Hall of Fame
Athletes, Coaches and Community Heroes
The state player of the year for basketball as a senior at Piedmont, Corbin went on to become Cal's first star in the sport. He played on the Golden Bears' 1927 and '29 Pacific Coast Conference championship teams, led the league in scoring as a junior and senior, and became Cal's first basketball AII-America player. The Bears were 39-13 his three seasons, including 13-0 in 1927.
Dana was a standout basketball and football player at Piedmont High, who went on to play collegiately for Stanford University. He was a reserve on Stanford's 1942 national championship team, but in the championship game, starting forward Jim Pollard had the flu and was unable to play. Dana started in Pollard's place, played all 40 minutes, and scored 14 points, one point behind high scorer Howie Dallmar.
As a member of both the football & basketball teams while at Piedmont High School, Robert Kurkjian won the Optimo (MVP) for both sports. He was also President of his junior class. As a member of the 1941 ACAL football championship team that was ranked #1 in the country, he was named to the All-League and All-County teams, as well as the All-County basketball team. The Piedmont High School football program annually awards the Kurkjian Award, which is named in honor of Robert. He was killed in 1945 while serving our country in Okinawa Japan. Robert received both the Bronze Star and Silver Star for gallantry in action.
More photos:
Piedmont Football’s Kurkjian Award (click photos to expand).
The Kurkjian family provided this photo of Robert while stationed in Hawaii in 1944.
Leo was a student body president and star basketball player for the Highlanders. He was the Optimo Award winner for Piedmont’s 1937 ACAL Basketball Championship team. Leo later played on the 1942 Stanford team that won the NCAA Championship.
In 1942 Leo enlisted in the Marine Corps and was with the Marines in the pacific from 1944 to 1946 and took part in several campaigns, including Saipan and Okinawa, and then spent tour months in Japan.
Links:
Chicago Tribune - Stanford’s magical title run of 1942
Leo’s Obituary - San Francisco Chronicle 2005
Jim Peters was a successful member of the Piedmont High School football and track teams. He was named to the All-League, All-East Bay and All-Northern California teams as a linebacker in 1965. That particular team was undefeated in the FAL. On the track team, he participated in the shot put and discus events where he currently holds the Piedmont High School record for discus at 189 feet. He was ranked number one in the state of California for his discus throwing success during his senior year. He also won the State Championship meet that year. During his college career, he participated in the track & field team at UCLA.
Jim Peters passed away on December 20, 2022. Read his obituary here.
Unquestionably one of the finest athletes, male or female, in the history of Piedmont High School. She competed in volleyball, soccer, softball, swimming and track. Varsity soccer and softball as a Freshman; MVP and All-League swimmer as a Sophomore; All-League volleyball and softball as a junior; All-League volleyball as senior. Varsity Track as a senior, she set records in the triple jump; 400 meters; 100 hurdles; went to State meet in 300 hurdles and long jump; still holds school records for long jump, 200 meter hurdles, 300 hurdles.
