4 Alumni Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Four Rancho Santiago College graduates who have become successful in their professions are the first inductees into the college’s new Hall of Fame.

They are Alfredo M. Amezcua, a local attorney; Robert J. Ash, a college business instructor; Raul Castillo, a high school dean of students; and David H. Hart, a real estate broker and home builder.

In the past, graduates were honored with Alumni Achievement Awards. Now, officials said, distinguished alumni will have their names publicly showcased on a wall at the college and will be introduced at graduation ceremonies.

Amezcua, a former gang member, overcame a troubled past to become the managing partner of Amezcua & Associates in Santa Ana. He has helped draft an anti-gang program for the city of Santa Ana and works as a mediator with gang members.

Last year, Amezcua was appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to its Charter Commission and was named one of the 25 “hottest people in the county” by Orange County Metropolitan magazine.

Ash, who runs his own training consulting business, was hired by the college in 1969 as a clerk typist and was promoted several times.

He now serves as chairman of the Orange campus’ business, library and counseling division and is involved with developing curricula for vocational certificate programs in business and short-term business courses. He was Teacher of the Year in 1992.

Castillo has been dean of students at Santa Maria High School since 1992. Before that, he worked as a teacher in special-education classes, migrant education, mathematics and physical education.

He has also served as an assistant football coach for the past 20 years and is Santa Maria’s head wrestling coach.

Hart has been a real estate broker for 29 years and a home builder for the past 15 years. He is now a construction management consultant to cities’ public works departments. From 1963 to 1968 and from 1976 to 1990, Hart served as an Orange planning commissioner.