Daily Independent Journal from San Rafael, California • Page 28

2 jlnhrpntfrnil-jimtnial, Saturday, Nov. 11 1967 WILLIE HECTOR, head football coach at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, is an easy-going fellow as gridiron mentors go. In the midst of the furious action of a game, he chats calmly with one of his players at left, then contemplates the way things are going at center. But there are times when he has to let off steam and do a bit of yelling, as at right. (Independent-Journal photos by Travis Cart) Football Means A Lot To Willie Hector By GARY TISCHLER it Willie life revolves around anything, it is a round, inflated piece of pigskin they call a football.

Football has brought Hector glory and recognition as a high school and college player, an education, and brief professional playing career that took him across most of the United States and Canada. And football has brought Hector back to Mill Tamalpais High School where it all started to become a unique specimen among Marin County gridiron coaches. HECTOR, AN all-Northern California gridder for Tamalpais back in 1956, is the only player of any Marin high school to return as head football coach. But that what really makes him unique. Hector, who has gone through the pressures of making a top- ranked college team at University of Pacific, through the rigors of National Football League competition with the Los Angeles Rams and, later, Canadian Football League play, is a singularly relaxed man.

ptcMe DIAMOND RINGS BUYING A HOME? A 109 Point Check of the Condition of the Home You Intend To Buy. By Professionals. For Further Information HOME INSPECTION SERVICE 456-4538 ONE of the reasons I decided to coach. You always had to worry about getting to play, getting hurt and wondering if stick in pro football. 1 see any future in it You see or hear any vestiges of Knute Rockne, no blood-boiling rah-rah talks, no burning intensity to win-win-win.

in Hector, the coach. want the kids to enjoy the game, to get something out of it. I want to build up some interest in the game so people will come out and watch the kids TALKING TO Hector about anything is like a lazy, pleasant chat about weather and how the 49ers are doing, about baby pictures and family dogs. Hector simply let very much fluster him. You know that his life is just a little hectic.

That he and his wife Joy barely see each other during the week, that he moonlights playing football with a San Jose semi-pro team. Mrs. Hector is working on her degree in recreation at San Francisco State and with Willie playing ball and coaching, their meetings are confined mostly to mornings and late nights and weekends. WORKS out all right. We have her parents to babysit for the kids only a few blocks away.

And we live only six blocks from the school. And besides, the first time really enjoyed playing ball since high What concerns Hector the coach more than -1 records, statistics or big games, are the boys wrho put on the uniform for Tamalpais high Driving urge to see Europe? See it in a new Mercedes-Benz. ATHENA 1 65 ('onvi'iiienl Terms No Carrying Charge 905 FOURTH STRUT SAN RAFAIL t'Ofv You can order your new Mercedes-Benz here, pick it up while on vacation in Europe, enjoy the convenience of private motoring while bring it home when you return. Having your own car while in Europe is a guarantee of greater enjoyment. No crowds, no awkwrard schedules to meet.

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Or write for a free information kit. uni MERCEDES-BENZ OF MARIN 595 Francisco San Rafaol call Roland Bacci 454-0582 School. Part of the reason is that Tamalpais is unique as Marin County schools go. really have any community tradition. We draw kids from different social classes, different backgrounds.

You throw in places like Sausalito, Stinson Beach, Mill Valley and what have you, and you get quite a variety of boys. You have to concentrate 011 the individual." 1 Hector concentrates. He will play a boy who may hurt the team if only to teach him a little something about himself. He will push and ballyhoo players he feels have the talent to reap some of rewards. had a lot from football.

1 probably wouldn't have been able to finish school without it. had a chance to travel, to meet people. If a boy has the talent, he ought to at least have a chance to be seen. And he be seen if nobody knows about IN HIS THIRD year as head football coach at Tam, Hector is undergoing the pains of his first losing season. And he can still smile.

1 wake up during the night, and think of what we might have done. It's frustrating, like being on a roller coaster that you can't stop. But it really hasn't been that bad. There have been a lot of good things about Win or lose. Hector is tied to football and to coaching.

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