Bobby Avant

Sept. 17, 1939 - Oct. 31, 2024

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Bobby Jack Avant was born in Texas on September 17, 1939 to Jack and Irene Avant. He moved with his parents and brother, Harry, to California, where he attended Hart High School in Newhall, began competing in track, and met his life-long love, Deanna. He went to the University of Southern California on a full scholarship for his track prowess and married Deanna during his freshman year in 1958. At USC, Bob was the third man in the world to clear 7 ft in the high jump, was ranked 1961’s second best US high jumper, and made the US National Track Team even as he and Deanna began a family with first Debbi and then Rob. When his high jumping career was interrupted by a neck injury in 1963, he refocused his efforts on teaching and coaching. He began his teaching and coaching career at Arcadia High School, and then moved to San Diego where he spent the rest of his career at several high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District (Santana, Monte Vista, Valhalla, El Capitan, and Granite Hills). From biology teacher and coach, he moved to counselor, then vice principal, and principal. He finished his career as Superintendent of the district, for which he won the Kurt Fredrich Award for professional

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