WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers A VIKING DYNASTY—Simi Valley residents Carl and Willa Dobbs will be honored at the 45th anniversary celebration of the Simi Valley Vikings tomorrow at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park. The pair have been involved with the Vikings since 1968. Carl coaches his grandson's team with son Bill and is known for his hard-nosed approach to the game. "He demands perfection, and he's as tough as they come," Bill said of his father. The Simi Valley Vikings have fielded youth football teams for 45 years.

Since almost the very beginning, Carl and Willa Dobbs have volunteered with the organization, doing everything from coaching to running the snack booth.

The couple will be honored at the league's Opening Day celebration tomorrow at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park. The public is invited to join the festivities.

"We have coaches, adults in their 40s that actually played for Carl Dobbs. That's how long he's been here giving back to kids," said Sam Porrazzo, a Vikings coach and event coordinator. "We just want to recognize them and say thank you. They are outstanding members of the community."

Saturday's celebration, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, raffle contests, dunk tanks, and food and beverage vendors.

The Vikings teams will scrimmage against each other. The park is at Stearns Street and E. Los Angeles Avenue

Carl Dobbs, 70, is an assistant coach for his son Bill's team, which includes his grandson Tyler.

All four of Dobbs' sons played football with the Vikings for their father, and his daughter, Terri, now 49, was a cheerleader with the youth organization.

Dobbs started coaching when his oldest son, Carl, wanted to play.

"I always wanted to be involved with my kids," the elder Dobbs said. "I think it's good to keep the kids focused on healthy things and not on drugs and alcohol. The Vikings organization is good for kids."

Willa Dobbs, 69, helped out at the snack shop and now cheers her family from the sidelines. Forty years ago, she co-founded Share and Care, which now serves more than 500 families with a week's supply of emergency foods each month.

Her sons Pat, 49, and Mike, 39, coach football at Grace Brethren High School. Bill, 36, is head coach of the Vikings Mighty Mites squad. Her fourth son, Carl, 50, lives in Folsom.

"I played eight years for my dad," said Bill Dobbs, whose team went 12-0 last season before losing the Gold Coast Youth Football League Super Bowl. "Anyone who ever played for my dad, the first thing they'll remember is that we always won, and second, they'll remember how strict he is. He demands perfection and he's as tough as they come.

"The biggest thing he instills in kids is self-confidence. Every kid feels like a champion and a winner. All the kids believe in themselves," Bill added.

Carl and Willa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year: They married when Carl was on a brief break from boot camp in the U.S. Marines.

They moved to Simi Valley from Venice Beach in 1954, raised a family and established roots in the community.

Carl Dobbs said he enjoys teaching youngsters the basics of football—the ultimate team game.

"I like football, and I like to teach the kids how to play, focusing on the fundamentals," Dobbs said. "We teach them how to block and tackle. We get them fundamentally sound, and we usually end up with pretty good teams.

"I keep telling my sons, 'I'm going to retire; I'm too old to be coaching.' But as long as I'm physically able to do it, I'll probably continue coaching," Dobbs said.