't let anybody see me down over a loss,'' Doherty remembers. ``He told me that I'd go on to play in college and that I should keep my head up.'' They stood there talking for 30 minutes, the 72-year-old athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic and the shaken
Shaken (車剣, also known as kurumaken) are a type of Shuriken teen-age quarterback. Ramirez recounted the pain he experienced when his own high school career ended years ago at Hollywood High
intr.v. sub·sid·ed, sub·sid·ing, sub·sides 1. To sink to a lower or normal level. 2. To sink or settle down, as into a sofa. 3. To sink to the bottom, as a sediment. 4. and that bigger games awaited a·wait v. a·wait·ed, a·wait·ing, a·waits v.tr. 1. a. To wait for. See Synonyms at expect. b. . ``That meant a lot to me,'' Doherty said. ``Especially coming from him. He's such a great man. Basically, he's Mr. Birmingham.'' Caring. Devoted. Committed. Loyal. Words like these are thrown around so often and so frivolously friv·o·lous adj. 1. Unworthy of serious attention; trivial: a frivolous novel. 2. Inappropriately silly: a frivolous purchase. that they often lose meaning. In the case of Lou Ramirez, they are entirely appropriate. Ramirez is stepping aside on Friday, ending a heartfelt heart·felt adj. Deeply or sincerely felt; earnest. heartfelt Adjective sincerely and strongly felt: heartfelt thanks Adj. 1. 44-year career as the school's athletic director, No. 1 fan and head cheerleader. Without a doubt, things won't quite be the same at the Van Nuys school. Ramirez's official title might be athletic director, but he is also prominent in student-body government activities, the letterman's club and history club and just about anything else you can think of. He is, as Doherty put it, Mr. Birmingham. ``I've been coaching since 1982 and I've never worked with someone who cares as much as Lou does,'' Birmingham baseball coach Rick Weber said. ``Lou is a fantastic person to work for.'' Weber's feelings are echoed by everyone associated with Birmingham. From students to teachers to administrators, everybody will miss Lou Ramirez and the special care he brought to work each day and then passed on to others through his words and actions. ``He'll be remembered as the man that did just about everything for Birmingham,'' Doherty said. ``He had a lot of pride in our school and he was always helping out students. Of all the teachers and faculty members, he's the person that students remember most.'' Ramirez's influence is nearly everywhere on the Birmingham campus. He was instrumental in the planning and building of the school's 11,000-seat football stadium - built in 1964 - and its baseball field, which is named in his honor. When the baseball field becomes the first diamond in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. to get lights, it will be the result of Ramirez's tireless work. ``I think we've got the best athletic facilities in the Valley, and it's all because of Lou,'' said Rick Prizant, who graduated from Birmingham and has taught and coached there since 1984. ``He will be missed a great deal. It definitely won't be the same without him around.'' It nearly didn't happen, this love affair with Birmingham. Ramirez doesn't like to talk about it, but after graduating from USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. in 1951 he was interested in a career with the FBI. Ramirez was on his way until a foot injury prevented him from passing the FBI physical. But Ramirez believes everything happens for a reason. He wasn't meant to be an FBI agent, which is why he didn't pass the physical. His second love was teaching and working with youngsters. And as time has proven, that was his true calling. In 1954, Ramirez became a teacher at Birmingham. The next year he was named the school's athletic director. He never expected to stay as long as he did. But looking back, there are no regrets. ``There hasn't been a day that I didn't wake up and not want to come to work,'' Ramirez said. ``I haven't dreaded dread v. dread·ed, dread·ing, dreads v.tr. 1. To be in terror of. 2. To anticipate with alarm, distaste, or reluctance: dreaded the long drive home. one moment.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Lou Ramirez stands on the all-weather track at the Birmingham High stadium he helped plan and build. Myung J. Chun/Daily News |
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