The following appeared in the pages of the Attleboro Sun in July 1960. The popular longtime coach Howard A. Tozier had submitted his retirement, and this story briefly recounts the qualified applicants that interviewed for the football and basketball coaching positions that were left open as a result of Tozier's departure.
Oddly, the man eventually hired, future coaching legend Jim Cassidy, does not receive mention, but he may have been one of the "few late applicants" referred to in the article. In any event, it appears Coach Cassidy was the choice over a field of very impressive candidates.
AHS coaching aspirants identified
The three vacancies existing in the physical education department at Attleboro High School as a result of the retirement of Howard A. Tozier should be filled by next Monday, two members of the appointing authority said this morning.
The school committee's subcommittee on athletics has interviewed candidates from far and near for the football and basketball coaching openings and the directorship of physical education, according to the chairman, Atty. Herbert J. McLaughlin.
There are a few late applicants who are now being screened, with the most likely candidates to be interviewed at a special meeting of the subcommittee tomorrow night. Atty. John P. Lee, chairman of the school committee, said decisions on the vacancies may be made at the special session. If not, he said, he expects that the appointments will be made at another special meeting Monday night.
Two candidates for the positions of football coach and director of physical education were interviewed by the committee last night. They include, Charles "Chuck" Connors, former Rockland High School and University of Notre Dame athlete who was discharged from the Marine Corps last Thursday after three years of service, and E. Norman Anderson, an Attleboro High School and Springfield College graduate who was assistant football coach at a New Jersey high school during the past year.
Previously interviewed for the two positions was Conrad R. "Connie" Pensavalle, a North Attleboro resident who had a highly successful football and baseball coaching career at North Attleboro High School until he resigned a few years ago to become backfield coach at the University of Rhode Island. (I had the good fortune to personally know Coach Pensavalle and have him as a teacher, and his qualities as a coach, teacher and man are of the highest order). Pensavalle later left URI and recently has been a teacher at Foxboro High School. His desire to return to coaching has not diminished, and he was one of the leading candidates for the coaching post left vacant at Durfee High School in Fall River by the retirement of Luke Urban and eventually filled by the appointment of Don Montle.
Other aspirants for the football position are: Val LaFontaine of South Attleboro, a star at Holy Cross a few years ago and more recently a member of the Attleboro Area Jewelers semi-pro team in North Attleboro, and Bill Watters, former Mansfield High School coach now in Berlin, N.H.
Men who have conferred with the subcommittee or with Atty. McLaughlin for the basketball post include Bill Leary of Matignon High School, John Kilillea of Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, Barry Falloni of Bridgewater High School, and Dudley O'Leary, who has been an assistant to Tozier for several years.
Falloni's Bridgewater team won the Eastern Massachusetts Class D Basketball Tournament this winter, while Kilillea steered Silver Lake to a highly successful season. Matignon qualified for the Class A division of the tournament.
The 30-year-old Anderson played football and was on the track team at Springfield, from which he was graduated in 1954.
Connors was a tackle at Notre Dame under both Frank Leahy and Terry Brennan, but did not see much service because of two "trick" knees. He received his degree from Notre Dame in 1957.
Atty. McLaughlin said the subcommittee has interviewed nine of about 25 men who were interested in the coaching positions.
Tozier had been the basketball coach, athletic director and director of physical education. Bill Madden, who served as football coach for six years, was recently appointed athletic director and a guidance counselor, creating the football opening to go along with the other two posts held by Tozier.
Closing thoughts
Lifelong pal, the inimitable T.V., Tony Vivieros, has requested that you all be notified of the (quickly) upcoming fifth annual Attleboro High School Alumni Gathering on Tuesday, May 17 from 7-9 p.m. at the Attleboro Arts Museum (the former London's department store). Please enter at the rear door (right across from where my old house was) and access the parking lot from either Morey Street or Emory Street. Tony hopes to have the internationally known accomplished photographer and AHS graduate Mike DiRenzo and Meagan Fuller, 2010 AHS graduate, and summa cum laude grad from the University of Alabama. Meagan is the reigning Miss Massachusetts and received her masters degree from Tulane last year. She is also the granddaughter of popular locals, the late Hal Fuller and his wife Bette, who taught at the former Bliss School for many years. (Forgive Bette if she brags on her granddaughter - it's certainly deserved.)
I have always enjoyed these gatherings, and I'm sure all of you will as well. There is no admission charge, complimentary refreshments and dress is casual. Hoping to see you there!
We offer deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Peter Ottmar, a schoolmate and friend I have known since grammar school. His accomplishments and philanthropic gestures need not be recounted here. They will be enumerated many times in days to come. I'm probably one of the few people who know that if you visited the Easter Bunny at London's 50-odd years ago, you were actually meeting Peter. Vaya con Dios, old friend. Peace.
Thomas McAvoy looks back at the past each Tuesday. Contact him at [email protected].