Jerry Powell was 9-0 as the sophomore quarterback on San Diego’s junior varsity but transferred from the school of his family’s athletic greatness to the less traditional Lincoln.
It was a brilliant move.
Powell went on to a great career as the field leader for coach Shan Deniston’s Hornets, who were 7-2 and 10-1 in Jerry’s two seasons, including a San Diego Section championship in his senior season.
“I was only at San Diego High, because of the legacy of my brothers (Charlie, Art, and Ellsworth),” said Powell.
Powell did not live within San Diego’s attendance district. The family had moved from Logan Heights to Valencia Park , within walking distance of Lincoln.
Powell was granted permission by school authorities to attend San Diego because he also was enrolled in two college preparatory classes at San Diego City College, across the street from the San Diego High campus.
But when Powell turned out for practice the following spring he was told by coaches the Cavers probably were going to alternate quarterbacks, Powell, Leonard Simon and Glenn Callan.
A revolving quarterback situation didn’t appeal to the youngster. “I transferred out of San Diego and enrolled at Lincoln for the final quarter of my sophomore year,” said Powell.
“All of those guys at Lincoln, I played with in Pop Warner…Melvin Maxwell, Doug Jones, Bebe Franklin, all of them…I’d known them since we were little kids.
“Horace Tucker (a Caver of Art Powell’s vintage) even talked to me about Lincoln. Horace’s little brother, David Tucker, was on the team.”
Powell never looked back.
“It was natural for me, especially with coach Deniston. Shan told me, ‘I’m going to put the ball in your hands.’ Shan was a very underrated coach, innovative, always thinking.”
Powell and many of his teammates, including Wally Henry, a 1970s transfer from San Diego to Lincoln, continued to celebrate Deniston and lunch with the coach several times annually until he passed away at age 100 in 2020.
“He’s still driving his car,” said Powell in 2015, smiling at the thought. “We’re always telling Shan to pass us some of those secrets to a long life.”
