‘Wins and losses mean nothing if you don’t learn from them.’
His legend spreads far and wide. There’s the story about when he wrestled the bear. Or the many about how he actually got that silver tooth. And the one about how he was so close to making the Olympics, he could taste it.
But those who know him well know Ray Barron never set out for his legendary stories and booming voice to become an honored fixture in Colorado wrestling. He didn’t plan to need another room in his house for all the plaques, certificates, and special awards that would be bestowed upon him. He never dreamed he’d be inducted into halls of fame, be named the 5A Wrestling Coach of the Year, or even be honored with a scholarship fund in his name. That’s because it was never about him. It was always about his athletes.
No matter if it was wrestling—what he’s primarily known for—or football (he coached the 2009 Colorado State Champion 5A team) or track or even volleyball or gymnastics, Barron only wanted his athletes and students to reach their full potential. That could mean winning a title, and many did. Or it could mean overcoming a personal obstacle, achieving a personal best, finding love of a sport they’d never considered, or identifying their place on a team. Sometimes his influence meant beating personal demons or finding refuge from painful life experiences. Barron was always a champion for his athletes and students, hugging them in then end and providing a shoulder for tears, whether they came from achievement or disappointment.
Colorado wrestling was close to Barron’s heart. He wrestled for Hinkley High School and then for Colorado College, which became University of Northern Colorado. Barron began his wrestling coaching career at Fort Lupton High School, and he met his wife, Jane, there when her father was the doctor signing weight cards for Barron’s wrestlers. After marrying in 1974, they had a daughter, Jennifer, in 1976 and moved to Worland, Wyoming, where Barron coached football and wrestling and taught for four years. In 1979, son Luke was born, and the family made its way back to Colorado in 1980 for Barron to continue his Colorado coaching legacy at Heritage High School in Littleton. Luke wrestled in Heritage’s program from the time he was 4 years old and eventually became an assistant coach, and Jennifer served as a mat attendant for the team in high school. Jane was an ever-present mother figure to all the athletes and staunch support system for Barron.
In 2014, Barron retired from coaching but couldn’t stay gone long. After being convinced to help coach the track and football teams at Columbine, he joined the Columbine wrestling coaching staff as an assistant. The following year, Barron took over the program, growing it from a handful of wrestlers to a vibrant, talented, dedicated pool of athletes. Jane remained the vigilant supporter, and Luke became an assistant coach. Jennifer and her husband, Bryan, took on the youth wrestling program for the school where Barron’s grandsons Leo, Joe, and Calvin wrestle.
The 2019/2020 season was on track to be one of Barron’s and Columbine’s best, with two wrestlers ranked at the top of the heap in their weight classes and the team poised to dominate. On January 16, Barron and his wife made an emergency trip to the hospital for numbness in his face. Barron was convinced it was just lesions from past concussions, but the MRIs and doctors disagreed. After a biopsy, Barron was diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma. They found three tumors, the largest being in his speech pathway.
Barron wouldn’t let chemotherapy and radiation stand in his way of being with his wrestlers the remainder of the season, and the state tournament proved to be like none other Barron had experienced. Coaches, referees, media, former athletes, and past students all came to his side to wish him their best, to share favorite memories, and to thank him for all he’d done for them. The energy was incredible, and it only continued to build when Jack Forbes triumphed for the 182-pound championship and Zach Schraeder took the heavyweight title and earned the 5A Outstanding Wrestler Award after pinning all his opponents. Barron never expected what came next: Being named the 5A Wrestling Coach of the Year.
On October 26, 2020, Barron’s journey with glioblastoma ended. But his legacy lives on in strength and honor.
2020 State Tournament
Barron’s former wrestlers come with many talents, and Bo Smith’s happens to be producing and directing films of all kinds, as well as being an assistant coach. He and Andrew Martin set out to chronicle the 2020 State Tournament and put together this feature video that we appreciate so much!
RBS&HF Board of Directors
Jennifer Paulson, President
Jen is Coach Barron’s daughter. Though she never wrestled, her life was and continues to be immersed in the sport. She and her husband, Bryan, are involved with the Columbine High School program via their son, Leo, who wrestles there. “Being in a wrestling family is like nothing else, and I can think of no better way to honor the many traits the sport teaches its athletes than with a scholarship in my dad’s name. My dad walked the talk every day of his life. He held high standards for me, just as he does with his wrestlers, which has armed me with the strength, perseverance, and never-give-up attitude that get me through difficult times in every part of my life. Every time I meet someone my dad influenced, I’m excited to hear their stories about how my dad helped them as athletes and in becoming upstanding human beings who make the world a better place.” Coach’s cowboy boot years can be attributed in part to Jen and her mom’s life with horses. Coach’s reach extended into Jen’s 4-H family in many ways—grilling burgers at horse shows, holding horses between classes, and even participating on a championship Wild Cow Milking team—the Udder Fools—where Coach served as anchor.
