Dave Wright Tribute Very Proper At This Time; Legion to Name Field In His Honor

 DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, NORTHAMPTON, MASS., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1956

Dave Wright Tribute Very Proper At This Time; Legion to Name Field In His Honor

Walter Salvo is in charge of the dedication of the high school football field to David S. Wright, beloved former coach. Salvo has requested all athletes who were formerly associated with Wright in high school days either to contact  him or to be present at the ticket window of the field just before the game in order that a fitting tribute be made to "Dave" on his day. The field will be dedicated in conjunction with the Booster Day weekend sponsored by the local American Legion Post. Northampton High football team plays Adams in a Class A League game Saturday afternoon to climax the Booster Day program. 

Baseball was his first love and basketball was the sport in which he enjoyed the most success, yet a football field is being named in his honor.

The David S. Wright Field, adjacent to Northampton High School, where he taught from 1919 to 1956 and turned out championship teams as coach and athletic director, will be dedicated in Mr. Wright's honor this Saturday at the school's annual football Booster Day program.

Dave Wright enjoyed much success at Northampton High School, of which he is an alumnus. He retired to his Alma Mater, as coach and teacher in 191, following a short tenure at Searles High. Immediately, Dave began to carve a niche for himself and for the school he represented by the turning out of championship basketball teams. He made himself the widest known, best loved, and most respected member of the coaching fraternity. HE made Northampton High the source of the basketball surface and spread the fame of the "bandbox" gym far and wide.

Strangely enough, football was one sport in which the school fared poorly under Wright's guidance, despite the fact that "brawn and beef" were plentiful in those days. There were many lean years in which an NHS team failed to score a solitary point, but men were developed as well as character.

Baseball, First Love

Baseball was a sport in which Wright delighted and he often donned the mask and mitt and chest protector to play himself for semi-pro and amateur teams in the city.

But basketball was his strong sport and under "Coach's" tutelage, Northampton High became the first and only team in Western Massachusetts to win the New England Interscholastic Basketball Championship at Newport, R.I., a team captained by Northampton's present tax collector, Joe Mew. This was in 1932.

Others on that championship club included Earl Peavey, Bob Ryan, Milt Allen, Jim Manning, Bolec Mozuch, Buck Pollard, Mitch Rutkowski, Dick Kopp, and Bob Sullivan.

A few years ago, on the occasion of Wright's completion of 30 years of service to the city, he was tendered a testimonial banquet by his multitude of friends and pupils.  At that time, he was labelled "a builder of men." He still is. The testimonial was evidence enough of what fans thought of this quiet, unassuming gentleman for they gathered from far and wide to acclaim his genius and every class since 1919 was represented.

Many Good Hoop Teams

Wright had many good hoop teams, many of which are compared with one another. The 1929 team went to Philadelphia and had such stars as Howard "Dippy" Miles, Chet Janus, Chet Rutkowski, Joe Allen, LeRoy Barnes. A 1923 team went to Chicago, led by Joe Zaborowski and Jimmy Zachzewski.

Stars were as plentiful in those days as one sees in the skies. There were John Gordon, Red Vichules, Dave Ziff, the numerous Sullivans, the several Allens, the Rutkowski family, Wally Salvo, Bill Saner, Charley DeRose, Hopper Miller, Ray Kneeland, LeRoy Barnes. You get the idea as you stop to think. And as each name comes back to your nostalgic memory, you think of some game won on a last minute basket in an unexplainable manner, a last minute touchdown or a "squeeze play," bunt, one of Wright's favorite baseball tricks.

1929 Most Fruitful

The year 1929 was perhaps the most fruitful for over-all events. The basketball team went through 23 straight games without a loss and in its third game at Philadelphia, bowed out of the tournament for its first setback. In addition to those mentioned previously as being members of that team, there were Joe Lojko, Jack Meehan and others. In baseball, the year was one of the most successful with Barnes, Butch Wydra, Bud St. John, Battler Young and the other basketball stars shinning on the dimand as well as on the polished surface.

In 1941, the team went into the New England basketball tourney at Manchester with a 16-5 record, but went out gracefully. Fred Barry was captain of that team.

Wally Novak starred in the 1946-1947era, and going back to 1928, there was Al Culley among others who helped the school and Wright; to a good baseball record. In 1925, Leo Gustavis, "Dutex" DeRose, Buck Allen, Bill Saner, "Dinty" Sullivan were stars of the Gridiron.

A 20-3 record was compiled in basketball by the 1926 team which had Al Krukowski, John Miller, Gene Allaire, Ed Cerrti among its members.

Builder of Men

And so it goes, in days gone by and in retrospect, Wright had many pupils to whom he taught the fundamentals not only of sports but the fundamentals of character. This is best evidenced by the manner in which many of his star athletes conducted themselves following their their high school days.  Many are in the public limelight, have gone on to a successful career in the business world. have starred on collegiate athletic teams, all of which reflects on Wright's character moulding.

Dave gave up active coaching, sport by sport, first with football when Tommy Eck came in about 1938. Baseball and basketball active coaching duties were given up a few years later, but Wright was given the assignment as director of athletics, a post he filled admirably.

He is known best to his students and pupils as "Coach."

The fact that the new athletic field is being dedicated in his honor is true attestment to his genuine popularity. It's quite a contrast to the days when football was played at the Driving Park (Fairgrounds). Fans were very few in those days, and when the hat was passed, there was very little change jingling, and no "foldin' money." The sidelines were barren of fans and the field itself was usually in poor condition. Linemen were usually students, not paid officials. Equipment was not of the best caliber and there was no dressing table. Arnica and liniment was the tonic for the weak and ailing. Adhesive tape was bought in small spools, there was trouble in paying officials, and football was a deficit, both financially and in game won.

Legion to be Commended

The Booster Day idea was originally conceived by a group of the local sports enthusiasts, headed by Herb Purseglove. This group paved the way for what us now known as the American Legion sponsored Booster Day program. It's a great idea and creates plenty of pep. The Legion is to commanded for its activities of behalf of the school.

Dave Wright retired from the Northampton public schools system this past June, but he will not be forgotten. Many are the teachers who, when they now meet Wright, tell him how much they miss his wry grim, his words of council. They all wish him good health, for it was a stroke which caused the lovable mentor to "toss in the sponge."

He gets around these days, but is limited in his activities and things he enjoys.

It's interesting to recall that when the present high school edifice was being built, in 1935, a writer suggested that the gymnasium be named the David S. Wright gym.  The words at that time were "what better way could be offered as a vote of appreciation, recognition and fulfillment of a dream, than to name the new gym after the modest, unassuming high school mentor."

Dave Wright's career as a coach is completed. The career has been studded with brilliance and heartaches, with pleasure and dismay, but in the long run we are sure that Wright can sit back, relax and receive the plaudits of his many fans who say "well done, Dave."