Sunday, October 21, 2012

1958 Football Team Induction Photo


This is a photo taken at the Gardner High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, October 20, 2012. There are many things that make this photo special, but the presence of Walt Dubzinski, Sr. in the front row and Joe Bishop on one side in a sweater is good for starters. You may notice somedthing else. Click on the photo to enlarge it for better viewing.
 
Bottom row: Walt Dubzinski, Jr., Ed Nobrega, Bob Dill, Norman Beauregard, Walt Dubzinski, Sr. (seated), Tony Kraskouskas, Ken Stone, James Sand.

Middle row: Stan Gemborys, Tom Ryan, Len Slomski, Don Barry, Joe Bishop (sweater).

Top Row: Charles (Bud) Smith, John Awdycki, Robert (Scooter) Cormier, Bob Coffin, Gordon Dickie

Jacques Cesaire '98, defensive lineman for the San Francisco Chargers did not play for the 1958 team, nor did Eric Swedberg, '98, running back and MVP in both baseball and football, but they are both shown on stage at the top of the photo with other inductees.

In accepting the award on behalf of the 1958 Football team, co-captains Ed Nobrega and Bob Dill each made some comments that showed how on-field success is no accident. Eddie reminded us of a basic physics lesson - that force is a product of mass and acceleration. In Ed's case, a smaller mass combined with greater acceleration was a force to be respected by larger opponents who were just seconds too late off the mark. Bob Dill talked about Gardner Junior High School's Joe Bishop and his drive to collect uniforms with which to start a junior high football program in grades 7 and 8, and how Mr. Bishop used after school practice time to drill football fundamentals, preparing them for high school play.

Kudos to Mr. Mike Richard, who served as Master of Ceremonies at the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. The acceptance speeches of recipients were an outstanding endorsement of the athletic program in the Gardner Public Schools, and moving testimony to the skill, dedication, and determination of their coaches and parents, who served in many impoprtant roles during their development.

Congratulations on your award, Wildcats. Fifty-four years later, you make us all feel proud to share in your success all over again.

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