|
Don Lastra
I started skating in 1953 in Ocean Park, CA. I was a RSROA dance skater. In 1956 I joined the US Army. While stationed at Camp Gordon (Augusta, GA), I taught beginners dance skating at the local rinks. In 1958 I was sent to Camp Drake (Tokyo, Japan) as a M.P. I didn't pull very much duty there. I played baseball on the post team, played roller hockey for the local Armed Forces team, and taught beginner skating at the local rinks. After my tour of duty, I came home and taught skating in Redondo Beach and Santa Monica for Charlie "Spec" Saunders. I was born, raised and was residing in Ocean Park, CA (Southern Santa Monica) at that time, so this was not too far to drive. I also played roller hockey for the Redondo Team. During this time, I attended Santa Monica City College, where I played baseball. I also Pitched AAA Softball during the summer time.
In 1961 I was accepted by the Manhattan Beach Police Department. I retired in 1991, and now reside in Manhattan Beach. My good friend Spec lived just a few miles away in Torrance. When time permitted, I would go with Spec to the games.
In the late 60's I refereed a few games when the regular ref didn't show up. I always had my ref bag with me. In the early 1970's, Spec was in charge of the Jet League, which skated before the pro game. I refereed a lot of these games. I worked a few pro games also during this time. In 1972 I received a call from Ralphie Valladares and I was made a regular referee. Many thanks to Bill G., John Hall and Ralphie Valladares.
I worked until the end of Roller Games and Rock and Roller Games. In 1993 I went with the T-Birds & Bombers to Detroit, MI for a one night stand. We played to a full house. I think that was the last time I refereed in Roller Games.
In 1995, I worked all of the games for Bert Wall and Mr. DeCarlo.
In 1998, I went to Orlando, FL to train eight people to be referees for Roller Jam. Five of them quit after a couple of sessions. The three that were left were fine prospects. They were pro Ice Hockey refs. Tom Chasuk called me and told me that he wanted me to be Chief Referee for the games. I lasted only one game as Chief Referee. With one minute to go, in the very first game, I got into the middle of a fight involving Mark D'Amato and his buddy, Big Tim Washington. I was knocked down and broke my left wrist in three places. I was gone for eight weeks. I went back to Orlando two months later and worked 12 more games.
In July 1999, I went to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, to referee 12 Games, (July 4th weekend). At 5:50 P.M. on July 2nd (Friday night) my mate, "Barbie", was killed in a head on collision while enroute to Las Vegas. She was driving up to be with me and meet the stars of Roller Jam. She was a fan of Stacey Blitsch, the skater she called the Gettyup Kid. Barbie and I planned to have the weekend alone in Las Vegas, with no kids. After the accident, there was no reason to go home, so I stayed and worked the remaining games. I was here with my "Roller Jam" family. I didn't do any more games with Roller Jam. Thanks to S. Land and Tom Chasuk for including me.
In March of 2003, I worked a game in Los Angeles for Lou Sanchez. I also worked a game in September 2003 in Los Angeles, as well.
I might add that when I retired from the Police Department, I bought a house in Parker, AZ which was one block away from Spec Saunders' home. He had retired here a few years earlier. Spec and me were going to be buddy buddy and do a lot of things together. Well, we all know what happened to Spec.
Thanks for including me in your web page.
To top of Page
|