Induction Class Of 2000

This 1982 graduate is one of the premiere track and field athletes ever to perform for the Whaler's.

Joan was a national caliber performer in both the sprints and in the long jump.

She burst upon the scene during the 1978-79 indoor season and set her first of seven individual school records when she recorded a time of 7.8 in the 50 yard hurdles. Joan also went on to set twenty-two school class records (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior class) during her four years of indoor and outdoor competition. In addition, she was a member of five different relay teams that set school records.

It's hard to pick out a few highlights when an athlete has left a mark on a program as Joan left on the girls track and field program but here are a few of her individual accomplishments. In 1980, as a sophomore she was the Class A 100-meter dash champion and finished second in New England.

As a junior in 1981 she recorded the sixth fastest indoor fifty-yard dash time in the country (6.27).

She continued into the spring by winning her first of two consecutive Class A long jump titles which she followed up by winning both the state and New England titles. Her best long jump mark was a distance of 18' 6%*. No female has jumped over eighteen feet in the Greater New Bedford area before or since. Her senior year saw Joan defend her Class A long jump crown but an injured Achilles tendon ended her season thus preventing her the opportunity of defending her state and New England titles. Former girls' head coach Ron Barboza summed up her career by calling her "the most versatile girl track person I've ever coached". Her greatness can be measured by the fact that she still holds the school's long jump, 100 meter dash and indoor high jump records. Three other school records (50 yards, 220 yards and 50 yard hurdles are retired as the world has gone metric).

Joan was also an outstanding field hockey player for the Whaler's and became the first high school female track athlete to receive an athletic scholarship. She is a graduate of Boston University.

Joan and her husband Steve reside in Berkley with their three children, three-year-old Sarah and and sixteen-month-old twins Shawn and Christine. Joan is a self employed occupational therapist.

The conversation begins with the name Mark Sullivan when the topic is outstanding area high school lineman. A consensus all-state selection as a senior, Mark was hailed by the Boston Herald as a lineman who Teft opposing lines in shambles, coaches shaking their heads and college coaches talking scholarships*. For his efforts, he was selected to the High School All America Football Team by Scholastic Magazine.

Mark signed with Ohio State University after having been recruited by virtually every major college program in the country. He earned his way onto the field as part of the "Buckeyes" four-man defensive tackle rotation during his first year on campus. Keep in mind that this was a time before players left early for the NFL; an era where most freshmen were "red shirted" so that the program could benefit from having a lineup of fifth-year seniors. Legendary Head Coach Woody Hayes

commented on Mark's play as a freshman prior to the Michigan game when he was quoted as saying "he has made some big plays for us already and it is obvious he is going to make a lot more".

There were many collegiate career highlights during Mark's four-year varsity career. His finest game came as a senior in a game against Big Ten rival, Iowa. Playing against future long-time NFL lineman Jay Hilgenberg. This was Mark's first touchdown that he ever scored in high school and collegiate competition. For his efforts, he received the coveted "Buck of the Week" award. Mark also played on four bowi teams (Rose Bowl as a freshman, Orange Bowl as sophomore, Sugar Bowl as a junior and Gator Bowl as a senior) in a day when only a selective few teams earned the right to play in a bowl game. His outstanding play at OSU earned him a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons where he stayed on their roster till the final cutdown day.

Ice hockey and track and field were two other sports that Mark excelled in besides football. Mark was captain and league all star from his defenseman position in hockey. In track, Mark was a fifty-four-foot shot putter who teamed with Glenn Pires and Glen Pina to set a school shot put relay record that stood for six years.

This 1975 graduate of New Bedford High School still resides in New Bedford with his wife Nancy and children Kelley, Katelyn, and Tricia.

Clarence Brooks and the sport of football. Football and the man, Clarence Brooks. They go hand in hand. This 1969 graduate of New Bedford started playing in the city where he received education and has continued his involvement with the sport at the highest of levels.

Clarence was a tremendous offensive and defensive lineman in high school. Remember the old Perfection Oil Player of the Week Award? How often did a lineman win this weekly award? Clarence did for his play in a victory over Attleboro. The award stated, "Brooks spent much of Saturday afternoon in Attleboro's hair, repeatedly throwing Bombardier ballcarriers for sizable losses. The opposition usually tries to stay away from Clarry, but he'll go looking for 'em anyway". He was later hailed (1972) in a Standard Times article as "one of the finest high school players to come out of this area in years".

He is 1973 graduate of U Mass-Amherst where he was team captain as a senior. He was named first team All Yankee Conference and first team All-New England during that 1972 football season for his outstanding play as an offensive guard. His leadership and outstanding play under Head Coach Dick MacPherson would later lead to collegiate coaching opportunities however, he first had opportunities to play on the professional level. Clarence was a member of both the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills during their training camps of 1973.

