HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 Coach Bill Tighe's 95th Birthday Proclamation i�
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OFFICE OF SELECTMEN
PROCLAMATION`
Whereas: William "Coach" Tighe was born on June 21, 1924 and grew up in Ashland,
Massachusetts, where he was a three-sport all scholastic standout. Following graduation
in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps as a P-38 fighter pilot and crew
chief serving in New Guinea, Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, and Korea during WWII from
1943 through 1946; and
Whereas: upon Coach's return he was accepted at Boston University, where he picked up his
athletic career and became a two-sport Hall of Fame inductee for baseball and football.
Coach was also selected for the Post War All-Star gridiron team in 1964; and
Whereas: after graduating Boston University in 1949, Coach played professional baseball for St.
Johnsbury in Vermont in the Northern League. Coach also got offers to play baseball for
the Philadelphia Phillies and football for the Yankees in the short-lived All American
Football League. Coach turned down the offers to pursue a career in teaching; and
Whereas: Coach was married for 57 years to his late wife Mary. They had six children. He lost two
sons to cystic fibrosis as children. He has nine grandchildren, and four great-
grandchildren; and
Whereas: having coached for over 62 years, Coach had a spectacular career with 53 years as a head
coach. He coached in 514 games including: seven years in Wakefield, Massachusetts
with a record of 44-14-2 including a State Championship in 1962; Coach was invited to
the White House by President Kennedy, where they swapped autographed footballs;
Coach served nine years in Malden, Massachusetts with a record of 39-37-2 and two
Greater Boston League Championships; and Coach also served 36 years in Lexington,
Massachusetts with a record of 186-181-9 that included three Middlesex League
Championships and one Super Bowl appearance; and
Whereas: Coach has been recognized over the years with many awards and honors including being
inducted into: the Massachusetts Football Coaches Hall of Fame; the National Federation
of High School Coaches Hall of Fame; the Lexington High School Hall of Fame as a
Head Coach; the Lexington High School Hall of Fame with the 1980 and 1984 teams; the
Wakefield, Massachusets Hall of Fame as a Head Coach; the Malden, Massachusetts Hall
of Fame as a Head Coach; the Boston University Hall of Fame as a football player; the
Boston University Hall of Fame as baseball player; he served as the Memorial Day
Parade Grand Marshal in Lexington, Masssachusetts in 2016 and served as the Patriots'
Day Afternoon Parade Grand Marshal in Lexington,Massachusetts in 2017; and
Whereas: when Coach retired in 2010, he was the oldest active High School Athletic Coach in the
United States of America at 86 years young.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN of the Town of Lexington,
Massachusetts, do hereby recognize:
William "Coach" Tighe
on the occasion of his Ninety-Fifth birthday on June 21, 2019, and thank him for his many years of
service, not only to students of the Lexington Public Schools and the greater Lexington Community, but
to all people whose lives he has touched.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands and caused the seal of Lexington to be affixed
herewith on the 3rd day of June.
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DOUGLAS M.LUCENTE,CHAIRMAN JO H N.P TO
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SUZANNE E.OARRY JIL I.HAI
MARK D.SANDEEN