W1: David Sanders Wright (1887-1967)

David continued to teach physics and chemistry at the high school until he retired on September 1st, 1956.  He was a baseball, basketball, and football coach there until he stepped down in 1949.  Generally his coaching led to championship basketball team, but it is said his first love was baseball.

He was so loved in Northampton that they named the athletic field after him.  When they rebuilt it in 2001, they re-dedicated it to him.

During World War II his oldest daughter served in Washington DC working on code breaking.  Two of his sons, David Joy and Charles Merrick fought in Europe. David Joy was capture and spent some time in prisoner of camp.   His youngest son, George served in the United States.

Newspaper Article on his retirement:

Wright's Rightness

An outstanding chapter in Northampton High School's history is the excellent service given over a long period of years by David S. Wright as teacher, coach and athletic director. After graduating from Amherst College and serving in World War One, and then teaching chemistry, physics, and algebra, and serving as head of the science department. He coached baseball, football, and basketball, and was particularly successful in the latter.  His teams were outstanding in Valley League play and some in tournament play.

It was not only the success he attained, but the fine manner in which he performed. Modest and self-effacing, he kept himself much in the background and did his job so well he did not become a controversial figure. He knew how to handle boys and had their confidence and respect, and he was esteemed not only in Northampton but among rival coaches and players. His was not only a highly successful era, but a most pleasant one, covering a period of 36 years, an extra long time in such positions.

"Dave," as he was popularly known to many in the city and elsewhere, has done all his jobs well, and has left a fine influence among the boys and others whom he directed or with whom he worked in high school sports. It would be fitting if his name was spelled "Right." He has well won surcease from exacting duties of a long and active career and has the best wishes of hosts of friends for a well-earned rest and enjoyable retirement.

Here are three articles over the fight for his pension:

DAVE WRIGHT MIGHT GARNER $8000-$9000

Could Collect From Teacher's Fund if Retirement as Veteran Were Approved

Northampton, July 13,-David S. Wright, teacher-coach at Northampton High School for the past 37 years who retired because of disability at the conclusion of the school term last month, will be eligible to collect approximately $8000-$9000 which he has paid into the teachers' retirement fund in case Mayor Cahillane would approve his retirement under the veterans' retirement act.

Although he would collect a smaller pension through the veterans' act, Wright would be able to receive a cash rebate for the money he turned into the teachers' fund during his 37 years of service to the city. The veterans' retirement would enable Wright to receive approximately $3600 annually as against an approximate $4000 through the teachers' fund.

Mayor Cahillane turned down the request recently and was quoted as having said the City Finance Committee refused to allow Wright to retire under the veterans' act. However, a member said the committee merely discussed the matter but did not take a vote, one way or the other.

The city, it was said, would have to stand the expense should the request for the veterans' pension be approved.  Under the terms, Wright could retire after 30 years service or after 10 years, providing he has a disability. The veteran teacher, who brought much credit to Northampton through his many championships basketball teams of years ago, lost much of the last year when he was confined to his home because of illness.

Only a few weeks ago the city approved the retirement request of Fire Chief Edward Wright who retired under the veterans' act. It is understood all other fire and policemen can also retire under the same act, as well as other city employees.

Another teacher, Charles Kilpatrick, was refused a similar request last year when he left the faculty at Smith's School after many years of service.

MAYOR CLAIMS PUBLIC CANNOT BEAR EXPENSE

Cites Reason for Denying Wright Retirement Pleas Under Veterans' Act

Northampton, July 14--The request of Teacher-Coach David S. Wright to retire from the faculty at Northampton High School under the veterans' retirement fund was turned down by Mayor Cahillane "because the taxpayers would not be able to stand the extra expense."

So remarking Mayor Cahillane yesterday when informed that Legion officials are seeking advice from state headquarters in Boston as to what possible steps Wright may take to have his request approved. Wright, a teacher in the local system for 37 years and a well-known basketball coach for nearly 30 years, was forced to retire with a disability at the close of the school term last month.

It was pointed out that Wright can retire under the teacher's retirement fund, to which he has contributed during his many years of service to the school system, and receive approximately $200 annually. That money would be provided by the state ad with no expense to the city.

However, if he retires under the veterans' pension fund, he would only receive approximately $3600 annually but that amount would have to come from the city. At the same time, Wright would be eligible to collect between $8000 and $9000 in a lump sum, which he paid into the teachers' retirement fund.

Mayor Cahillane said. "I am very fond of Dave Wright and we both understand the problem. He knows his request was turned down because of the added expense to the taxpayers. But he wont be doing badly with $4200 coming in each year."

City Auditor John Curran backed up the mayor's decision and and said there are tooo many veterans in the city who would take advantage of the veterans' retirement fund, if approval was given to a certain few. Curran, it was said, handles the accounts for the veterans under the retirement pension system.

 SAYS MAYOR IS WRONG IN WRIGHT CASE

Walter Salvo Takes Side of His Former Coach on Pension

Northampton, Aug. 8--A former schoolboy three-sport star at Northampton High School today took the side of David S. Wright, a member of the high school faculty for the past 38 years, in the latter's attempt to retire under the veterans' pension system and said, "the City of Northampton owes him that much, at least."

Walter Salvo, real estate agent and trustee under the Oliver Smith will, who played four years of baseball, basketball, and football under Wright during the latter's coaching days, stated Mayor James Cahillane should not be allowed to use the case of another School Department employee who retired last year as an example in refusing Wright's request.  

Salvo referred to a former member of the faculty at Smith's Vocational School, whose request to retire under the veterans' pension system a year ago was also turned down by Mayor Cahillane. Since then, the teacher in question, Chares Kilpatrick, accepted the state teacher's retirement pension and therefore, cannot change to the veterans' pension regardless of any future rulings.  

"This city would never be able to repay Mr. Wright for the service he has given in his long career to the School Department and the thousands of athletes who have had the privilege of learning under him.  This veterans' pension would not be a gift," Salvo said. "Wright has earned it and the law says he is entitled to be served under that system."

Salvo, also a football star at Columbia where he played end under Lou Little for two years, 1930-31, said he speaks for several other former students and athletes of Wright. "We all feel the same way," He said, "although we are not city officials and therefore cannot take an active part in the fight."

"Mayor Cahillane sets himself up above the laws of the state when he refuses to allow such a request," Salvo continued. "The law has been checked several times in recent weeks by many of us residents, including lawyers, and we find no place where the mayor has the right to take such a course of action."

The local businessman said he brought up the matter in a conversation with the mayor last Saturday and added, "but I didn't get any favorable results. Mayor Cahillane is using a previous case as a wedge as a means of making a decision in the Wright matter."

And here is an article on the dedication of the field:

 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."

David lived in Northampton for the rest of his life.  In 1961, he made $4,703.05 annually and started to pay $5.56 a month for retirement health insurance in 1962. In the last week of December, 1966 he fell down the stairs and slipped into a coma..  The family moved into a hospital in Amherst, with a room that looked out on his old college.  My mother says that he shared the room with two of the students he had coached and they took great care of him.  He died on January 1st, 1967 and is buried in Bridge Street Cemetery