Ted Ensslin Jr.

Porterville lost one of its favorite sons with the passing of Ted (Theodore) Ensslin Jr. last week. Mr. Ensslin will be remembered for many things – outstanding athlete, civic leader, businessman, father, husband, veteran, active in his church and finally, mayor and city councilman.

Mr. Ensslin was born and raised in Porterville and to this day is still considered one of the best athletes to come out of Porterville High School where he is enshrined in the school’s Wall of Fame. He was also an outstanding athlete at Porterville College, playing football, basketball and track. He was honored with the PC Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011.

He would go on to star as a football player at the University of Nevada at Reno.

He chose to come back to his hometown after serving in the Navy and make it not just his hometown, but a better hometown for everyone.

He got into public service on the city council in the 1970s and served three separate times, several times as mayor. His last time on the council was in the 1990s, but he never forgot his roots or about his community. All total, Mr. Ensslin served on the city council for 10 years.

Mr. Ensslin was gracious, but tough. You know where you stood with him and he was not afraid to let you know where he stood if you didn’t.

He served the community in numerous ways, including as charter member of the Exchange Club and that club’s first president. He remained an Exchange Club member until his passing. He was honored on the city’s Wall of Fame in 2017.

The responses on the Exchange Club’s posting of his passing demonstrate just how respected and loved was Mr. Ensslin. There were more than 100 responses within the first three days of the post.

Mr. Ensslin will be remember for much, but most of all he will be remembered as a friend of the community who was often willing to step up to help make it a better place in which to live.