Today we honor Fred Girt, a 1st team all state running back in 1967 and 1968. Fred was also a great track athlete. We are not recognizing Fred just for his athletic accomplishments, we also honor him for his fun and uplifting spirit. How many times would he drag himself back to the huddle, looking bedraggled and battered, only to make everyone in the huddle laugh by saying ‘This is fun, do I get the ball again?’ Pete usually made sure he did.
The following was written at the time of his induction into the Marshfield Hall of Fame in 2010. Sadly, Fred passed away on September 1, 2010.
The third of four sons, Fred Johnson Girt III was born July 15, 1951 to Fred and Dorothy Girt of Coos Bay, Oregon. He has spent most of his entire life living in the Bay Area, attending Market Street Elementary, Michigan Avenue Jr. High and graduating in the class of 1969 from Marshfield High School.
Fred was a three sport athlete all four of his high school years lettering in basketball, football and track. Football was Fred’s greatest passion where he earned 1st Team All State Honors in 1967 and 1968 as a running back. He was also selected Team Captain, was a member of the State Finals in 1968 and was selected to participate in the State All Star Shrine Game in the summer of 1969.
Track and Field was yet another sport Fred excelled in where he long jumped, sprinted, and ran the high and low hurdles. In 1969 he was the District Champion in both hurdles. He earned honors at the State Track and Field Meet his Junior and Senior years running the high and low hurdles, placing 2nd his Junior year. Today Fred continues to hold the Coos County record in the high hurdles.
Following high school Fred earned a full ride scholarship to play football at Oregon State University for Coach Dee Andros. While playing football for four years, Fred earned degrees in Mathematics, Physical Education and Health. During the summer of 1972 he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Susick.
Upon graduating from OSU in 1974 Fred and Nancy moved back to the Bay Area to begin their teaching and coaching careers until they retired in 2009. Fred has a special gift that enables him to reach out to all levels of students and athletes truly making a difference in the lives of children. Using his quick sense of humor, compassion and dedication, he has taught and coached at every level including kindergarten through 12th grades in the Coos Bay School District. Fred has also participated on numerous Math and PE committees at the district and state level, coached the Math Counts Team and has been a volunteer coach for the Boys and Girls Club.
Fred’s most valued treasures are his family. Nancy and Fred have been married for 38 years and have two children, Chelsey and Casey, both graduates of MHS. Chelsey and her husband Michael Seedborg teach and coach at Marshfield High School. Casey and his wife Amity live in Portland where Casey is a manager for Conrad Wood Forest Products and Amity is Assistant Dist. Attorney for Multnomah County. They are expecting a baby boy in Sept. and perhaps another generation of Girt running backs!
Our thanks goes out to Fred Girt’s classmates who have been very generous in the Class Challenge fundraising efforts.
The Girts were our next-door neighbors for years and I remember Fred well. He was humble, self-effacing and always fun to be around. I did not know he had passed away in 2010 but will always remember him as a great athlete and an even greater person.
I have several fond memories of Fred the third, (III). The mention of him coming back to the huddle after yet another amazing run downfield, out of breath, yet a smile and a comment that let us know up front (O-line) that he was ready to pack that pigskin again!! Always fun to be around both on and off the field! Miss him every day. Gone way to soon!