Ron Gipson
Football

Ron was an outstanding athlete at Everett High in the early-to-mid 1970s. In track as a senior, he placed 6th place at state in the 100 yard dash and 36 years later in the age of artificial surfaces, he still holds the 100 yard dash record at Everett High. He didn’t wrestle until his junior and senior years but still qualified for the state wrestling championships both years. He is one of three running backs selected to Everett High’s Team of the Decade for the 1970s. He was also selected as the punter to this team. He co-captained Everett High’s 1975 WESCO co-champions & regional champions and was All-WESCO running back in 1975 and 1976.

He was recruited by the University of Washington (UW) head coach, Don James and was considered a key recruit to help turn around the UW football program. He earned four letters during 1976-79 at the UW and started at fullback his sophomore, junior and senior years. His 1977 team won the Pac-8 Conference and beat heavily favored Michigan in the 1978 Rose Bowl. As a senior, the UW also went 10-2 and beat Texas in the Sun Bowl. His best season, statistically in rushing yards, came in 1977 when he rushed for 575 yards on 110 carries (5.2 yds. per carry). That year, he rushed for 138 yards vs. Stanford, which included a 59-yard touchdown run. He was, at his fullback position, the primary blocking back in UW’s offensive scheme and was the primary blocking back for Joe Steele who was UW’s career rushing leader for many years. As a blocking back, he was considered a devastating and punishing blocker. He was one of the running/blocking backs in what was considered an elite/star studded backfield during that era that included Steele, Touissant Tyler, Warren Moon, and Ron.

Notably also, at age eleven in 1969, Ron won the Snohomish County NFL Punt, Pass & Kick national skills competitions. He then competed in an NFL half-time game at Candlestick Park. From there, he went to the national competition in Dallas where he finally lost.

Ron lives in Everett with his family. He was a Little League Baseball umpire for several years and has been a long-time member on the Everett City Council, an elected position, and currently serves as Chair of the Council.