On a crisp autumn evening in 2024, Wilson High School’s football program marked its 100‑year anniversary with a home game against Huntington Beach, the very opponent that faced the Bruins in their inaugural 1926‑27 season. The celebration drew a crowd of alumni, current players, and family members who have watched the program evolve across generations.
A Century of Tradition
The stadium that bears Clifford Meyer Sr.’s name — named in honor of the captain of Wilson’s first team — served as the backdrop for a night that blended history with present‑day pageantry. The original matchup in 1926‑27 ended with a 15‑7 victory for Wilson, a triumph that set the tone for a century of competition.
At the pregame ceremony, senior captain Kingston Meyer stepped onto the field accompanied by his grandfather Jon Meyer, a longtime coach and LBUSD Boardmember, and his father Scott Meyer, who had helmed the team as head coach until his resignation in 2024. The trio’s presence underscored a family’s deep‑rooted involvement: Jon Meyer, a fourth‑generation Bruin, followed in the footsteps of his own grandfather Clifford, while Scott Meyer continued the coaching lineage that began with Clifford’s leadership.
Rob Wigod, a former CIF Commissioner and football coach, also took part in the festivities, his family’s connection to Wilson stretching back to his father Richard Wigod, who played under Clifford Meyer Sr. Wigod’s remarks highlighted the enduring bonds among the Meyer and Wigod families, whose members have contributed as players, coaches, and administrators throughout the program’s history.
The legacy of Wilson’s early success was further illustrated by the story of William Smitheran, whose first‑ever touchdown in school history sparked a lineage of athletic excellence. Today, his descendants Warren Smitheran, a former Wilson athletic director, and Bobby Smitheran, now leading Long Beach State’s athletics, carry that tradition forward, embodying the program’s sustained impact on the community.
Alumni in attendance included legendary figures such as Jeff Severson, whose NFL career exemplified the heights reachable from Wilson’s gridiron, and Bobby Grich, a six‑time MLB All‑Star whose baseball accolades complemented his football roots. Their presence, alongside other Hall of Fame inductees, reinforced the notion that Wilson’s influence extends far beyond the field.
Organized by Long Beach Wilson Athletics and overseen by the Long Beach Unified School District, the centennial event not only commemorated a century of sport but also reinforced the institutional support that has nurtured the program’s growth. As the Bruins look ahead, the convergence of historic families, celebrated alumni, and current talent promises to keep Wilson’s football tradition vibrant for the next hundred years.