Herold Joseph (Joe) Whitcomb – Friend of Sparks High School

Joe Whitcomb was born on October 29, 1953 in Fort Bragg, California.  Joe isn’t an alumnus of Sparks high School, but of Rancho Cotate high School, class of 1972.  He was involved in sports throughout high school, including four years of football – in which he played receiver and defensive back – ice hockey, and varsity baseball, where his team won the 3A State Championship his senior year.  During high school, Joe started taking junior college classes at night at Santa Rosa Junior College for a B.A. in General Studies in order to pursue a career in the Navy as an aviator.

            Joe served his country during two tours in the Vietnam War as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Nay where he flew Navy F-4’s.  After his tours in Vietnam, he attended Sonoma State to earn his B.A. in Administration of Justice of Police Science.  Joe started his police work in California then he moved to Reno in 1977 and began serving the community on the Reno Police Department, a career which would last over thirty years beginning in the fall of that year.   Although Joe never planned to pursue law enforcement as a career, he says he doesn’t regret the experience.

            Joe is very involved with athletics here at Sparks High. He coaches baseball and helps run the Booster Club with his wife, Debbie.  When asked why he chose Sparks High, Joe answered that he followed his son, Chris – who happens to be Joe’s biggest pride – when he attended SHS.  Joe has become attached to the great faculty and students who come through this school.  He wants to show that Sparks High is a great school that offers opportunity.  Joe hopes to accomplish this through helping students stay in school by being involved with sports and activities.  Along with coaching baseball some of his activities include playing baseball and riding motorcycles, his favorite beging the Kawasaki’s.

Inducted 2011