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Lucy, Schulte honored with special awards

Bob Lucy and Heather Schulte were among the award recipients honored at the High School Sports Association of San Diego’s 19th annual all-star recognition ceremony February 5 at the San Diego Hall of Champions.

Lucy was a recipient of the Community Service Award while Schulte, who spent ten years as Fallbrook High School’s athletic director, was presented with the Athletic Director Award.

“This is a great award, but I also feel a little embarrassed because this is what we’re supposed to do,” said Lucy, whose three children were involved in Fallbrook High School athletics.

Schulte also introduced Lucy during the awards ceremony and noted his willingness to help any school sport with time and money. “Bob is the type of person who volunteers his business, his time, his energy,” Schulte said. “He has been the backbone of our community.”

Lucy, a partner in Del Rey Avocado Company, has worked in Fallbrook since 1975 and has been a Fallbrook resident since 1987. Schulte noted that Lucy started the Duke Snider Home Run Derby and that he also funds an annual party for scoreboard operators, timers, and other game support staff. “He’s what I call the gentle giant,” Schulte said. “He’s a very giving man.”

Lucy and his wife, Susan, both grew up in small towns in New England, and Lucy compared Fallbrook to that environment. “The sense of community in Fallbrook is very wonderful,” he said. “People are so supportive.”

Lucy noted that Schulte was Fallbrook High School’s athletic director and Marc Steffler was the principal when his children were students and athletes at Fallbrook High School. “They had wonderful coaches,” Lucy said.

“I urge all businessmen here to continue to give back to the schools. These kids are just so deserving,” Lucy said.

“Susan and I have been very blessed. Del Rey has been blessed,” Lucy said. “I’m so lucky to be in the town of Fallbrook.”

Schulte was introduced by long-time Helix High School athletic director Jim Arnaiz. “She’s been a great coach and a great athletic director,” Arnaiz said. “She was very involved and is still very involved in her community.”

Schulte was a volleyball player at Cal State University Long Beach and completed collegiate studies with a Master’s degree. She joined the Fallbrook High School faculty in 1979 and was the athletic director from 1995 to 2005. “She made her mark at Fallbrook High school as an athletic director for ten years,” Arnaiz said. “She was definitely a change agent in her community.”

Schulte spent 26 years coaching volleyball, softball, and field hockey. Her accolades included an Athletic Director of the Year award from Cal Coach and Fallbrook High School Teacher of the Year recognition. She also served on the California State Athletic Directors Association board. “They were very impressed with the job that Heather did,” said Arnaiz, who was on the CSADA board before his retirement.

Schulte is now the North County Conference commissioner. “I’m sure she will have an impact on that,” Arnaiz said.

“It means a lot to me,” Schulte said of the High School Sports Association honor. “I was very proud of the ten years I was athletic director at Fallbrook High School.”

Schulte noted that the coaches were the ones responsible for the success of Fallbrook High School’s athletic teams. “It was a pleasure being a leader for all of them,” she said. “I worked with a great group of people at Fallbrook High School.”

Schulte noted that her enjoyment went beyond coaching. “It’s a blessing to be a teacher, and it was blessing to be an administrator, too,” she said.

Several Fallbrook High School coaches and numerous friends made the trip to San Diego to see Schulte honored. “I’m just pleased that there was a large group from Fallbrook,” she said.

 

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