Thursday, July 14, 2011

Longtime hoops tourney organizer Gunnerson dies

Arman Gunnerson desired nothing more than to make a difference in the lives of young people. He achieved this lofty goal many times over. Gunnerson devoted himself to the Crescent City Jaycees 8th Grade Basketball Tournament, which has become a major annual event since its inception in 1968. He died Tuesday morning at Sutter Coast Hospital due to complications from a stroke he suffered last month. He was 74.

Arman contacted me nearly 20 years ago and approached me about holding an 8th grade Basketball Tournament for small schools in Humboldt County. He was a quite, calm mega organizer and just nice guy. I had been coach at Peninsula School in Samoa for awhile and had been trying to build the program worthy of playing in the Crescent City tournament, which hosts 56 of the top teams from all over California and Oregon. So for years Peninsula (Robin and I directing.)hosted the small teams qualifier's and Arman would be in the stands scouting teams to invite. Peninsula stopped hosting when I went to work on the road for the union. I continued coaching Peninsula later until there were not enough kids to field a team.

Arman. You done well. May you receive God's reward.

No comments: