Merced, Dos Palos communities mourn the death of popular principal, football coach
Former Merced High principal and longtime Dos Palos High football coach Tom Scheidt died on Monday at the age of 72, according to family members.
Scheidt spent 11 years as the principal at Merced High. He was the varsity head football coach at Dos Palos from 1976 to 1987, leading the Broncos to four Central Section championships and finishing the season ranked No. 1 in the state twice. Dos Palos compiled a 101-36-2 record under Scheidt, winning eight league championships and making the playoffs all 11 years.
Scheidt suffered a brain aneurysm while on a fishing trip in Alaska on July 8, his family said. Following multiple surgeries, Scheidt was expected to make a full recovery, according to a neurologist.
Family friends helped raise money through a GoFundMe account that helped pay for Scheidt to fly home. Over $65,000 was donated in just over 24 hours.
Scheidt was mediflighted from Alaska to Merced on Aug. 19. However, on Monday he suffered a heart attack.
On Wednesday, the City of Dos Palos lowered its U.S. flag in front of City Hall to half mast in honor of Scheidt, according to Dos Palos City Manager Darrell Fonseca.
“He was a great member of our community for so many years, first as a teacher at Dos Palos High School and then as a well-known football coach,” Fonseca said. “He was not just well-liked, he was the kind of person that went the extra mile for everyone.
“There are very few people in life that touch you in such a way that you say, ‘He was a great guy.’ Everyone says that of him.”
Mike Sparks recalls ‘God-loving’ man
Former Dos Palos coach Mike Sparks credits Scheidt as one of the two men, along with Sparks’ father, who helped make him into the person he is today.
Sparks was the offensive coordinator for all 11 years Scheidt spent as the Broncos head coach.
“One thing about him is he was always well-prepared,” Sparks said. “He was very professional whether he was a coach, teacher, counselor or as an administrator. He treated people fairly. He was a God-loving Christian type of man who treated people the way they should be treated.”
Crosstown rival in Merced
Ralf Swenson, who was the first principal at Golden Valley when the school opened in 1994, became close friends with Scheidt. They were together with their wives in Spain in March at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and had to scramble to find flights home.
“Twenty-five years ago he came to work at Golden Valley as one of my assistant principals,” Swenson said. “We immediately became good friends and it was a friendship that grew over time. It was really fun having a crosstown rivalry with someone you enjoy and trust. We have similar backgrounds and we both wanted our schools to be great.”
Swenson and Scheidt met for coffee and breakfast every Monday morning during their time as principals in Merced.
“We’d plot out our week and look at the things going on at school,” Swenson said. “If we had a Merced-Golden Valley event that was going on that week we wanted to make sure the event was great.”
Swenson said he wasn’t surprised when he saw so many people step up with donations to help his friend. Swenson said Scheidt had so many traits that made him likable.
“ I think he was so straightforward with people,” Swenson said. “He deeply cared about the people he worked with, whether he was coaching football at Dos Palos, working at Golden Valley, his time as principal at Merced or coaching with his son Rob. He gave everyone in his circle 100% of his attention. He was focused, loyal and kind-hearted.”
Survivors, memorial service
Scheidt is survived by his wife Sandra, his sons Rob and Rick, their spouses Sandra and Raeann, and grandchildren Sam, Georgia, Seth, Sara, Amanda and Steven.
A memorial service is planned for Friday, Sept. 4 at Gateway Community Church at 10 a.m. The service will be held outside and is open to the public.
