BERKELEY – As California rugby prepares for the October opening of its 2019-20 competition schedule, the Golden Bears begin and end every training session by going through the gates and under the sign for Witter Rugby Field, and passing by the Jim "Truck" Cullom bench, both of which have been restored to their original splendor thanks to recent efforts by alumni.
 
Former captain Mike Phelan, who started for Cal against the New Zealand All Blacks in 1954, spurred the effort to restore the landmarks honoring the Witters, 14 of whom have played for the Bears, and Cullom, a veteran of two wars and Purple Heart recipient who played and coached for the Blue and Gold.
 
Bruce Watkins, who received his degree from the University in bio-resource science, partnered on the project on a pro bono basis with his five-star exterior wood restoration company, Cal Preserving.
 
"Thanks to Mike Phelan and his committee, and especially to Bruce Watkins of Cal Preserving, for helping us honor the Witter Family and Truck Cullom," said head coach Jack Clark.
 
Set to celebrate its 25th year, the home pitch for the Golden Bears opened in 1995 with a lead gift from the Witter family, whose Dean Witter & Company was the largest investment house on the West Coast. Those 14 Witters -- fathers, sons,  grandsons, uncles and cousins – are remembered in the state registry for the site as Witter Rugby Field, sitting in the beautiful confines of Strawberry Canyon on the eastern edge of campus looking out over campus, onto San Francisco the Bay and through the Golden Gate Bridge.
 
In the southwest corner of the pitch sits Wise Plaza, next to the Miles "Doc" Hudson Fieldhouse. There can be found the Truck Cullom bench, named in honor of the Cal Hall of Famer who starred in football and rugby (1947-1949) for the Bears after serving in the Marine Corps during the end of World War II. Cullom was an All-Coast lineman and placekicker, a starter on two of coach Pappy Waldorf's Rose Bowl teams and a standout on Doc Hudson's rugby team.
 
Cullom was later recalled by the Marine Corps and wounded in the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart before returning to Cal as an assistant football and rugby coach for over two decades.
 
Following their restoration, the entrance sign and bench radiate the love and respect that the Witters and Culloms both draw from the Cal community.
 
"As a proud Cal alum myself, I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to provide our expertise and serve on the project," said Mr. Watkins of Cal Preserving.
 
The 138th year of Cal rugby kicks off Oct. 5 at the West Coast Collegiate 7s at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The Treasure Island stop of the WCC7s follows Oct. 19-20, and the fall 7s slate culminates Nov. 9-10 in Steuber Stadium at Stanford University, where Cal will compete in the PAC Rugby 7s Championship.