Clarence turned to coaching when his playing days were over. First, he coached at both New Bedford and cross-town rival Vocational. Later he coached college ball at UMass (1976-80), Syracuse (1981-89), and Arizona (1990-92). The past seven years have found him coaching at the highest level. He spent six seasons (1993-98) as the defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears under head coach Dave Wannstedt and the past season in the same position with the Cleveland Browns.

Today, Clarence has re-joined Wannstedt as a key part of his staff with the "hated" Miami Dolphins. He and his wife Justa of 25 years are in the process of re-locating from Cleveland to the Miami area. They have two children, Jason and Adrienne.

The soccer program has a very storied and proud place in New Bedford High School athletic history. Bob Parker has a very significant place in this sport's rich tradition.

A 1959 graduate of New Bedford, Bob compiled a record of 159 wins, 17 losses and 11 ties during his ten-year tenure (1966-76) as head coach of the boys' soccer team. His teams routinely competed for sectional and state titles. Winning Eastern Massachusetts titles in both 1969 and 1979, his teams were stymied by Chicopee (3-2 in '69 and 4-1 in '70) for the state championships. One thing that was consistent about Parker's teams though was their consistent appearance in championship games and the Whaler's returned in 1971 to "go all the way". In this perfect season, the soccer team led by Coach Parker finished with a 25-0 record that included an Eastern Massachusetts title, State title and their 25" win was punctuated with a 4-1 victory over Gorham, Maine to win the New England championship.

Numerous players achieved national recognition, and many went on to play collegiately as well as professionally. Names like Dennis Almeida, Manny Matos, Eddie Rodrigues, Jack Cardosa, Bruce Botelho, and Joe Prata benefited from playing under Bob Parker's tutelage. In 1986, Bob returned to coaching as he started the girls' varsity program coaching one of the school's all-time greatest female athletes, Cathy Silva, in the process.

Prior to coaching, Bob was an outstanding athlete in his own right. He was a two-sport varsity star in both soccer (naturally) as well as baseball. A pitcher in baseball, he was 17-1 over his last two years (going 10-0 as a senior). He was also an accomplished batter, hitting once for the "unusual" cycle.

Today, Bob and his wife Donna reside in North Dartmouth. He has two sons, Chris and Dan and one stepdaughter, Lindsey. He also has three grandchildren. He is a math teacher at Keith Junior High School.

In Dick Monjeau's junior year at the state indoor track meet, the Boston Herald said, "Richard Monjeau of New Bedford High School emerged as the outstanding performer among 1,000 boys in the 39" Annual State Indoor Interscholastic Track Championship Meet yesterday at the Boston Garden. Monjeau, the only double winner in this record-breaking list of entries, set a new mark in the Class B high jump. He also won the fifty-yard dash."

Dick, in his senior year, broke the oldest outdoor state meet record set in 1923 by leaping 22'6%* in the Class A long jump. When he graduated from New Bedford High School in 1957, Monjeau had set state records in four events: the Class B indoor high jump (6'6"), the Class A outdoor long jump, the Class B mile relay and the State High Jump Relay.

His accomplishments for the Crimson helped him earn a four-year track scholarship to Notre Dame. He had an outstanding four-year career for the "Irish" with the highlight being the weekend that he competed against three world record holders at the Drake Relays. Future Olympic long jump gold medalist Ralph Boston, John Thomas who was the first man to ever high seven feet indoors (and an Olympic silver medalist) were two of those record holders.

Dick retired as a Major in the Marine Corps after serving twenty years and two tours in Viet Nam. Today, he resides in Niles, Michigan with his wife of forty years, Judith. They have four children, a son Christopher and three daughters, Sheila Marie, Maryann and Kathrine Suzanne. They have eight grandchildren with number nine due in June.

He will be forever linked with the City of New Bedford, the city's educational system and it's athletic programs. First for his own accomplishments on the playing fields and then, for his efforts as a driving force on the New Bedford School Committee for an incredible thirty-six-year period. As an athlete, the young Paul Walsh had an outstanding high school career.

championship that he played on was the classic 1941 basketball team that featured Hall of Fame members Ferdie Sowa, Stan Grabiec, and Al Palmieri. member of the basketball team and during his senior year (1942) was a starting guard.

The sport that he truly excelled in was football. He was a three-year varsity performer for the Crimson. First, as a quarterback where was named All Bristol County as a junior during the 1940 football season. His senior year saw Coach Win Dodge move this gifted athlete into the halfback position and the move paid huge dividends. Paul's exceptional running ability caught the Standard's eye as an article on the eve of the traditional Durfee Thanksgiving game said, "Paul Walsh is being compared to the great Crimson Express, Clarry Haskell". His play earned him all-state honors by both the Globe and Herald papers from Boston. This mystical season on the gridiron was capped with a undefeated season and Paul's second state championship team.

After high school, Paul attended Georgetown University. He would become the first freshman in the school's history to earn a varsity letter. His college career was interrupted due to World War Il but he returned after the completion of the war. One of his athletic highlights was when he was game captain in 1946 for the battle against Boston College. He received his BS from Georgetown and his Doctor of Dentistry Degree from Georgetown in 1950.

