At the conclusion of the 1975 Napa High football season Carlos Gonzalez won virtually every honor and award available to a high school lineman. Playing both offense and defense, Gonzalez seldom, if ever, came off the field during his high school years.
In 1975, Gonzalez was named All North Bay League for his work on both sides of the ball as an offensive tackle and as a nose guard on defense. Additionally, Gonzalez was part of both the All Napa County team and All Redwood Empire teams in 1975. By unanimous vote Gonzalez was awarded the “Most Valuable Lineman” in the North Bay League, edging out stalwart players such as George Moskowite and Tony Flores who both went on to success in college.
Long time teacher and coach Larry Curtis stated that, in his opinion, Gonzalez was the best lineman to have played at Napa High in the decade of the 1970’s – quite an accolade considering the achievements of past Indian players like Rick Bailey, Gary Stoddard and Pierce Wright. Curtis also said that due to Carlos’ dominance, the coaches in the North Bay League voted without debate and discussion when naming him as the league’s most outstanding lineman.
Gonzalez went on to play football for two seasons at Napa College, winning a scholarship to play at Sacramento State, where a knee injury curtailed his career.
Gonzalez was nominated to the Hall of Fame by Roger Ashlock, a long-time educator and administrator in the Napa Valley Unified School District, and joins teammate Steve Clerici upon his induction into the Hall of Fame.
Gonzalez is a recent retiree from the City of Vallejo Water District where he served as Superintendent.
