Gary was born August 26, 1941, in Freeburn, KY, to Grant and Marie (Bentley) Boggs, and moved to Vancouver, WA, at the age of two with his sister Sandra.
He graduated from Hudson's Bay High School in 1959, where he was named Athlete of the Year. He attended Clark College and was also Athlete of the Year, before graduating from Lewis & Clark College in 1964 with a B.S. with a major in health and physical education. He was a college All American Athlete in three sports: football, wrestling and track. Gary earned a Master's Degree in Teaching from Lewis & Clark and was an accredited history teacher.
Gary retired in 2001 after serving as head football coach at Fort Vancouver High School for 34 years. Gary was honored with numerous awards and accolades for his leadership through the years, and was inducted into several athletic and coaching Halls of Fame. He was known for his motivational pre-game speeches, and his ability to bring out the best in his players. He frequently said that “You seldom exceed your own expectations.” His personal motto was “I am an enthusiastic motivator of young men.”
Gary and wife of 34 years, Ellen, lived in Vancouver, WA, until 2004, when they fulfilled their dream of living on the Oregon Coast by building a house in Rockaway Beach. Gary came out of retirement to coach a final high school football season at Neah-Kah-Nie High School last fall.
Gary loved to fish and spent many years fishing for steelhead at their cabin on the East Fork of the Lewis River. He taught each of his children to fish and enjoy the outdoors. He also enjoyed crabbing and fishing at the Oregon Coast. Gary loved good food, and he and Ellen were gracious hosts, entertaining regularly at their home. He was a member of the ROMEO club (Retired Old Men Eating Out book club) in Manzanita. Gary attended United Methodist Church in Nehalem, and served on the Tillamook Futures Council.
He is survived by wife Ellen Morrison Boggs and their three children: Abby Boggs, Vancouver, WA; Brad Boggs, Portland, OR; and Libby Boggs, Vancouver, WA; and his three children from his first marriage: Ron (Pam) Boggs, Helena, MT; Cynthia (Fred) Thompson, Portland, OR; Heidi (John) Luquette, Bay City, OR; grandchildren Grant, Gigi, Lilly and Zak; sister Sandra (Rodney) Poland, Battle Ground, WA; and dogs Lady and Duke.
A public Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm, Saturday, April 23, at Fort Vancouver High School in the gymnasium at 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver, WA. A reception follows in the cafeteria. Arrangements by Vancouver Funeral Chapel with interment at Northwood Park Cemetery, Ridgefield, WA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made for a scholarship in Gary's name to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Clark County Chapter, 12004 NE Fourth Plain Rd. Ste. D422, Vancouver, WA 98682, or the Rinehart Clinic, PO Box 176, Wheeler, OR 97147.
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