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John T. Fullerton Honored with 2009 Tony Gasparovich Award

At the 2009 Scholar-Athlete Awards, John T. Fullerton, longtime coach of Newport High School, was honored with 2009 Tony Gasparovich Award.

John was born on Oct. 16, 1942, in Seattle, Washinton, to Tom and Mabel Fullerton. He was raised in Shoreline, where he attended high school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Washington University and a master’s degree in mathematics from Central Washington University. In 1965, John became a math teacher at Newport High School, a profession he followed for 28 years.

John played varsity football in high school and for four years at WWU. Shortly after joining the faculty at Newport, he began a career as a coach of varsity football, wrestling, and track and feld. It was a career marked by numerous state championships and conduct that earned him the respect of his players, peers and the athletics community across the state. He died October 30, 2009, at age 67.

Many friends also remember John as an accomplished fsherman, outdoorsman, photographer and volunteer. He climbed mountains, fshed the rivers of Washington, Canada and Alaska, photographed the landscapes and people in his life, and devoted time to the Boy Scouts of America. John is survived by his wife Sharon; his sister Carol; his extended children, including Bryce, Connor, Stacy, Shelia, Wesley, Matthew, and Michael; and five grandchildren.