Eagle Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame Dinner

The Arroyo Grande High School Eagle Athletic Foundation will hold its annual Athletic Hall Of Fame Dinner on Saturday, January 23, 2016. In addition to serving as a fundraiser for the Eagle Athletic Foundation, the event will also include the induction of four new members into its Athletic Hall Of Fame, all of whom have contributed significantly to the high school in various capacities. The inductees include two past athletes, Chantal Plante Cravens and Sean Shields, as well as coach James Brown, and community supporter/school administrator Chuck Bowles. The event presented by Gold Sponsor Mullahey Ford, will be held for the 8th straight year at the South County Regional Center in Arroyo Grande.

For nearly 40 years, James Brown has been a coaching fixture at Arroyo Grande High School, creating an unprecedented legacy. His coaching tenure, which began in 1978, is the longest in the 120-plus history of the high school. Brown served as a track and field assistant for 17 years, helping to establish the Eagles as one of California’s premiere programs. In that time, he contributed to several titles, including four team CIF championships. From 1996 to present, Brown has served as head track and field coach piling up numerous league, county and CIF titles. He has also served as jump coach his entire career, helping to produce seven CIF individual champions, nine individual runner-ups and seven individual state place winners. In 2001, he reached the pinnacle, guiding the boy’s track and field team to the state championship. Brown has previously been honored as the 1995 CIF-SS Coach of the Year and the 2012 California Coaches Association Southern Section Coach of the Year.

An exceptional three-sport standout, Sean Shields enjoyed his greatest success in track and field, where he established himself as one of the greatest throwers in county history. In addition to his four-year varsity track career, the 2001 graduate also lettered three times each in football and basketball. In shot put and discus, Shields produced numerous records and honors, most notably the 2001 state championship in the discus and state runner-up finish in shot put. Shields helped lead the Eagles to the team state title that same year, and later earned a place on the USA Junior Team. He continued his career at the University of Arizona, where he racked up numerous accomplishments, including the 2005 Pac-10 Conference title in shotput. He was also named All-American ten times, plus competed in the Junior World Championships and two Olympic Trials. Now married with two children, Shields is employed with the University of Arizona Police Department.

During her one-year Arroyo Grande career, Chantal Plante Cravens was an athletic pioneer, establishing several firsts in school history. After transferring in, she made the most of her brief time at the school by capturing the 1983 Northern League title, and more significantly, the CIF individual cross country championship, which was the first in program history. Led by her performance, the Eagles placed as the CIF runner-up, which at the time, was the best ever finish for the team. She also was named All-State, All-Western region and All-American. In addition, Cravens was the first Eagle to run in prestigious Kinney National Cross Country Championships and also first runner to receive a full-ride college scholarship. After graduating in 1984, Cravens attended the University of California, and later Fresno State, where she earned All-Conference honors. The married mother of two is currently employed at El Monte City School District and serves as a GATE Program Specialist.

A valuable community member for 50 years, Chuck Bowles has tirelessly served in various capacities at several local schools, including at Arroyo Grande High School. The Oakland native relocated to the South County in 1965, and through the years worked as principal at Nipomo, Shell Beach, Ocean View and Dana elementary schools. He later moved on to a position with the Lucia Mar Unified School District, and briefly served on the school board. He has been a member of several local service clubs, youth sports leagues, city and county commissions, plus numerous other area educational, philanthropic and community-oriented organizations. A longtime sports fan, Bowles volunteered his time for 40 years as public address announcer for Arroyo Grande football games. Over the course of his tenure, Bowles was the stadium voice during several CIF championship-winning seasons, including 1987, 1994, 1997 and 1998. Bowles and his wife Barbara are retired, reside in Arroyo Grande, and have three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The Eagle Athletic Foundation Hall Of Fame Dinner will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Socializing and cocktails will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The program will begin at approximately 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person, while a table for eight will be $400. For more information about the dinner and sponsorship opportunities, please call the Eagle Athletic Foundation (805) 474-3200 ext. 9505 or Foundation President Clarence Cabreros (805) 710-4654.

Contact: Clarence Cabreros, President

Eagle Athletic Foundation

(805) 710-4654