Dr. Walsh returned to the city that he loves and has as mentioned earlier served on the School Committee for 36 years. The school's football stadium is named after him. Today, the Whaler's" play the game that Dr. Walsh excelled in as Paul Walsh on Walsh Field. Dr. Walsh has two boys, Bill and Paul and two daughters, Anne and Alice. He has nine lovely grandchildren

Ferdie Sowa is a 1941 graduate of New Bedford High School. He was a three-sport standout for the Crimson who excelled in football, basketball and baseball. An outstanding student, he was the 1941 recipient of the James P. Murphy Memorial Award. This award is presented to the outstanding student athlete of the senior class who has excelled in the classroom, on the playing field and as a citizen during their years at New Bedford High School.

Playing in the early forties, Ferdie was coached by Hall of Fame member Win Dodge in all three sports that he played. He was a three-year varsity player who played forward on the hardwood. As captain in 1941, Ferdie led the Crimson to the first state title (called the MIT tournament at that time) in the school's basketball history. On the gridiron, he was an end, and he was an outfielder for the school's baseball team. He was hailed by Win Dodge as one of his all-time finest schoolboy athletes when Coach Dodge concluded his twenty-year coaching career at New Bedford High School.

Ferdie is a graduate of Providence College. He played both baseball and basketball while in college. His outstanding play and leadership earned him the role of captain on the basketball team. He would have been a three-sport star at Providence as well, but the outbreak of World War Il forced the school to drop the sport of football.

He is a graduate of Boston University Law School and was Acushnet's Town Counsel for thirty-three years. Ferdie is a member of the New Bedford Gridiron Hall of Fame and today, he enters the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Armand Cure was the 1938 James P. Murphy Memorial Award recipient. The Standard announced his selection by calling him "the outstanding athlete in the Class of 38". Outstanding he was, as this New Bedford High School graduate would ultimately take his athletic talents to both the NFL and the NBA!

Armand was a three-sport star who played three years of football and basketball as well as one year of baseball the graduated at mid-year in 1938 and thus could not play baseball in the spring).

He was an outstanding running back who captained the team that was coached by Hall of Fame member Win Dodge. Dodge called Cure one of his all-time best players as he reflected upon his twenty-year coaching career at New Bedford.

Collegiately, Armand attended Rhode Island State where he lettered in six different sports. He was a bruising fullback in football, a key component of legendary coach Frank Keaney's vaunted fast break offense in basketball, ran track (where the 203 pounder ran a 9.9 for 100 yards), played tennis, baseball and also boxed!

He put his athletic skills to good use during World War Il as he spent four and one-half year with the US Army Infantry in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. He was also stationed at Officer's Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia where taught hand-to-hand combat & judo.

With the war ending and college completed, Armand was able to embark on his professional career.

He played the first year that the NBA existed with the Providence Steamrollers. His NFL career saw him play for both the Los Angeles Dons and the Baltimore Colts. But at the ripe old age of twenty-seven, Armand felt that it was time to move forward with his future. That future saw him spend thirty-two years as a teacher in the Long Beach, CA area. Many of these years were spent teaching advanced mathematics. He also coached for twenty-four years. A good portion of this time was spent as the head football coach of Long Beach Poly High School.

Armand who found time to earn his Master's Degree from USC is a member of the New Bedford High School's Gridiron Hall of Fame as well as URI's Hall of Fame. He is retired and lives in Long Beach with his wife Helen. He has a daughter Holli and also has two grandchildren.

When people talk about the early football greats of New Bedford High School, they usually bring up the names of Bobby Watkins and "Clarry" Haskell.

But before Bobby was smashing into the line in the late forties and "Clarry" was slashing through the line in the early thirties, there was a diminutive halfback from the late twenties who put New Bedford High School football on the map. His name was David Wood Ritchie.

Dave Ritchie stood 5'7" Tall and weighed a scale-busting 135 pounds and most of that weight was probably the heart that beat within his chest.

Dave was on the football team from 1928 to 1930. He didn't play much during his first year on the team. It wasn't until his junior and senior years that he became a triple-threat halfback. So good did Dave become, that he scored 33 touchdowns in his career and in each of his last two years he gained well over 1000 yards. He was so incredible in his senior year that he was named to the All-State football team.

Dave was also an All-Bristol County catcher on the high school baseball team. His great play inspired his selection as captain of the 1929 Junior Legion baseball team from New Bedford that won the New England championship.

After graduating in 1931, Dave went to Worcester Academy and later to the University of Pennsylvania from which he graduated in 1936. He starred in football and baseball at both of these schools.

Dave Ritchie died in September 1999 just a few weeks after his beloved wife, Ida Corey Ritchie, passed away. He is survived 3 sons and his daughter who is married to Allen Todres. Sons Frank (Carole), Phil (Barbara), and Dave (Sharon) are married to their high school sweethearts.