Downey High School

2006 Inductees

Alvarellos graduated from Downey High School in 1993. While attending Downey she received the Viking Award in A.P. Physics and Honors French. After graduation she attended the UCI and received a B.S. in Biology. She then attended UCLA School of Medicine receiving an M.D.; Dr. Alvarellos presently practices Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. She is a member of LIGA International “Flying Doctors of Mercy” and secretary of Chicano/Latino Medical Association. Mariella volunteers her time and expertise to Rancho Los Amigos and Rio Hondo Hospitals and was awarded certificates of appreciation from both hospitals. She is fluent in Spanish and also works at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles helping minorities and underserved patients with dignity and respect.

Bartolomé graduated from Downey High School in 1993. While attending Downey she received the Viking Award in A.P. French and Honors Algebra II. She graduated with a 4.27 GPA. After graduation she attended the University of California, Irvine receiving an M.D. from the College of Medicine. She is presently practicing Family Medicine at UCI Medical Center. She is a member of the Chicano/Latino Medical Association and a mentor for UCI Alliance for Minority Participation. She volunteers her time and expertise to Rancho Los Amigos and Rio Hondo Hospitals and was awarded certificates of appreciation from both hospitals. She is fluent in Spanish allowing her to serve and educate patients in the clinic as well as in the underserved communities.

Bode graduated from Downey High School in 1976. He attended Cerritos College, Long Beach City College and Los Angeles Trade Technical. From 1977 to the present, Bode has owned and operated a graphic design business. For fourteen years he was the art director for a 21 store retail chain/corporate office and warehouse facility for National Lumber and Supply. He was responsible for the production of their 32 page 4 color catalog 4 times a year, 12 page 4 color tabloid direct mailer monthly, and a twice weekly black and white flyer. He also supervised all in-house merchandise displays and signage at all new store sites as well as retrofitting existing stores. Bode is Director of Illustration for Special Projects Design for Warner Bros. Studio and has won numerous Warner Bros. awards for outstanding design performance. He was responsible for creating the look for “Harry Potter” and friends. He overcame art teachers remark “Bode, you’ll never make it drawing cartoons for a living.”

Upon graduation from Downey High School, Ronn Couillard joined the United States Marine Corps. After active duty, he continued service in the Marine Reserve. Ronn was graduated from Compton College, California State University at Los Angeles, and Southwestern University School of Law. He served as Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County and then entered private law practice. Ronn taught criminal law and criminal procedure at Western State University College of Law. He authored the textbook California Criminal Procedures and other legal publications. Ronn became Assistant District Attorney for Tulare County, California. In this position he oversaw all criminal filings and trials, and personally prosecuted selected high-profile cases. Governor George Deukmejian appointed Ronn to the Tulare County Superior Court. Judge Couillard has presided since 1987.

Brad Elrod played Varsity baseball and football at Downey High School. At Cal State Fullerton, he majored in Physical Education, minored in chemistry and mathematics and completed his Masters in Education at Azusa Pacific University. During his 29 year teaching career, Brad Elrod coached league champions in football at Alemany High School and Downey High School. As Offensive Coordinator at Rancho Bernardo High School, he helped lead the team to two CIF championships, three League Championships, and participated in the playoffs thirteen times during his fifteen year career there. Brad also received many accolades during his years as a teacher and a coach including Teacher of the Year for Downey Unified School District and selected Coach of the Year by the Southeast News, 1979 and 1982. Brad Elrod also served in the United States Army Reserve as a Dental Specialist.

Pete Yoder began his long and illustrious association with football at Downey High School. He played in the 1956 championship game against Anaheim at the Coliseum before a record 41,383 spectators to a 13-13 tie. To this day, the record still holds as the largest crowd to witness a state playoff game. In 1957 he was named all CIF first team quarterback and graduated cum laude from Long Beach State. With his Master’s degree in secondary education, he went on to coach Pasadena’s Blair High School to a CIF championship in 1969. Two of his players from that team went on to play in the NFL. He coached running backs for John McKay at USC in 1970 and ’71, and then coached at Cal State Fullerton from 1972 to 1974. He left to become head coach at Anaheim Esperanza High School in 1975. He coached Esperanza to a Southern Section Central Conference title in 1979 and continued to coach at Esperanza until 1986. During that time he accumulated a remarkable 99-35-6 record. Although Pete Yoder passed away earlier this year, his football legacy is one that will live on through the many athletes he influenced during his incredible career.