Picture from the Past
Former wrestling coach defeats a big sturgeon
By John S. Baggerly
In a previous offering in this space, it was reported that Los Gatos High School girls basketball coach John Henry Mackey had taken up fishing. He was shown with a monstrous catch snagged from ocean waters south of Florida. Now it's time to fete another Los Gatan, Paul W. Farris.
Farris is a life-long fisherman. While living in a home on Loma Alta Avenue, his friends learned that "Yes, indeed, freshly caught salmon does taste much better than store-bought salmon." Today, Farris, besides working delta waters, still fishes the Pacific Ocean for salmon and other fish. His fishing the cold waters of the delta was made more comfortable when he "housed" his boat's wheel, thus making it a cabin cruiser that is berthed in Rio Vista about a mile from his home. His wife, the former Winifred Helm, often accompanies him on fishing trips, although she does not toss in a line. The couple now lives in Rio Vista.
After seeing rough duty during World War II in the Pacific Theater and receiving a Purple Heart for a gunshot wound in the arm, Farris decided on a teaching career and enrolled at a "normal" school that became San Jose State University. There he met Winifred, and they were married. He was later accepted at Los Gatos High School, where his father-in-law was a longtime head coach of all boys' sports. After the war, sports expanded in high schools; wrestling, swimming, diving, soccer and volleyball were added.
Helm invited Farris to have coffee at the nearby Los Gatos Pharmacy (Kirk and Bob's ) where a soda fountain lunch spot attracted many. There Helm said, "I understand that you were a wrestling champion in college." Farris replied, "That was novice class." "Good enough," Helm replied. Helm, like others at LGHS, may have seen Farris do one-arm push-ups.
When he took over the wrestling program, the "Jewel in Farris' crown" was Ken Spagnola, who had an undefeated senior year, winning the 154-pound title, and was voted outstanding wrestler at state finals held at the University of the Pacific.
Farris had graduated from Selma High School, about 15 miles south of Fresno and participated in football, baseball and track & field, much like other top high school athletes in those pre-war days. He graduated in the top 10 percent of his class, as did wife Winifred at LGHS.
After two years at Santa Rosa, he entered the military, and served in the Pacific Theater before being hospitalized with a wound that earned him his Purple Heart.
At LGHS, Farris said he learned much from his father-in-law, although all he taught Helm was how to fish.
Farris holds a special spot in his heart for his wrestlers, who came into high school as tall and skinny, or short and overweight youngsters, who developed into a league champion.
Besides Spagnola, a state champion, Farris recalls others, such as Ken Carleton, who normally wrestled at l54 pounds, but would win at 165; and Peter Berman, another beanpole freshman who couldn't buy a match in his first two years but who worked hard and in his senior year was a league runner-up in his division
Farris received a master's degree from Stanford in 1958 and spent 27 years at Contra Costa College before retiring in 1987. As noted above, he's still fishing.
John Baggerly came out of semi-retirement to write this column.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
