 In 1957 and 1958, he contributed to his team achieving a 23-0 record, including two Class A-1 football state championships.The Democrats 1958 team is regarded as one of the greatest in Oregon prep history, in that season he broke the Portland Interscholastic League record with 24 touchdowns and was part of a backfield that included him at fullback, quarterback Terry Baker (Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon State University), his younger brother Mel Renfro at halfback (future Pro Football Hall of Famer) and halfback Mickey Hergert (one of the leading ground gainers in the nation at Lewis & Clark College).He received Prep All-American honors as a senior.