Thomas Williamson
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
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/