| January 5th, 2010 Introductory Remarks of Ted Gatsas by Edward Wade, Jr. Biography: Edward J. Wade, Jr. taught history at Manchester Central High School from 1965 – 1978 and during that time coached the boy’s Varsity Basketball team. He then served as the City Athletic Director from 1978 – 1985 and ended his career as the Principal of the Middle School at Parkside from 1985 – 2000. Good Morning, Governor Lynch, Mayor Gatsas, former Mayors Guinta, Wieczorek, Baines, Beaulieau and Dupuis, current and former members of both the school and aldermanic boards, honored dignitaries, invited guests, friends, and relatives. It is both an honor and a privilege for me introduce our new Mayor, Ted Gatsas today - my former ballplayer, Central student, State Senator, Alderman, and the loving son of my former athletic secretary, Pauline. [I will now also pledge not to tell, listen, or laugh at any political jokes until I exit this building after the ceremony and am carefully out of earshot of all present in the august body.] I was totally unprepared for this honor when Ted called my home and asked me to introduce him at the Inauguration Ceremony. It has been 10 years since I retired from education - the last position I held was as the Principal of the Middle School at Parkside. I agreed to speak today ONLY because of my long standing respect and support of Ted. Quite honestly, I enjoy my privacy at this stage of my life, and I am here because of my deep respect and feelings for Ted and the Gatsas family. For years as Ted has pursued his political ambitions I have asked myself several questions. Why would a successful businessman of independent means now want to lead a city in such difficult economic times? Why wouldn't Ted just put his feet up and relax? Why not just take advantage of enjoying your residence at the seashore and walk the beach? Why not spend time with your family? Or why not enjoy eating a hot dog outside on a bench at Cremeland and not worry about people interrupting your lunch with political questions? The answer to these questions comes with an understanding of when and where his sense of passion, drive, and integrity was molded. My goal this morning is to introduce Ted to you through the eyes of a former coach and teacher at the school he attended. My career at Central began in 1965 after two years of viewing the world from the turret of an Army tank overseas, and it was at Central that I first observed and had the pleasure to meet Ted. To paraphrase the noted novelist, Pearl S. Buck, "One faces the future with an understanding of one's past." And Ted's past has had much to do with what he is today. Ted is a product of two wonderful, and devoted parents: parents who were there rain or shine at every game that Ted and, his brother, Michael played. His parents sitting in the bleachers at the Central gym and Gill Stadium was a constant at all of the Gatsas' boys games; and Ted's constant was how he excelled in those games in all three sports. To put it in coaching terms, "Ted came to play game in and game out with a willingness to compete that coaches love. However, his greatest strength was how he placed the team's goals above his outstanding and natural athletic talent. He was a coach's dream. And now, over forty years later, I am standing here with high hopes for this city and with the confidence that Ted will apply his abilities to benefit the greater good of the city. Manchester has grown and progressed over these years, but we still have a ways to go. It always pleases me to hear Ted's praise of the quality of education he received at Central during his high school days. However, it should also be noted that the quality of education during that time was being delivered by a long list of dedicated and devoted teachers throughout the city, including my father, who worked for years with limited resources, limited materials, and minimal funding at best. Also, there were few, if any, female athletic teams in 1965, and it would be at least a decade before there would be equal opportunities for our female athletes. And sadly, it was also a time when many of our special needs students and their teachers were grouped together, taken out of the mainstream of our student population, and relegated to antiquated, underutilized, and neglected buildings in the city. A sort of "out of sight, out of mind" solution to these students in need. While there has been a great deal of progress in all areas of the city since that time, there is still a lot of room for improvement in order to rekindle feelings of trust and purpose as evidenced by the annual public budgetary hearings. These public hearings have become figurative battlegrounds involving citizens and elected officials over sufficient funding. Ted's political experience, business acumen, and compassion are characteristics which will mitigate these feelings of rancor and mistrust. One of the many reasons I cast my ballot for Ted was because I knew, if he were elected, that the budgetary process would include reasonable requests, adequate funding, and responsible spending. The voters in this city must have felt the same way since they voted loud and clear, in all wards, for the person they want to lead them through these tough times. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor, to be the first, to introduce our new Mayor, my former ballplayer, and now my dear friend: Ted Gatsas. Back To News |
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Paid for by Ted Gatsas for Mayor. B. Rivard, Fiscal Agent PO Box 6655, Manchester, NH 03108 603.623.0220
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