Mike writes:
Wednesday afternoon I had a meeting at Fullerton Police Department. I got into Fullerton early and was driving around the west side, looking at my old houses, watering holes, church, and the stuff I saw when I was a kid. I was driving down Basque past the Village Market, remembering one of the many days when we would walk that street on our way to SHHS in the early 60s.
Whenever I would walk with Earnie Redfearn ('62), often as we passed the house of Mickey ('62), Tommie ('63) and Aaron McGuire ('64), Earnie would shout, “We choose off ALL the McGuires !”
Of course, the mere thought of anyone doing such a thing was sheer lunacy – the McGuires were good guys, but certainly not the type who anyone in their right mind would want to fight.
I had classes and played sports with Aaron and Tommie, and got to know Mickey well because he worked in Tomorrowland and I worked with his dad, Vince, in Frontierland. For a carton of cigarettes every week, Mickey took me (and often Vickie Snapp, '63, who worked with Mickey in Tomorrowland) to and from Disneyland every day during the summer months until I got my own car.
(For those who remember, it was an immaculate bronze and white 57 Chev, with a 409 engine and of course – four on the floor.)
About a year ago, Ron Johnson, '63, (who lived next door to the McGuires while growing up) told me that Mickey still lived in the same house where he grew up. During the 20 years I was a cop, I knew the McGuires lived there until they moved back to Oklahoma – but didn’t have any idea Mickey might still live there.
Well, to keep a long story long, since I had thirty minutes to kill yesterday, I pulled into the driveway and knocked on the door. A pretty young girl of about 15 answered the door and gave me -- a total stranger -- a pretty strange look. I realized that time had probably marched on.
Feeling embarrassed, I told the young girl that I was just looking for an old friend. She asked me who I was looking for and I told her his name was Mickey McGuire and that he used to live there. The girl turned and yelled, “Mickey, someone’s here to see you…”
It would be a stretch to say Mickey hadn’t changed a bit. But he looked really great. He invited me in and in a few moments we realized we hadn’t seen each other since the month about 35 years ago when I applied for the FBI.
Mickey has stayed very active. He is retired, but goes fishing and plays golf often. We chatted about his folks (who passed away back in their beloved Oklahoma many years ago) and mutual friends from high school. Mickey still stays in touch with Mike ('63) and Pat O’Brien ('62).
He said he is looking forward to future golf outings in memory of his friend Jimmy Steele, '62. I know Wayne Redfearn, '65 still reads the SPOON, Paul, and Wayne can tell Earnie that Mickey McGuire is NOT looking to take him up on the 1960 vintage challenge to fight.
Mickey has lived in the same house since his family moved there in 1956. I would bet none of our SPOON readers have lived in their house longer. Mickey can still be seen several times each week, sneaking around Laguna Lake – rod in hand during the morning hours.
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