Michael Locke is a journalist, photographer and realtor living in Los Angeles, CA. Born in Portland, Oregon, September 23, 1943, the eldest son of John A. Locke and Carol B. Locke. He attended Abigail Duniway Elementary School in Eastmoreland, and a half year at Cleveland High School, before his father accepted a position as Chief Engineer at Van de Kamp's Bakery, moving the family to Glendale, CA. in 1957. He attended Woodrow Wilson Middle School, then Glendale High School, graduating in 1961. At Glendale College, he played intercollegiate football for the Vaqueros and was Secretary of Men's Athletics, graduating in 1964 with an Associate in Arts Degree in Physical Education.
After Glendale College, he attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., hoping to win a football scholarship. After a season-ending injury ended his playing days, he joined the coaching staff at St. Albans' School for Boys, at the invitation of GW grad and Delta Tau Delta Fraternity brother, Ed Hino, leading the junior varsity team to a conference championship. During his senior year at George Washington, he accepted a student coaching position at Woodrow Wilson High School, under the supervision of legendary Head Coach Lew Luce and Assistant Coach Todd Gabbett. At Woodrow Wilson, a tragic incident occurred that forever changed his life. A star athlete, Joaquin Thomas, son of jazz singer June Norton, collapsed on the locker room floor sometime after a freak accident with another student during gym class. Michael, who had just completed a Senior Lifesaving Course, was nearby, and observing that Joaquin had stopped breathing, began administering mouth-to-mouth rescucitation. At Georgetown University Hospital, where Joaguin was taken for treatment, he was revived for a short time, amd recognized his mother, before collapsing into a coma and dying within hours, the victim of massive cerebral bleeding.
It happened at a time in our nation's history, when schools were being integrated for the first time. A front page article in the Washington Post read in part, "Michael's heroism aided substantively in Joaquin's chance for survival." The American Red Cross, after an investigation into the matter, awarded Michael the organization's "Medal of Merit", presented by Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart at graduation ceremonies in 1967.
After graduation, he followed his mentor Todd Gabbett to Howard County, MD. to serve as an Assistant Coach at Atholton High School, while teaching at Mt. Hebron Middle School. Mt. Hebron was slated to be converted into a high school; Mt. Hebron Principal Jim McCrumb offered Locke the opportunity to become the school's first football coach, starting the following year. After Atholton won the county football championship, Locke moved on to Mt. Hebron, developing the school's football program from scratch.
The Mt. Hebron years were marked by growing pains. The first year, competing with only freshman and sophomores, the school won the county's junior varsity championship with a 4-3 record. The following year,the team suffered through a 1-9 season; the worst defeats were inflicted by county "rivals" Glenelg (52-8) and Howard (62-0). The only win came against North Carroll (27-6). Surprisingly, the school's administration decided to dedicate the football field in his honor, naming the facility "Locke Field" on Viking's Day, 1969.
Dramatic change was about to occur in 1970, the year of Mt. Hebron's first senior class. The school's football players, who by now were hardened by experience, were out to prove themselves. They began the season with four straight wins, beating Hereford (27-8)and Kenwood (14-6). Thier first county opponent, Glenelg, who had thrashed them (52-8) the year before, probably took them too lightly. Playing on Glenelg's home field, they slipped by with a 13-12 win, shocking the naysayers, and boosting school pride. The following week, they beat Colonel Richardson (68-8), leading up to their biggest challenge, perennial Howard County power Howard High School.
"The Lions picked us for their Homecoming opponent, hoping to embarrass us on a Friday night", stated Locke. "The local newspapers were building up the story-line as "David vs. Goliath"; two undefeated teams vying for the county championship. It was a night for Mt. Hebron fans to remember: Although Howard outgained us in yardage, our game plan and our players "will to win" made the difference. A goal line stand in the waning moments of the game preserved an 11-8 victory. Heroes of the game were many: Linebacker Jeff Bender and Quarterback Steve Dalton (who passed to Barry Buckman for a two point conversion and kicked the winning field goal)are especially remembered. We finished the seaon 7-2-1, winning the Howard County Championship, Mt. Hebron's first", he said.
Retiring from coaching in 1972, Michael Locke spent the next three decades selling heavy construction and mining equipment beginning with the Morgan Equipment Company in San Francisco, Houston and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Plains Machinery Company, Houston and winding up with the Ingersoll Rand Company, Construction and Mining Division, Los Angeles. The bulk of the time (23 years) were spent at Ingersoll Rand, during which time he was recognized seven times as Regional Saleman of the Year while also being awarded many national sales awards,higlighted by winning the Joseph A. Wiendl Award in 1993, for "Outstanding Sales Achievement", the division's highest honor, and only the 10th recipient of the award in the company's 125-year history.
On September 22, 2001, he married Donna Jean Titus, a commercial real estate broker at the Glendale (CA) Presbyterian Church. Michael retired from Ingersoll Rand Company the following year and the couple joined Andrew Jelmert at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Los Feliz, embarking on a new career in real estate. For more than 30 years, he has been investing in a wide range of real estate holdings with partner Andrew Jelmert. At Coldwell Banker Michael and Andrew distinguished themselves as Architectural Specialists by the firm's ARCHITECTURAL DIVISION in recognition of their knowledge and record of accomplishment listing and selling architecturally- significant properties.
After a decade of accomplishment at Coldwell Banker and a two year interlude associated with Keller William Los Feliz Realty, the pair made the switch to Deasy, Penner & Partners in November 2012. "In changing firms Deasy/Penner was the only one we took under consideration, according to Michael; their 'architectural and design-centric emphasis dedicated to home as art®" perfectly suits our philosophy and interests."
Michael Locke is deeply involved in the community. While living in Silver Lake, he served as Vice Chair of the local neighborhood Council (SLNC) and founded the Silver Lake Beautification Committee. An accomplished photojournalist, he is Publisher and Editor of The Silver Lake News. He lives with his wife Donna Jean in the historic Durex Model Home ("La Casa Contenta) in Los Feliz with their Chihuahua-mix dog Maggie and their pet caique (parrot), Zach. They are members of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles where Michael serves as Trustee and is Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee. They are also active members of the Los Feliz Improvement Association, where Michael serves as a Director and serves on the History and Communications Committees. He is a regular contributing writer for the Los Feliz Ledger, the Los Feliz Observer and the Los Angeles City Historical Society Newsletter. He recently completed the first-ever book on the history of Silver Lake, Silver Lake Chronicles: Exploring an Urban Oasis in Los Angeles, published by the History Press.