[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BILL TIGHE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2010

  Mr. MARKEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 
coaching career of Mr. Bill Tighe. Coach Tighe is the oldest active 
high school head football coach in the country at age 86. He will 
conclude his 52nd year as a head coach when his Lexington High School 
squad meets their rival Burlington High School on Thanksgiving morning.
  Coach Tighe was a standout three-sport athlete at Ashland High 
School, and upon graduation he served in the United States Air Force 
for three years as a P-38 crew chief during World War II. After 
completing his service to our nation, he attended Boston University 
where he starred for the Terrier football and baseball teams. Known as 
a selfless teammate with a tireless work ethic, Bill Tighe, the 
incredible athlete was destined to be Bill Tighe, the legendary coach.
  Madam Speaker, Bill began his remarkable career at Wakefield High 
School in 1949 as an assistant football coach and was elevated to head 
coach in 1957. During his 52 years as head football coach at Wakefield 
High School, Malden High School and Lexington High School, Bill won 9 
league championships and amassed an overall record of 268 wins, 232 
losses and 13 ties. Bill's commitment to excellence is well known 
throughout Massachusetts and New England, and he has been inducted into 
the Wakefield High School, Malden High School, Lexington High School, 
Boston University, Massachusetts Football Coaches and National 
Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association Halls of Fame.
  Bill Tighe's success on the football field is surpassed only by the 
enormous impact he has had on his players' lives off the football 
field. Coach Tighe taught all the young athletes under his tutelage the 
importance of sacrifice, discipline and commitment. Coach Tighe also 
stressed the importance of academic achievement and the value of a 
strong education. He is credited with helping thousands of young 
scholar athletes continue their education in college.
  Madam Speaker, on Thanksgiving morning Bill Tighe will be surrounded 
by family, friends, professional colleagues and former student athletes 
in order to celebrate his legendary coaching career. I join them in 
thanking Coach Tighe for the amazing contributions he has made to the 
Towns of Wakefield and Lexington, the City of Malden, the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts and the United States of America.

                          ____________________