Today we remember former Oregon Duck and longtime Fresno State track and cross country coach Gene "Red" Estes. Our sport is so broad and diverse that Red Estes is one of those men who I had heard very little of, but in reading this obituary below, I can say I wish I had known him, I wish he had been my next door neighbor. George Brose
GENE “RED” ESTES
“Red” was born on September 17th, 1937 in Lewiston, Idaho. He grew up in Craigmont, Idaho and at age ten
moved back to Lewiston. In Red’s sophomore year, the family moved to Springfield, Oregon where Red
finished his high school years at Springfield High. In 1955, he moved on to the University of Oregon and
became a Duck. He competed in track and field, as well as football early on. He proudly joined the ROTC
program, receiving his second Lieutenant bars upon graduation.
Red married Myrna Robertson in September 1959, and continued his education toward a master’s degree until
his assignment in the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Ft. Eustis, VA then moved to Oberammergau,
Germany where Myrna joined him for his three-year hitch.
Matt, #1 son, was born in Munich in 1962. Red had a colorful career during his years in Germany competing in
and coaching many athletic teams. In October 1963, the family returned to the University of Oregon so Red
could finish his master’s, while serving as freshman track and field coach. In August 1964, he was hired at
Fresno State College as assistant track/head cross country coach where he served under head coach, “Dutch”
Warmerdam.
Barry, son #2 was born in 1965. Red went to the University of Colorado the summer of 1966, beginning work
on his doctorate. The following two summers, he returned to Colorado, with family-in-tow, for a three-semester
residency for completion of the doctorate. Daughter Kelli arrived just before the final stint in Colorado in
1968. He returned to Fresno State in 1969 for the remainder of his career. In 1971, the last of the Estes line
appeared, Scott!
In 1980, “Dutch” Warmerdam retired and Red was humbled when asked to take over as head track coach. One
of Red’s initial goals was to raise funds for the track program. Never one to follow the crowd, he began the
recycling center at Fresno State. That was the seed which grew into a retirement hobby of making old things
new. As he neared retirement, his collection of “all things that rust” germinated into his interest in welding, a
new medium for his creative juices.
2000 arrived and retirement! He enrolled in a Fresno City College welding class, passed all his tests for
teacher-approval and he started putting his “treasure trove” of goodies into metal sculptures. Fences, gates,
monoliths and other artistic stuff too heavy to mail. “Malfunction Junction” became the name of his workshop.
“And fer gosh sakes, have fun!,” a motto by which he lived, was applied to his teaching (limericks for extra
credit) coaching (Shaver Lake pre-season training camp), parenting and grandparenting (“quality time IS
quantity time”), friendships (subscriptions to hog farming magazines for city dwelling friends) and his quick-
witted sense of humor, from which nobody was safe!
His years of coaching were richly rewarded by many friends and coaching brothers. He was inducted into the
Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. At that time, the Hall was looking for a permanent home. Red made it a
passion to assist in seeing this vision come to fruition.
He is survived by his wife Myrna of 62 wonderful years, 4 children and their wives, and 8 grandchildren, all
who loved him dearly. At Red’s request, no memorial services will be held.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you send your remembrances of Red to the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame,
P.O. Box 27258, Fresno, Ca., 93729, Ph. 559-448-0677, email: info@fresnoahof.org or to your favorite charity.
I worked with Red for 17 years at Fresno State. They were starting a women’s program and I became their head coach while Red was the head men’s coach. Along with Bob Fraley we all coached men and women in our respective specialties and our teams enjoyed considerable success.
You’re right when you say you would have enjoyed being his neighbor as he was a fun guy to be around. He and his wife Myrna owned a home with a huge back yard of an acre or more. They often hosted parties for birthdays, anniversaries, or any other excuse they could come up with to bring hundreds of people together.
He built a treehouse by himself where you could go to see all sorts of track memorabilia or anything fun he could come up with. Of course you could could take your time to enjoy a pint or two from the keg he always managed to have up there.
He lived life to the fullest as illustrated by his sign off at the end of his posted workouts, “enjoy life, you’ll never get out of it alive”.
Tom Pagani
Knew Red at all NCAA Events. He was a true track and field man who loved the sport and the people in it. I had the foremost respect for his dedication efforts and wisdom. He will be missed.
Joe Rogers
1 comment:
I worked with Red for 17 years at Fresno State. They were starting a women’s program and I became their head coach while Red was the head men’s coach. Along with Bob Fraley we all coached men and women in our respective specialties and our teams enjoyed considerable success.
You’re right when you say you would have enjoyed being his neighbor as he was a fun guy to be around. He and his wife Myrna owned a home with a huge back yard of an acre or more. They often hosted parties for birthdays, anniversaries, or any other excuse they could come up with to bring hundreds of people together.
He built a treehouse by himself where you could go to see all sorts of track memorabilia or anything fun he could come up with. Of course you could could take your time to enjoy a pint or two from the keg he always managed to have up there.
He lived life to the fullest as illustrated by his sign off at the end of his posted workouts, “enjoy life, you’ll never get out of it alive”.
Tom Pagani
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