Tucson Sunnyside High always seems to have hard-nosed football teams.

It’s been that way since the late 1970s, when Paul Petty was the Blue Devils’ coach.

Petty, a long-time fixture in the Arizona coaching community, died April 26 near his residence in Florida at the age of 82.

Petty grew up in Texas and was a Southern gentleman. I covered a few of his games for The Arizona Republic, and he always seemed to be pleasant and business-like.

He influenced many players over the years, coaching at Phoenix Union, Phoenix Carl Hayden, Sunnyside, Globe, Ajo and Miami. He also coached at high schools in New Mexico, Texas and Florida and at colleges in Texas and New Mexico.

At Sunnyside, he coached such noteworthy players as running back Fred Sims, who went on to star at the University of Oklahoma, and defensive back George Duarte.

He was a member of the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Fame, among others. On several occasions, he coached Arizona all-star teams that played as part of summer tours in Australia and New Zealand.

Petty will be missed by his coaching associates and players.

He is survived by his wife, son, two granddaughters and a sister. The family is planning a memorial service that will be held sometime this summer.