John Gonda ~ Friend of Sparks High School

        Throughout one’s educational journey from elementary school to after college, the memories they hold with them are centered around their friends, sports, and the teachers that had the greatest impact on their life. The rest is a blur. Mr. Gonda was one of the finest teachers here at Sparks High School, without a doubt.

            Mr. Gonda was not only a teacher here at Sparks High School but also a friend and coach for fourteen years. He had a huge impact on his student’s lives. He cared about them deeply and taught them about the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and integrity. The array of people he touched with his straightforward gratitude and appreciation for life is astounding. Mr. Gonda was a man with a heart of gold encased in a body of granite.

            Even though he was such a positive influence, Mr. Gonda had a tough early life. He grew up as the son of a poor coal miner during the depression, His mother died when he was a baby, which sent some of his siblings to live with whoever would take them. Although his life was tough, he understood the importance of hard work and dedication. Because football was Mr. Gonda’s passion, it led him across the states to Reno where he played for the University of Nevada for college. After college, he stayed in Reno and worked for the WCSD for 38 years before retiring in 1989.

Inducted 2017