HALL OF FAME
Athletes, Coaches and Community Heroes
George Williamson
George Williamson
PHS Class of 1967
George Williamson graduated from Piedmont High School in 1967. A gifted two-sport athlete, he excelled as a sprinter in Track and earned the nickname “Mr. Touchdown” in Football. He was also a standout student and leader throughout his three years at PHS.
Track
George earned three Block Ps in Track and was a major contributor to the Varsity team all three years. He was part of an exceptionally fast group of sprinters in 1966, when it was not unusual for Piedmont to sweep the 100-yard dash and nearly as common to sweep the 200-yard dash. George led off the PHS 440-yard relay team, and Piedmont routinely took the lead after his first leg, setting up the relay victory. His speed added many points to the team’s total and helped win many dual meets. His best time in the 100-yard dash was 10.1 seconds.
Football
George was a one-year starter on the 1964 JV team and a two-year starter on Varsity, and he is regarded as one of the best backs Piedmont High School ever had. He put up strong numbers immediately as a junior. The 1965 season was one to remember: the Varsity team went undefeated and won the Foothill Athletic League (FAL) pennant, with George playing both ways as an Offensive Back and a Defensive Back. He wore number 33 as a junior and switched to number 44 as a senior.
His statistics tell the story. In his senior year, Coach Muenter wanted to spare him unnecessary physical punishment, and George played only one fourth quarter all season. There is no telling how much more he might have achieved had he played every game in full. At the end of the 1966 season, Coach Muenter retired George’s jersey, number 44, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Piedmont Football.
1965 Season
All-FAL First Team
Member of the FAL Champion Football Team
1966 Season
Team Co-Captain
Team Optimo Award
All-FAL First Team, Offense ('66 and '67)
East Bay Prep of the Week ('67) for scoring 5 touchdowns
All-East Bay ('67)
All-Metropolitan ('67)
FAL Top Scoring Leader (1967) - 27 Total Touchdowns
O’Hara Trophy
Doggie Dinner Sportsman Trophy
Jersey #44 retired
** Rushing included 26 touchdowns, the most by anyone in the State that season. George also threw one touchdown pass on a halfback option.
Scholastic Achievements and Leadership
George was exceptional in the classroom and as a leader. He finished Piedmont High School with an overall grade point average of 3.89 and was offered an athletic scholarship to Stanford, but chose an academic scholarship to Harvard instead.
He was also very active in student government and extracurricular activities:
Sophomore year: Spring Class Officer
1966: Fall House of Representatives
California Scholarship Federation (Fall)
1967: Fall Senate
Spring: Alpha Clan President, chosen for scholastic work as well as school activities
Voted “Most Athletic” by his peers
Class President (more than once)
George was known for his great campaign speeches at school-wide auditorium gatherings.
After Piedmont
George graduated from Harvard College on a scholastic scholarship and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School. He enjoyed a successful career in business. He passed away in 2010 after a long battle with cancer.
Glenn "Brick" Johnson
Glenn "Brick" Johnson
Coach & Athletic Director (1930-1960)
Coach Johnson was one outstanding football and track coach. He was the varsity football coach at Piedmont High School from 1930 to 1949, won many ACAL and FAL championships, and established a 36-0 record during the 1938-1941 seasons. He was also a teacher from 1930 to 1960. In 1942, Brick was awarded the California High School Coach of the Year honor. During his tenure, Piedmont High School was known as a consistent power in northern California.
He also coached the Piedmont High School varsity track team; winning several ACAL and FAL league championships, and helped develop many outstanding track and field athletes. He also established cross-country as a sport in the ACAL and the entire East Bay area. As a physical education instructor, he developed a strong, well-rounded program with minimum facilities, and then installed a boxing program, physical testing program, and a wonderful rainy day program. He held the positions of Department Chairman and Athletic Director.
Johnson was a veteran of both World War I and II, and was a lightweight boxing champion in the U.S. Navy during WW I. Brick lived in Piedmont with his wife and two children and was very active in the community. Helped establish chess in the physical education department. He was also an active kayaker and founded the Bag Pipe Band at Piedmont High School. Brick Johnson's name is synonymous with athletic excellence at Piedmont High School. His leadership skills and compassion make him fondly remembered by all that he touched during his time at PHS.
Robert "Bob" McKeen
Robert "Bob" McKeen
PHS Class of 1951
After transferring to Piedmont Junior High School in 1946, Bob began to show that he was a great athlete in the making. He played all sports really well, but was a great basketball player. He played four years on the Piedmont High School varsity team and was an absolute mainstay during his junior and senior years of 1950 and 1951.
During the 1950 season, Bob and his team (all were in the junior class) defeated Berkeley High School on Piedmont's home court. Piedmont had not accomplished this feat in any sport versus Berkeley High School during the preceding five years. During his senior year he led the Highlanders to a victory over St. Mary's High School of Berkeley that was ranked number one in northern California, won the Alameda County Athletic League (ACAL) Championship and the Norcal Tournament of Champions. Bob, at 6 7-1/2" and 215 pounds led in both scoring 9 and rebounds while gaining AII-County honors. During Bob's senior year he also participated on the Highlander track and field team (coached by "Brick" Johnson) where he won the ACAL shot put event.
