by Tom Newman
To the Editor,
What I remember most is what a great co-captain Chis Glass was on the MHS football team when I was a freshman in 1965. Along with a Peter Shompe, the two linemen made a great pair of captains and treated us all…even us lowly freshman… with a measure of kindness that was unexpected, and kept at bay some of the other players who were ready to give us the business!
Football is replete with tales of underclass men being given all kinds of grief by upperclassmen, but Chris and Shompe, to my recollection, would not allow it. We freshman were scared of these bigger and older guys and, while it is part of the acceptance ritual in football to be somewhat harassed—the way I remember it—it wasn’t that bad at all with Chris and Peter as captains!
As I recall both guys played the line and were tenacious! I don’t remember how good the team did in 1965, but remember Manchester was a small school compared to most other schools in the Cape Ann League. But I believe we held our own! Coach Fields demanded it, and we did not want to disappoint him! He demanded nothing less than 100% effort, or else!
I also remember seeing Chris drive thru town on his Vespa on several occasions in the summertime, and he seemed so cool, and so carefree, having fun and boy didn’t I wish I had a Vespa!
Ricky Glass, his younger brother was an outstanding running back the next year, with Blazing speed and was as kind and considerate as his bother was!
Their younger sister, Wendy, who was in my class of 1969 was just the same and a terrific athlete as well!
So here’s to the Glass family! I’m glad I went to school with them all!
Tom Newman
Charlottesville, VA
