SPORTS HALL of FAME COACH
Fran Redmond

Francis L. Redmond, known by many Sidney High School graduates simply as "Coach", is being honored tonight for his 31 years of service to the Sidney Central School System, its athletic program and especially, its students.

Fran began his athletic career playing high school sports in Walton, NY and continued as a standout football player at Cortland State. He offended Cortland on the G.I. Bill following his service in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe. Fran graduated from Cortland in 1948. The following school year he began his career in the Sidney Central School system. He taught Physical Education for grades 7-12, Health Education for the 10th grade, coached football, basketball and track. He also started and coached the wrestling program. Throughout his career he served as the district's Athletic Director, In his last seven years at Sidney he served as both Assistant Principal as well as Athletic Director.

During his tenure in the Sidney School District, he was involved in many organizations that supported and promoted student athletics. He served as the Athletic Secretary for the Susquenango League for 20 years. He was the Susquenango representative to Section IV for 20 years and President of Section IV Athletics for three years. Fran was one of only two people who served as President for three years.

For 18 years, he served as Director of the Sidney Summer Recreation Commission programs. His duties included overseeing the safe operation of the pool, playgrounds and baseball leagues. In 1968, the Governor appointed Fran to develop and direct five summer camps from Buffalo to Albany. This was under the New York State Division for Youth Satellite Program. It was designed to provide an outdoor experience for economically disadvantaged, inner city youth.

Recognizing the successful Physical Education and Athletic Program at Sidney, Cortland State University placed more than 200 student teachers in Sidney under his supervision. He was also a visiting teacher to the university in its student teaching program.

In the community, Fran was a long-time member of the Sidney Emergency Squad, served on the Board of Trustees of The Hospital in Sidney and served on the Advisory Board for the New York State Division for Youth at Camp Brace.

In recognition of his many achievements and his service to young people, Fran has received many awards. In 1979, he received the Citizen of the Years Award from the Sidney Chamber of Commerce. In 1980, he was elected to the Section IV Hall of Fame. In 1982, he was inducted into the Cortland State "C" Club Hall of Fame.

Since retiring in 1979, Fran has enjoyed family activities, duck decoy carving, traveling and the outdoors. Fran lives in Sidney with his wife of 54 years, Bertha. His children are Tom and wife, Sherry, from Sidney; Jerry and wife, Jane, from Cincinnati; Carole and husband, Tom, from Greene; and Cassie and husband, Mike, from Germantown, Maryland. He also enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren: Corey, Brennan, Kelsey, Paige, Lindsay and Sydney.

Fran is a man who has given to his country and community in his own unique way throughout his life. It is for this contribution that he is so deeply respected and loved. As testimony to his success, many of Fran's students have become his lifelong friends. Many of those friends and his family are here tonight to honor his accomplishments.