Clair John (Red) Herrill; Coach

Clair John (Red) Herrill of Santa Paula, former athletic director and varsity football and basketball coach for Fillmore High School, died Monday of a heart attack at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital. He was 67.

Herrill taught and coached at Fillmore High for 26 years before his retirement in 1983. He coached the school’s varsity football team from 1957 to 1963, guiding the team to a Frontier League championship in his first year.

Herrill was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on Oct. 22, 1925. After serving in the U.S. Navy for four years, he attended San Diego State University, where he played varsity football. He later earned a general secondary teaching credential at Claremont College.

Herrill began his career in San Diego County, then coached football and taught classes for five years in Twentynine Palms before moving to Fillmore High.

“He was especially fond of sports and young athletes,” said Colleen Herrill, his wife. “He wanted to teach them about life rather than just about winning and losing.”

Survivors include his wife, Colleen Herrill; two brothers, Keith of Bristol, Tenn., and Wayne of Fresno; a daughter, Joy Padilla of Fillmore; a son, Jason of Ventura; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church of Fillmore, 421 Sespe Ave. Inurnment will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura at a later date.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Skillin Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.