Alfredo Torco, retired Honolulu police lieutenant, will only take substitute teaching assignments at Farrington High School.

"It's the only place I feel safe," says the Farrington '57 graduate. "I bleed maroon and white."

Say what you will about Farrington's rough-and-tumble reputation, but insiders describe a school with deep pride, strong tradition and great heart.

Alumni like Torco have such an abiding love for those pink/brown halls that they formed a charitable foundation to support the school, the first of its kind in Hawai'i. The Farrington Alumni and Community Foundation began in 1976, awarding two scholarships of $250 each. Now, there are more than 2,500 foundation members and the total amount of scholarships each year is close to $40,000.

Torco retired from HPD in 2001. The next year, he started taking sub assignments at his alma mater. "After 35 years with the police department, I guess I could go check shoes at the airport," he said, but instead, he dared to revisit a long-ago wish. "I was so grateful to Farrington that I finally fulfilled my dream of being a teacher."

Many things were the same at his old school, but other things were very new to him.

"Our days, we used to wear shoes to school. We never wore cut pants and T-shirts. And we never had our hats on in class."

Torco ordered his students to take off their hats.

"Then came time to hand out report cards. This one boy, he had straight A's. I said wait, something is wrong here. I had to change my ideas. I thought the hat meant something about discipline. I told the boy, 'Straight A's? You can wear your hat!' And he just smiled."

Torco was asked by the class of 2007 to serve as the master of ceremonies for its graduation. "I told them, 'Wow, I cannot even say your names right!' " He jokes. "But then I thought about it and it was a real honor."

And in that way, Torco and so many Farrington alumni count the ways their scrappy school has helped them grow and achieve.

The foundation is embarking on a new venture, a larger-scale fundraising event that will initiate the school's Hall of Fame.

The awards dinner will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom on July 25, beginning with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and program at 7:15.

Tickets are $100 a plate. The deadline is July 15. Checks made out to Farrington Alumni & Community Foundation can be mailed in care of:

Michael Nekoba, ASB Tower, Suite 2690
1001 Bishop St.
Honolulu, HI 96813

For details, call Nekoba at 457-1177 or visit www.gogovs.com.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.