Eugene Earl Andrews passed away in Pinedale on Jan. 17, at the Sublette Center surrounded
by loved ones. Gene was born on Feb. 12, 1938, in Gunnison, Colo., to Eugene and Winnie
Andrews.
Gene attended Fallbrook High School when his father, a cattle rancher, moved to California
to go become an avocado grower. Gene loved sports and later played football and rugby at the
University of Redlands and San Diego State University respectively. Gene married Jane Newlin
in 1957. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Gene went on to teach biology at Grossmont High
School where he earned California Interscholastic Federation championships as a football and
swim coach. He earned his master’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University. In
1973, Gene moved his family, wife Jane, sons Gene and Bret, and daughter Shelley to Pinedale.
At Pinedale High School, Gene taught biology and physical education until 1999. During that
time, in addition to serving as the athletic director, Gene coached football, track and field, cross
country skiing, swimming and diving. As a physical education instructor, Gene brought Project
Adventure – inventing cooperative games, developing team-building initiatives and mountaineering
– to Pinedale. It was the first such course west of the Rockies. He brought badminton,
archery, rock climbing, fly tying, ping pong, tennis, softball, flag football, Frisbee football, wrestling,
basketball, hockey, weight training, trampoline and track and field to his students. Gene
also enjoyed the camaraderie of the staff. He created the Prognog and end-of-year celebrations
for school employees.
Gene’s real passion was as a coach and it just came naturally for him. Gene coached in Pinedale
for 26 years. He brought two state championships to Pinedale High School in football and
two in cross-country skiing. He was also state runner-up in both sports. For his efforts, Gene was
inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990. From coach, to timer, to referee, to
announcer or volunteer, there wasn’t an athletic event that took place in Pinedale that didn’t have
Gene’s footprint all over it. For his years of service and dedication to PHS, the board of trustees
voted on Oct. 1, 2018, to name the football stadium Gene Andrews Stadium.
Gene was an avid outdoorsman. If it happened outside, he loved it and Pinedale was the perfect
spot to show to his family why it was so important to live here. Gene spent many summers
as a fishing and hunting guide. He loved being in the Wind River Mountains and would spend
days with just him and the horses. He got to fish as many of those mountain lakes as he possibly
could. Even though football consumed much of his time in the fall, that didn’t keep him from
hunting every available minute. Boating, water skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmachining,
golf, four-wheeling, backpacking or fly fishing, Gene loved them all.
Upon retirement, Gene started Andrews Woodworking and worked with Mack Rawhouser.
He focused on log furniture such as aspen beds, tables, dresser drawers and benches. He liked
to carve exquisite bowls out of exotic tree burls. He also enjoyed working on his wood-carving
and wood-burning artwork of native wildlife. He won several awards for his wood carvings.
He participated in numerous community activities and events. He served as the starter for track
meets and later for the Pinedale Half Marathon. He ran the clock for basketball games, timed
Nordic ski meets and refereed junior high and junior varsity football games. And he thoroughly
enjoyed announcing Wrangler varsity football games with Ward Wise.
Gene loved to laugh, smile and he just really loved life. He wanted to make all those around
him laugh. Gene was a storyteller. His stories would have people rolling with laughter. Gene’s
gregarious smile had a lasting impact on everyone he came into contact with and he loved to see
them smile back. He will be remembered by his former students and players as someone who
genuinely cared about them. He will be remembered by his friends and family as a loving man
who lived life to the fullest.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents. Gene is survived by his wife Connie Wenz-
Andrews and her family, children Shelley, Gene and Bret, grandchildren Jerome Bernal, Serena
Andrews, Aaron Penton, Dylan Andrews, Amber Andrews and great grandchildren Adelyn
Penton, Laramie Penton, Korben Andrews, with one more on the way.
