It doesn’t take much to highlight the accomplishments of the Northwest football program from the early 1980s, but Bobby Gaston was an integral reason for the Rangers’ success. Gaston’s passion for the sport was nurtured by his parents. From an early age, he envisioned a future in football and was inspired by members of his own family who played college football.
A tenacious defensive lineman, Gaston and his teammates helped pave the way for the program’s first-ever NJCAA Championship in 1982. However, his freshman year wasn’t all that bad either, as Northwest finished 6-3-1 overall and capped off the season with a victory against Hinds. It was that 1981 season that marked Coach Bobby Ray Franklin’s first season leading the Rangers, setting up a long legacy of success.
That success was evident in 1982, when Gaston and Northwest finished the season with a 12-0-1 overall record, with the lone blemish coming in a 7-7 tie to Mississippi Gulf Coast in the MACJC title game. Despite the draw, the Rangers were slotted to play Ferrum College (Va.) in the Eastern Bowl, defeating the Panthers by a 16-9 final.
It was Gaston that would come up with the most crucial plays of the game for Northwest. With the Rangers clinging to a 14-7 lead in the fourth quarter, Gaston made a tackle in the end zone that resulted in a safety, giving Northwest its final two points of the game. During his sophomore season, Gaston accumulated a total of 114 tackles.
Later, Gaston was chosen for a slew of postseason honors, including All-MACJC, All-Region 23 and NJCAA Kodak All-American accolades. He was also named an MACJC All-Star and caught the attention of Arkansas State University, where he suited up for the Indians from 1983-84.
While at ASU, Gaston was part of a remarkable turnaround for the Indians. As a junior, Arkansas State finished with a 5-5-1 record, but turned that into an 8-4-1 overall mark in 1984, earning the Indians an appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. Gaston and his teammates earned an opening round victory against Chattanooga before the postseason run ended with an early December loss at Montana State.
After college, Gaston became the father of five children: Brooke Gaston, Brittany Gaston, Kisha Baker-Williams, Aaron Baker, and Sheena Baker-Jackson, and husband to his lovely wife Patricia Gaston. He has since welcomed eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Gaston eventually relocated to Orlando, Florida, where he founded his own trucking business, Pat Dawgs LLC. He also earned his certification in Electronic Board Assembly at Orange Technical College, demonstrating his commitment to both professional growth and family legacy.
