Gene Estes

1937 - 2021

Gene Estes
September 17, 1937 - September 29, 2021
Fresno, California - 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.