Obituary of Fred Mashall

Fred Marshall December 4, 1921 - December 26, 2010 SEASIDE - Fred Marshall passed away at home on Sunday, December 26, 2010 after a period of failing health. He was born on December 4, 1921 in Mamita?s House, an historical house on Monterey Avenue 2 NE of 2nd, in the area known as Tortilla Flats in Carmel. Maria Dixon Soto, a Native American Chumash also known as Mamita, was Fred?s grandmother. In the 1930?s Fred was an altar boy at Carmel Mission. He attended Sunset School in Carmel and Monterey High School. As a boy, he cut pine and pitch and sold it by the sack. He sold his mother?s homemade enchiladas to the construction crews that were paving Carmel Hill. As a teenager Fred would run to Seaside to watch the boxers work out at the gym. When he was asked by a trainer if he could fight, he said ?yes?, and then he was asked if he would like to fight the boxer in the ring. Fred fought him and immediately nearly scored a knockout. The trainer was Tex West, and Fred began training under him. He fought many fights at the Salinas Armory and the Presidio. In 1943 he was the lightweight Golden Glove Champion of California. Fred served in the US Army and was stationed at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma where he fought with the Rainbow Division. He became the lightweight Golden Glove Champion of Oklahoma. He boxed in tournaments and entertained the troops throughout his service in the Philippines and Okinawa. In 1944 Fred was the amateur runner-up lightweight National Champion of the US. He was defeated by Johnny Bratten who later was the welterweight champion of the world. Fred had him down on the canvas twice. He boxed a preliminary fight to Joe Louis in Chicago. The Chicago paper compared him pound for pound to Joe Louis. In 1946 he turned pro. His total record was 175 wins and 14 losses. In 1944 he married Anne Goulart of Monterey, and they lived in Seaside where they raised their family. While on furlough from the Army, Fred saved a 13 year old girl from drowning. He dove into the Carmel River in full military uniform as she went under for the third time. He pulled her out and she was revived. He coached baseball for about 17 years in Seaside. He also taught boxing at the Seaside Youth Center. He was a roofer and later became union business agent for Roofers Local 50. After retirement Fred could be seen walking his dog all over Seaside and Monterey. He?d buy a hamburger for himself and a plain one for his dog at McDonald?s nearly every day. Fred was preceded in death by his daughter Patty Ann Marshall, sister Marion Fergusson, and brother William Marshall. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Anne, sons Fred Jr, Mike, Steve and Johnny, brother Tom of Oregon, sisters Dolores ?Mike? Flores of Morro Bay, and Lorraine ?Duece? Lyons of San Ardo. His grandchildren are Fred Marshall Jr, David Marshall, Jennifer Marshall, Robbie Marshall, Denise Wigham, Sarah Noack, Aundria Marshall, Mike Marshall Jr, Steven Marshall Jr, Sara Marshall, Michelle Marshall, Jesse Anne Marshall, and Leslie Marshall. He also leaves behind seventeen great-grandchildren.