A pair of my oldest and best friends, Franny and Linda (Johnson) Barrett are always on the lookout for publications and items which they think I may be able to turn into a column. They have been thoughtful enough to bring me copies of the Sun and Sun Chronicle from bygone days, which readers may find to be of interest.
Such is the case today, and I hope you will embrace the names and events from a compilation that appeared within the pages of a special commemorative from the Sun Chronicle Centennial Edition of Sept. 30, 1988, when sportswriter Bill Stedman wrote:
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Dave Hardt and Dale Worrall, Wayne Webb and Dotty Fothergill, George A. Chisholm and Hugh F. Maguire, Mark Schmidt and Marc Forbes, John "Dino" Denis and Herman "Bud" Tyrance, Heather Grimshaw and Sarah Behn, Walt and Allen Ripley.
To name just a few - a hundred years of athletes in our Sun Chronicle area - which ones were the greatest? The most recent standouts, of course, tend to stand out in memory the most, like local golfer Marc Forbes, are still leaving their marks on the area. In August, Forbes, an Attleboro High and Brandeis graduate, won the Attleboro Area Golf Association Open for the 10th time.
Many remember the exploits of athletes from the late 1970s and early '80s such as Mark Schmidt. The 6-foot-3 guard from North Attleboro dazzled basketball fans at Bishop Feehan from 1978 to 1981, scoring 1,450 points and leading the Shamrocks to a 21-1 record year with a 24 points-per-game average. He then took his show to Boston College during the Eagles' highflying years as an NCAA tournament contender. Three of his four seasons at the Heights, the Eagles made the tournament's Sweet 16.
Another well-remembered star is current Rocketeer track coach Mike Redding, who wowed fans on the NAHS football field as an end and defensive back from '76 to '79 before taking his talents to Holy Cross, where he became second-leading receiver in Crusader history.
The Crusaders were also lifted by local product Jim Gravel of Attleboro High, who played a huge defensive role in the 1963 9-0 Holy Cross upset of Boston College.
Also from AHS, end and punter Dave Hardt was named captain of the Attleboro Sun District All-Star team in 1965. He continued on at the University of Kentucky, setting an NCAA record for career punts and became the first local player drafted by the New England Patriots. He had a good chance of making the squad before suffering a career-ending knee injury during the Aug. 15, 1971 preseason game with the New York Giants.
Other area athletes have made it big in the pros; one of the best-known is boxer John "Dino" Denis of Attleboro. After a stellar amateur career (42-5), which included the New England Golden Gloves championship and AAU titles for three years, Denis turned pro, fighting 55 professional fights as a heavyweight before retiring in 1983. Denis remained unbeaten in 29 pro fights before losing to George Foreman in a nationally-televised fight in 1976, and ranked as high as fourth among world heavyweights. Denis never saw the canvas until Gerry Cooney did it in 1979 (a fight I watched from ringside at Madison Square Garden. At the old Boston Garden, I was at ringside for an exhibition bout when John fought Mohammed Ali.)
The Ripleys of North Attleboro made it to the big leagues on the diamond, Walt pitching a pair of games for the Red Sox in 1935, while son Allen hurled for the Sox in '78 and '79, and later with the Cubs and Giants.
Herman "Bud" Tyrance might have made the big leagues in the 1930s, had he not been born black. A 1929 graduate of AHS where he played an outstanding shortstop, Tyrance played for the Philadelphia Colored Giants at a time when the majors were for white players only.
There have been numerous semipro teams and players over the years, notably in football. The Jewelry City Redheads and the Blue Eagles were among Attleboro grid teams in the heydays of the '30s. Dale Worrall coached the Blue Eagles until they disbanded in 1939, following an illustrious career at AHS and William and Mary College. He scored the only touchdown in William and Mary's first-ever win over Navy and had a 101-yard run against the Bridgewater College Eagles. Other AHS grads of the '20s and '30s playing college ball were Providence College standouts "Cy" Galligan in the late '20s and "Gig" Pariseau in the late '30s, Archie Sharkey and Tess Newman at Springfield and Ted Thomas (my old Little League coach) at Amherst in the early '30s.
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Space will allow us just one more reminiscence, and as you will understand shortly, at this time, I think it quite appropriate. I'll try to bring you the rest of the athletes mentioned next week.
The final mention today is that during the 1940s basketball took center stage in Attleboro when our high school team of 1942-43 won the State Championship Tech Tourney with a starting five that included current mayor Kai Shang, Mal Wendell, Bob Perry, Ev Waldron and Capt. Lou Kelley.
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Our condolences today go out to Timmy, Dennis, Jackie and the gracious Lynn-Ann (Pimentel) Johnson and all the Pimentel family upon the passing of their aunt Ethel Simmons.
And now, for that reference about propriety to which I alluded, our deepest sympathy is extended today to the children and family of the State Championship Tech Tourney Capt. Lou Kelley, a true gentleman with a sterling biography. As his first heavenly act, I figure Lou will want to look good to meet The Man Upstairs, so he'll have longtime friend John "Jack" Andrews give him a little trim. Bless 'em all.
Please be good to one another. Peace.
Tom McAvoy looks back at the past each Tuesday. Contact him at [email protected].