After graduation he went on to become a four-year starter on the University of California, Berkeley basketball team. McKeen became Cal's all-time basketball scoring leader during his AII-America senior season of 1955, and his 1,654 points remained the standard for 32 years, until Kevin Johnson broke it. McKeen remains Cal's all-time leading rebounder with 1,034. He was a three-time all PCC Southern Division selection.
After being drafted to play professional basketball, Bob decided that other career plans took precedence. He was a successful real estate businessman and served as a member of the Oakland City Council for four years.
Links:
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bob-McKeen-Star-Athlete-At-Cal-Ex-Oakland-2786570.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_McKeen
Cal Bears Hall of Fame - https://calbears.com/sports/2016/6/27/210281408.aspx
Robert "Bob" Muenter
Robert "Bob" Muenter
Coach & Athletic Director (1949-1983)
It has been said that Bob Muenter's life and his teams are synonymous with Piedmont High School's athletic prowess. He joined the staff in 1949 and retired in 1983 after coaching varsity football, baseball and swimming. He served as an assistant coach for track and field, "B" basketball and golf teams. In addition, he was also a Physical Education instructor, department chairman and athletic director during his career at Piedmont.
His teams won football championships in 1959, 1960, 1965 and 1972. Bob won individual honors as a Co-Coach of the East-West High School All-Star football game and served as an advisory coach for the Cerebral Palsy Alameda-Contra Costa game for 26 years. Bob has been recognized for a number of awards including the East Bay Coach of the Year on two occasions, the Joe Verducci Award for Northern California, the Pepsi Coach of the Year Award for Northern California and named to the University of the Pacific Hall of Fame.
The players on his 1952-1972 teams have also recognized Bob. Known as "Muenter's Boys", they have met for get-aways in Sea Ranch, hosted an annual golf tournaments and dinners to honor Coach Muenter and reminisced over old game films for years.
Archive of photos from Coach Muenter’s great career.
About This Iconic Photo:
It was our last game of the season, homecoming, and a hard fought battle. We were up 7 to 6 with a few minutes to play. We had stop Acalanes and I thought we were going to win. They lined up for a field goal, and made it. In our time field goals were a last ditch effort. I think most of us were still in some what of shock. Coach called us all over to the sidelines, grabbed the mike, and asked the stands to stay and listen. He thanked the fans for their support, and then announced that it was the last time that #22 would be worn. It was a bitter-sweet moment in time for all of us. In the locker room after the game he talked to us and said how proud he was of our effort throughout the season. That was the kind of man he was. He taught us not to gloat after a win, and if you gave it your all, not hang your head after a loss.
With regards,
Doug Duncan
PSHOF Inductee
James Stehr
James Stehr
PHS Class of 1985
James Stehr was an outstanding all-around athlete during his era at Piedmont High School. He lettered and was also selected to AII-League teams in four varsity sports including tennis, football, basketball and baseball from 1981-1985. He advanced to the league doubles championship as a freshman on the varsity tennis team. As a sophomore he was on the first team all-league as a defensive back and won the Bob Muenter Award on the football team.
Stehr was also a starting all-league guard on the first of three championship basketball teams (1983) while winning all-league honors, and again was a star on the varsity tennis team. As a junior Jim was the an all-league quarterback on the football team, all-league on the A.C.A.L. championship basketball team (1984), and starred on the hlighlander baseball team.
As a senior Jim served as the captain of the football team and was again selected to the all-league team. Despite an injury and missing most of the league games during the season, he captained one of Piedmont's greatest championship basketball teams (1985), again earning all-league honors and All-NCS, while limping through most of the season. He won the Bill Parker Award as the most inspirational player, and was selected as the Co-MVP of the league for hitting .500 on Piedmont's first league championship baseball team in 1985. Jim won Piedmont's Optimo award for football during his junior year, baseball his senior year, and was recognized as an Oakland Tribune Prep of the Week.
Montague "Monte" Upshaw
Montague "Monte" Upshaw
PHS Class of 1954
Monte Upshaw's name was synonymous with track and field stardom during his days at Piedmont High School. He was a world-class long jumper and set the national record in 1954 wit a jump of 25’ 4-1/2", which would have been good enough to win the subsequent 1956 Olympics! Monte also starred in the 180 low hurdles and the 120 high hurdles, defeating the likes of Rafer Johnson, who went on to win the 1960 Olympics Decathlon title at the Rome Olympic Games. Monte was quite simply the man who consistently defeated everyone against whom he competed.
In football. Monte was an outstanding wide receiver and "the best defensive back I ever saw"; according to long time Piedmont football coach Bob Muenter. Monte had outstanding speed and work ethic, pushing himself up the hills around the school and running the halls of the junior high school after school on rainy days. He won all-league honors in both track and football in the ACAL in both 1953 and 1954, and was Northern California Athlete of the Year in both 1953 and 1954. He served on the student council as a junior and senior and was the Student Body President his senior year.
He attended the University of California, Berkeley where he set the frosh record in the long jump at 24'6". Unfortunately, he injured his knee during the season, returned as a sophomore, pushed hard for the 1956 Olympics, and re-injured his knee. He also ran the 100, 400 and relays for Cal.
Links:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/09/05/tributes-pour-in-for-piedmont-high-cal-hall-of-famer-monte-upshaw/