Bob Chandler
- Whittier High School Class of 1967
- Varsity Letters Football, Track, & Basketball
- USC Football Captain
- 1970 Rose Bowl MVP
- Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders 1980/81)
Bob Chandler - Whittier HS 1965-1967
In his senior year, Chandler played quarterback and key defensive halfback on the football team. When Chandler showed up at Whittier High, Coach Vic Lopez recalls thinking, “What a skinny little kid.” But by the time Chandler was a senior, Coach Lopez said his biggest problem with Chandler was “I couldn’t figure out a way for Bobby to pass and catch the ball.”
In his senior year, Chandler played quarterback and key defensive halfback on the football team and was the leading scorer on the basketball team. He garnered first team All-Pacific League team offense and defense in football, was the football team captain, a two-year football and basketball letterman, He was All CIF in football and basketball. In addition, Chandler was a three-year track letterman where he competed in the high jump, the hurdles, shot put, long jump and discus.
Only two universities were interested in his athletic abilities: BYU and Whittier College. “What nobody understood,” said Coach Lopez, “is that Bobby has no pain threshold and a heart bigger than his body.” At the last minute USC found itself with one extra scholarship and Trojan Assistant Coach Rod Humenuik recommended Chandler after seeing him play basketball. “I think he liked the way I knocked down a guy who had just knocked me down,” says Chandler.
In 1999 the Whittier HS boys’ gym was destroyed by fire, and in 2001 the new sports facilities were named the Bob Chandler Sports Complex in his honor.