Jane Barron, Secretary
Jane met Coach Barron in April 1974, and the couple married in August of that year. If you spent any time with Coach, you also knew Jane. She was (and continues to be) a fixture in Colorado wrestling. Now she cheers for eldest grandson Leo’s high school matches and grandsons Joe and Calvin’s youth matches, all wrestling for Columbine, alongside her granddaughter, Liz. Jane spent more winter Saturdays announcing tournaments than any wife should, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She considered all of Coach’s wrestlers as part of her family, many of them calling her “Honey,” just as her grandkids do.
Dan Curran, Treasurer
Dan lives in Littleton, Colorado, with his wife, Malia, and daughters Jane and Maggie. He wrestled for coach Barron at Heritage in the late 80s. “Coach Barron is one of the most important influences in my life. He taught me how to be a better wrestler and how to be a better teammate, student, friend, and man. Coach Barron lived through example of how honor (do what you say you will) and strength (overcome adversity) will prevail in our lives.” Adversity came early in Dan’s wrestling career —mainly because other wrestlers were better than him. He learned to overcome adversity by bridging through entire periods and stalling on the bottom while appearing to attempt to escape. He was a good teammate, building the confidence of others during practice with his authentic portrayal of a realistic opponent. Dan went to State several times in his career…and sat in section 204C. “I am now honored to cheer loudly for the legacy of Coach Barron and all the people whose lives were touched by him!”
Gail Barron, Director of Development
Gail is married to Luke Barron and mother to their son, Calvin. She’s a compassionate leader, and her mission is to uplift those in her community who may not have the opportunity to achieve their highest potential otherwise. “I was born and raised in North Denver, Colorado. As a child from a low-income, inner-city upbringing, I understanding of some of the challenges youth face today and see how wrestling can be a positive influence to change the course of kids’ lives. I was able to break the cycle of disenfranchisement by attending Metropolitan State University, graduating with a degree in Social Work. I’m also the Executive Director of Zócalo Outreach, a Preschool ECIP with Jeffco Schools, and a part-time Child and Family Victims Advocate.”
Luke Barron, Advisor
Luke is Coach Barron’s son and came up through the youth and high school wrestling programs at Heritage. He started his coaching career at Heritage and is now a co-head coach at Columbine. “Through all of this time and getting to see my dad from different sides, I learned may things, including the importance of wrestling and how it prepares young people for life—dealing with losses and hardships, how to handle success, how to prepare yourself, and how to persevere through things we didn’t think we could. I also learned about giving back, putting the team ahead of me, and the importance of role models. Coach believed in the phrase ‘Strength and Honor.’ These qualities are pillars that are very important in life. Being strong not only physically, but mentally tough, determined, and the person who keeps getting up. Honor, keeping your word, being the person who’s counted on, the one who you know will be there when you go down that dark alley. These traits should be rewarded and will be as part of this scholarship in my dad’s name.”
John Alley, Advisor
For the last several years, John has served as an assistant coach to Columbine and now shares the head coaching role at Columbine with Coach Barron’s son, Luke. John is a long-time “Barron’s Boy,” beginning wrestling at a young age in the Heritage youth program where he first met the man who would become one of his greatest mentors. John continued wrestling for Coach Barron through his senior year at Heritage, but Coach’s influence didn’t stop there. John said the lessons he learned on and off the mat have undoubtedly shaped the person he has become. “Coach Barron didn’t just teach us wrestling; he taught us how to be better people and give back to the community.” John went on to become a Firefighter/Engineer for Westminster Fire Department and credits his professional success to the values of “discipline, hard work, tenacity, and service to others that Coach Barron instilled in me from a young age." John also said, “I have an amazing career and family, and it’s because of the lessons I have learned through Coach Barron and the sport of wrestling.”
Steve Cotham, Director of Golf Tournament
Steve serves as the Director of Golf, heading up the annual RBS&HF Golf Tournament, and is a board member. He’s a Heritage alumni, class of 1996. He wrestled, played football, and threw discus and shot-put for Coach Barron all four years. ”After graduating college and mildly upsetting Coach Barron (one of the many times) for not pursuing wrestling in college, I was asked to join the Heritage coaching staff for football where I got to help Coach Barron with the offensive and defensive lines. Shortly into the football season, Coach approached me and asked if I’d like to help with wrestling. I continued to work and coach wrestling with Coach Barron for the next 15 seasons. He always provided confirmation to what and how I was doing as well as being there for me when it was needed. I still continue to help out with running tournaments for Columbine or anywhere I can help out. I agree with what Dan said about Coach Barron 100% and try to live my life the same way. Coach Barron lived through example of how honor (do what you say you will) and strength (overcome adversity) will prevail in our lives.”