George Christ Kutras

Former Shasta College president George Christ Kutras was remembered Friday by his daughter as a man who loved Redding, his family and his family's roots.

"He was like the dad of Redding," said his daughter, Demetra Kutras. "He loved this town and the people in it."

And he knew just about everybody and just about everybody knew him, she said.

"We couldn't go anywhere" without running into someone he knew well, his daughter said.

"He was an all-around pretty good Joe," she said, adding her father was a firm, structured and genuinely kind man who deeply loved his family and was passionate about the community.

Kutras, a Redding native who spent 40 years at Shasta College as a full-time instructor, coach and administrator, died Jan. 20 at Oakmont of Redding. He was 89.

Kutras, who retired in 1993, came to the community college in 1953, three years after it opened. He started as a history instructor, basketball coach and part-time administrator.

"He was like the original power tool," Demetra Kutras said. "He did everything. He just got things done."

During his time with the college, he watched it grow from 500 students to 14,000.

''It (the college district) wasn't even the size of Shasta County,'' Kutras said in a 1992 Record Searchlight interview. ''Now it's three counties — Shasta, Tehama and Trinity —and about 10,000 square miles.''

As part of his retirement contract, Kutras said he'd stay with the college part-time and teach U.S. history, just as he did in his first Shasta College job. He spent about 10 years doing that.

"Even when he retired, he couldn't retire," his daughter said, adding her father also worked as an administrator at Vibra Hospital of Northern California in Redding during his golden years.

In the 1992 Record Searchlight interview, Kutras said he stayed at Shasta College for so long because it was in a constant state of change, which created interesting challenges.

But, he said, he figured 40 years at the college was enough.

Born and raised in Shasta County, Kutras graduated from Shasta High School in 1947. His father opened one of the first restaurants in Redding in 1916 and later went into dairy farming and began to buy land throughout Redding.

Kutras earned a bachelor's degree in history, a master's degree in social science and a teaching credential from Chico State University, then known as Chico State College. He also played on three varsity championship basketball teams at Chico State.

He landed his first teaching job at Anderson High School, spending a year there before getting a teaching job at Shasta High School.

But it was at Shasta College where he left his mark.

He spent 15 years as dean of men and director of student activities at Shasta College before taking the post of assistant superintendent-vice president of instruction in 1979.

Kutras was named president in 1988 when trustees split the job of superintendent-president.

An inductee in the Shasta College Sports Hall of Fame, Kutras coached its men's basketball team for 19 years, from 1952-53 until 1970-71, posting a lifetime record of 232 wins and 189 losses.

His teams won two conference championships and he was selected conference "Coach of the Year" for the 1961-62 season.

In 1979, serving as Shasta College vice president for instruction, he was appointed to the Golden Valley Conference Commission for Athletics and continued in that capacity even after being promoted and serving as Shasta College president.

Kutras is survived by his daughter, Demetra; a son, Chris; and two grandchildren.

Arrangements are pending at McDonald's Redding Chapel, but his daughter said the family is hoping to hold a public celebration of her father's life sometime in February.

OBITUARY

George passed away on January 20, 2018 due to complications from pneumonia. He was born on July 27, 1928 to Frances and Christ Kutras, who immigrated from Sparta, Greece. George was born in the old Kutras farmhouse at the base of Butte Street in Redding. As a child, George was brought up with strong family values in a Greek household. In his youth during the Depression years, George spent his time working on the Kutras dairy farm. George attended grammar school at Pine Street School. He got his start in athletics playing basketball for Siebert Stephens in 6th grade. He attended Shasta High School where he played varsity football for Chuck Sharp as a freshman and varsity basketball for Harlan Carter his sophomore year. As a junior, he competed in the Track and Field State finals running the quarter mile in 50 flat in Compton, California. He was edged out by a winning time of 49.3. George played on two championship basketball teams at Shasta High for Harlan Carter. In his senior year at Shasta High he was the student body president. George continued his athletic career at Chico State playing basketball for Art Acker and Gene Maxey where his teams won 3 Far Western Conference championships. George also boxed for Chico State. Kutras was awarded a bachelor's degree in pre-law with emphasis in history, economics and literature from Chico State.

He was married to Connie Palmos in 1948 and was accepted to Hastings law school. He opted to enroll in graduate studies at Chico State. He received a master's degree in history while coaching the Chico State freshmen basketball team. Following graduation, he taught at Anderson and Shasta High Schools. Subsequently, he started teaching at Shasta College. During his tenure at the college he taught history, served as head basketball coach, assistant football coach, Dean of Men, Dean of the Social Science department, Vice President of Instruction, and President of Shasta College along-side of Superintendent Kenneth B. Cerretta. Throughout his career at Shasta college he was engaged in many civic affairs and community service organizations. In 1978, George married his second wife, Esther Floratos. George retired from his fulltime position as President of Shasta College in 1993, but kept active in the college community for another 10 years.

He enjoyed his golden years with his family and friends. Kutras was an avid outdoorsman throughout his life. George had a personality that welcomed everyone into his life and affected those that he met in a very positive and personal way. He deeply loved his family, his Greek heritage, the town of Redding and the lands along the Sacramento River. He was preceded in death by his parents, Christ and Frances Kutras; his mother-in-law, Sophia Kutrubis; cousin John Kutrubis; his uncle George Kutrubis; cousin Nick Mihalopulos; his first wife, Connie Kutras Thorpe; and his wife, Esther Kutras. George is survived by his son, Chris (Terri), daughters Demetra Kutras, Janet Understein and Kathy Wilson (Bob) and grandchildren George Kutras, Sophia Kutras and David Wilson. A private service will be held on February 9, 2018. There will be a Celebration of Life for George held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Redding.