Under a Regal Sky: The Community Honors Coach Tom Gault

The Mammoth community gathered on September 27, 2025, under stormy and dramatic skies to celebrate the life and legacy of Coach Tom Gault, whose decades of dedication shaped not only Mammoth High School but our town as well.

As the sun sank behind the mountains on Friday evening, the sky over Gault-McClure Stadium turned breathtaking shades of rosey gray — a regal backdrop befitting the man it honored.

Long before kickoff, the stands were filled with alumni, students, families, and longtime friends — people who had been inspired by Gault’s steadfast commitment to teamwork, perseverance, and pride in being a Husky. The crowd was hushed as players and cheerleaders took a knee on the sideline, the mountain air still and full of memory.

Tom Painter, serving as announcer, welcomed the crowd and introduced Coach Jesse Worden, a Mammoth alumnus and former football coach. Worden’s words captured what many felt — that Gault’s legacy went beyond the wins and losses; it lived in the confidence he built in young players, and the way he believed in them long after they left the field.

Eric Echerling reminisces about Coach Gault.

Next, Eric Echterling, class of 1989, shared his reflections as an athlete on Gault’s Mammoth High School football team. His memories painted a portrait of a man whose presence on the field and in the community embodied quiet leadership, humor, and an enduring love for the the community he served.

Then came a moment that seemed to bridge generations. The Mammoth High School Choir gathered to perform the MHS Alma Mater, a song that few in attendance had heard in years. The piece, rediscovered and revived through the efforts of Band and Choir Director Mike Hammers, has its roots in 1977, when it was composed by then-choir director Barbara Campbell.

In a message shared with MHS staff, Hammers recalled finding the handwritten sheet music nearly a decade ago, tucked away in the school’s archives, and reconnecting with Ms. Campbell to learn more about its history. Seeing the lyrics displayed near the school library once again inspired him to bring the song back to life — and on this evening, it filled the stadium with harmony and nostalgia. The voices of today’s Huskies rose into the fading light, carrying the spirit of generations past and present.

Following the song, Coach Worden led the crowd in a moment of silence — the field lit softly, the mountains watching over. It was a pause heavy with gratitude, reflection, and love. Then the players rose, ready to play the game that had brought them all together, the game that Coach Gault had devoted his life to teaching with heart and purpose.

When the whistle blew at 7:00 p.m., the Huskies faced longtime local rival Lone Pine. In a fitting tribute to the determination and teamwork that Gault instilled in so many, Mammoth played with passion and precision, securing a decisive 48–6 victory under the bright lights and purple skies of their home field.

Before the game, Painter reminded the crowd that “Celebrating the Legacy of Coach Gault” T-shirts were available at the home gate and on the Mammoth Boosters website. These shirts — still available for purchase — are a wonderful option for those who could not attend Husky Fest or the Memorial, but wish to have a part in continuing Gault’s legacy.

Funds from T-shirt sales will be used to continue Tom Gault's tradition of giving back to Mammoth High School students and programs.

Gault Memorial T-shirts

As the night came to a close and the mountains faded into shadow, the feeling in the air was unmistakable — pride, gratitude, and the enduring presence of a man whose influence reached far beyond the football field.

Under that majestic Mammoth sky, it was clear that Coach Tom Gault’s spirit still lives here — in the pride, unity, and unwavering Husky heart of Mammoth.