Questions surface about Del Oro High School legend

Anyone who has spent much time at Del Oro High School knows the name Ralph E. Goggins. There were those who worshiped the man who was the school's first principal when Del Oro opened its doors in 1959. The Del Oro football stadium was even dedicated to him in 1969. But there are those who say the school stadium should not bear his name because of alleged sexual misconduct by Goggins.Many highly praise the deceased former principalA man of vision, extraordinary results from the ordinary circumstances. He was dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in all activities." These are the words inscribed on a plaque displayed in the Del Oro High School Library for Ralph E. Goggins, Del Oro High School's first principal. Even though former students Jim Roenspie and Bill Gieck have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Goggins, who was at the helm of the town's only high school from 1959 to 1968, there were many people who said they knew nothing of anything inappropriate in regards to Ralph E. Goggins. Goggins was often called "Mr. Del Oro" and coined the term, "Deloroism."Former Del Oro teacher Ron Jones remembers that Goggins spent countless hours at school each day. He also recalls seeing Goggins mowing the lawns of the school grounds on Saturday mornings."Ralph Goggins hired me. He always supported excellence. He had high standards and could be demanding at times," said Jones, who taught at Del Oro from 1963 to 2002. "I think he was there 24 hours a day." Jones said he remembers Goggins always made sure he supported all the high school activities and said Goggins attended not only various sporting events but band concerts and theatrical productions as well."He was passionate about the school and gave life to whatever he was doing," Jones said.Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner attended Del Oro at the same time as Roenspie from 1965 to 1969. The two played together on the school basketball team. Bonner said Roenspie never said anything to him about any misconduct by Goggins while they were in high school.When Bonner was told about allegations made against Goggins he said he was surprised.Hal Dugger, who taught at Del Oro from 1965 to 1987, also said he never heard anything inappropriate about Goggins. "I knew him well and I had a lot of respect for him," Dugger said. "Although I think he was a bit of a martyr as he was there at the school seven days a week."Even though Dugger said as an employer Goggins required excellence from everyone, he enjoyed working for him and said that Goggins was the type who always did his part."He also didn't hesitate to say when you were out of line," Dugger said. "There were probably some people who could have had a problem with that."Wes Naylor, who taught Spanish at Del Oro from 1969 to 1986, also said he knew Goggins well."I never heard anything but positive comments about him," Naylor said.According to an article published in The Loomis News on June 15, 1978, Goggins died at the age of 51 on June 9, 1978 in Billings, Mo. following a bout with pneumonia. After his tenure as Del Oro's principal, The Loomis News reported he was named superintendent of the Placer Union High School District, succeeding G.A. LaPlante. Goggins remained in that position for almost two years. According to several sources, including The Loomis News, Goggins later joined LaPlante in South America teaching there for several years before returning to his hometown of Billings where he operated a restaurant.A six-ton granite marker at the Del Oro football stadium has an inscription that reads, "In recognition and appreciation of Ralph Goggins, the first principal of Del Oro High School whose inspired leadership and dedication made this stadium a reality." Goggins was also recognized for his efforts helping to build the stadium, and to provide the school with baseball fields, chain link fencing, and the swimming pool.Former student Jim Roenspie, who attended Del Oro from 1965 to 1969, and Bill Gieck, who was a Del Oro student from 1964 to 1968, recently came forward with allegations of sexual molestation against Goggins even though he has been dead since 1978.Many in the Loomis community dispute the allegations Roenspie and Gieck have made. Several former Del Oro teachers said Goggins was regarded with the utmost respect during his years at Del Oro.Former teacher Ron Jones said he never heard any hint of sexual misconduct on Goggins' part.Jones recalled Goggins spent a great deal of time at school, even during the weekends when he would often be found mowing the lawn of the school grounds.But Roenspie said it was the fall of his senior year after Goggins left Del Oro and was appointed superintendent of Placer Union High School District when the alleged molestation occurred. According to Roenspie, it was not uncommon for Goggins to be seen with students