His day was the season of 1939, and he performed well enough that year to help the Wildcats win a league championship and draw the praise of legendary head coach Fred Canrinus.

Maggi was one of 40 former Wildcats to turn out on Sept. 27, when the high school invited all ex-players to a special alumni celebration on the night of the Los Gatos­Monta Vista game. Players' names were announced, and they trotted out to midfield during halftime to accept the recognition of the evening crowd.

Maggi, a 1940 Los Gatos graduate, was the most veteran of the former players to return for the night. And he also ranks as one of Los Gatos' best.

So good was Maggi as a senior running back for the Wildcats that Canrinus called him "by far the best back I've seen at Los Gatos," according to the Dec. 18, 1947 Los Gatos Mail-News.

Former Wildcats who participated in the Sept. 27 event were:

1940s

'40— Ted Maggi, running back

'49— Wes Downing, right guard

1950s

'52— Ray Mesa, halfback

'52— Ralph Parker, lineman

'52— Phil A. Couchee, quarterback

'52— Don Johnson, left guard

'53— Jim Horn, halfback

'53— Jim Gilligan, quarterback

'56— John Ransome, tackle

'57— Dick Whitaker, halfback

'57— Joe B. Crumpton, halfback

'58— Bob Girando, halfback

1960s

'62— Johnny Mesa, fullback

'63— Bob Slenge, linebacker

'64— Tim Pyzer, end

1970s

'71— Doug Allen, lineman

'71— Mike Denevi, quarterback

'72— Eric Childs, running back

'73— Brian Powers, linebacker

'74— Theron McCarty, tackle

'75— Gary Bersano, defensive tackle

'77— John Comeau, running back

'77— Rob Comeau, quarterback

'77— Bill James, tackle

'78— Ian Havens, linebacker

'78— Jeff Coletti, linebacker

1980s

'80— Kent Cooper, tight end

'82— Dave Burt, defensive end

'83— Jeff Williams, wide receiver

'83— Stephen Nutting, fullback

1990s

'92— Travis Rodgers, tight end

'93— Joe Musser, linebacker

2000s

'00— Steve Smith, tackle

'01— Nick Skrabe, linebacker

'02— Charley J. Kassees, wide receiver

'02— Theron McCarty, defensive tackle

'02— Charlie Clarke, cornerback

'02— Kenny Heimer, nose guard

'02— Jon Espe, defensive tackle