OC Press Club Honors Fred Swegles with Lifetime Achievement Recognition

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

The Orange County Press Club posthumously honored local renowned newsman Fred Swegles with the 2023 Sky Dunlap Award during the organization’s Excellence in Journalism Awards Gala on June 15.

Swegles died last October following complications from a brain tumor at age 74. In his more than 50-year career as a photojournalist, Swegles reported for the Daily Sun-Post and Orange County Register before becoming a columnist with the San Clemente Times

The lifetime achievement award, named for the Globe owner and publisher John William “Sky” Dunlap, honors the lifetime achievement and community service of an Orange County journalist.

“Fred Swegles is an institution in Orange County journalism,” Daniel Langhorne, president of the Orange County Press Club, said in a media release. “His tireless efforts over five decades to cover

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Dr. Christopher Brown was officially named as the new superintendent for the Capistrano Unified School District on June 14.

In a unanimous vote, the CUSD Board of Trustees approved a contract for Brown, who is taking over the role from former Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte. Brown begins the role on July 1. His contract runs through June 30, 2027.

Brown’s initial salary is for $335,000 and will be increased by 3.98% after completion of his first, second, and third years of service “to be competitive with those of superintendents in similarly sized Orange County districts,” according to the terms of his contract.

He comes to CUSD from the Long Beach Unified School District, where he served as the assistant superintendent for Research, Assessment, and School Improvement.

Brown said he was “excited” to be selected.

“I’ve spent the last 20 years working in the Long Beach Unified School District as a teacher and leader,” he said. “I’ve his beloved hometown of San Clemente are a testament to the impact one journalist can have on their readers.”

“Our board’s decision to honor Fred was unanimous, and we sincerely wish it had arrived before his passing,” Langhorne continued.

During the OC Press Club gala, Managing Editor for Picket Fence Media and OC Press Club Board member Shawn Raymundo shared memories of working with Swegles at the SC Times

Each week, Swegles would join staff meetings, eager to share a song or his “next great column,” Raymundo said.

“He always had a notepad full of story ideas, and he’d go through all of them,” Raymundo said. “These were always so well-thought-out story ideas, so detailed, and he always explained each pitch with such passion.”

Raymundo added that Swegles embodied the spirit of journalism, “which, at the heart of it, is storytelling.”

“He was passionate about telling a good story and digging into all of the facts and all of the details until the very end,” Raymundo said. “Fred was a writer, a storyteller, a talented photographer, even a songwriter, a historian with a wealth of knowledge and a resource for all of us, a proud San Clementean, but above all, he was an inspiration to many of us.”

Orange County Register coastal reporter Laylan Connelly remarked that when she came across Swegles at the beach or in the community, she knew she would learn something new from the legendary news writer.

“You’d see that glimmer in his eye and excitement in his voice, and you’d learn something from that conversation you were about to have from him, and I think a lot of people felt that way when they were in Fred’s presence,” Connelly said.

“We had a shared love and passion for beach culture,” Connelly continued. “We’d often chat down at the sand, his big camera lens pointed out to the ocean capturing every up-and-coming surfer who he highlighted in the newspaper, knowing that putting them in the spotlight might nudge them towards greatness.”

Connelly added that just the previous day, at a junior lifeguards event, she came across a woman with a 10-year-old newspaper that had a story written by Swegles.

“How many others still have articles written by Fred through the years, search for candidates.

Trustees voted, 4-3, to terminate Brulte’s contract in December 2022 for undisclosed reasons. Deputy Superintendent Clark Hampton has been serving as interim superintendent since then.

“I’m committed to working with the board as a team member to continue to improve the already great outcomes that Capistrano is enjoying for its students and staff members,” Brown said. “I really can’t wait to spend time in our schools meeting our teachers, the staff, the administrators who are working so hard for our students. I’m really eager to see our students perform academically, socially, athletically, musically, artistically—to really see what they’re doing in our schools.” precious words and images captured, capturing pivotal moments in his town’s history?” Connelly said. “Fred was the town’s living encyclopedia and historian and a scholar and a friend to the entire town of San Clemente.”

Brown further said he looks forward to meeting community members as well.

Trustees praised Brown and said they looked forward to working with him.

While accepting the Sky Dunlap Award on Swegles’ behalf, Mike Chamberlin, Swegles’ longtime friend and brother-in-law, stated, “Fred’s up there working on deadline for ‘The Heavenly Times’ tonight.” ful,” Jones said. had the opportunity to learn from some great educators there. I’m really excited to learn from some of the great educators that are here in Capistrano Unified, as a member of the team moving forward.”

Board President Krista Castellanos said Brown’s experience at all levels of district leadership contributed to his selection, from classroom instruction to school modernization.

Trustees made a visit to LBUSD prior to the official approval as part of a “verification” visit to learn more about Brown. He was already the preferred candidate prior to the visit.

“Known for his character, empathy, and calm demeanor, Dr. Brown is highly regarded by Long Beach colleagues because of his record of success as a district and site leader,” CUSD said in a news release after the approval by trustees.

Brown was recruited by consultants CUSD had hired during a monthslong

“Dr. Brown, welcome,” Trustee Amy Hanacek said. “We’re very excited to have you here to share this great district and to see that forward focus that we know you’ll bring.”

Trustee Gila Jones said she has been telling people “who (are) willing to listen how happy they are going to be” with Brown in the seat.

“I know that it’s going to be wonder-

“His co-workers also describe him as bold, and a ‘systems thinker who is not afraid to make tough decisions,’ ” CUSD continued. “Many lauded his understanding of what it takes to lead a large, diverse TK-12 system.”

Brown earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine, before attaining his master’s degree at the California State University at Long Beach. He also has a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern California focused on preparation for superintendency, according to a provided biography.