and for them to visit him at his home in Loomis. He also said many members of Del Oro's sports teams maintained contact with the man even though he was no longer principal."He was like a second father to me," Roenspie said. "In fact, he took my dad and me lots of places. He even bought me my football shoes one year."Before the alleged incident, Roenspie and Gieck said they were among those people at Del Oro who believed Goggins and all the other teachers at school were like gods."It was like living in Camelot. And if you could play sports for Del Oro, you were something. Mr. Goggins made us believe being a part of Del Oro was the most important thing in the world," said Roenspie, who said he lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Del Oro.But all of this changed one fall evening in 1968 when Roenspie said Goggins asked him to come to his house."He said he had something he wanted to talk to me about," Roenspie recalled. Roenspie said that once he arrived the two began to discuss school events and activities. It was just the two of them in Goggins' Loomis home as Goggins lived alone. According to several sources, Goggins had no children and was never married.After a bit of conversation Roenspie said Goggins offered him a drink."I didn't realize it had alcohol in it. I think it was a rum and Coke," he said. "All of a sudden he pounced. He moved close to me and sat right in front of me. He grabbed hold of me and kissed me. Then he put his tongue in my mouth. After that he grabbed my pants and put his hands down my pants"Roenspie said he was in such shock he sat there for several minutes before running out the door."I jumped in my car and just sat there. I had a flash in my head. My brain was overloaded. I didn't know what I was doing," Roenspie said.After this single incident Roenspie said his whole world fell apart. He finished out the football season but when basketball season rolled around, he couldn't play."I couldn't focus. All the coaches were screaming at me because I wasn't performing the way I used to. Everyone was calling me a quitter and a loser," he said.While Roenspie admits he did not tell anyone about the alleged incident while he was attending Del Oro, he said he told five Del Oro teachers after he graduated that "something was wrong with Mr. Goggins." Former teacher Jack Sanchez, one of those teachers Roenspie said he talked to, doesn't recall Roenspie mentioning any sort of specific incident he had with Goggins. "At some point he (Roenspie) may have asked me something about Goggins being a homosexual. He asked me if I ever noticed anything. I said 'no,' " Sanchez said.When asked why he didn't tell anyone what had happened his senior year Roenspie said, "I was so ashamed. I just didn't tell people. I didn't want to tarnish the Del Oro name. My life after that incident was never the same. I was lost. Everything I believed in was gone. I lost my marriage, started drinking and have been in therapy for years."Roenspie said he never told any of his classmates until about four years ago when he met up with Bill Gieck, a friend who graduated a year prior to Roenspie."I asked Jim what happened to him that senior year," Gieck said. "Something wasn't right."When Roenspie told Gieck about his experience, Gieck wasn't completely surprised because he said he also had a similar experience during his senior year."Ralph Goggins was a predator and a manipulator," Gieck said.Gieck recalled one incident when he visited Goggins at his house with a few friends."He said he wanted to talk to me so I went back to the house after the rest of my friends had left. I wasn't gone more than 20 minutes but by the time I came back Mr. Goggins was drunk. He offered me something to drink, but I didn't take it," Gieck said.Gieck said Goggins began speaking about inappropriate things and came over to where he was sitting and put his hand on Gieck's thigh."Then he worked his hand to my crotch area. I panicked and bolted from the house," Gieck said.Gieck said he did not suffer the years of mental trauma Roenspie did because he confided in a classmate about four months after his visit to Goggins. This classmate whose name Gieck preferred not to use, told Gieck he had a similar experience with Goggins. Because he confided in this friend who has since died, Gieck said he was better able to deal with the situation."If I thought it was just me, it would have been hard. By sharing with Bob, it made all the difference in the world," Gieck said.Roenspie and Gieck said it is important to come forward with their story now after so many years because of the current campaign the school is currently conducting to rebuild the Goggins football stadium."I would like the stadium to be re-named," Roenspie said."There are so many super heroes out there who represent Del Oro that the stadium could have been named for," Gieck continued. "All we can do is share our information."