SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Richard "Dick" Curtis '46
Dick Curtis has not lived in Sidney for many years. Yet in terms of the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame, he's never left.
If you are a regular at these Hall of Fame festivities, you'll recall it was Dick who stood in for Willard "Hummy" Hulbert in 2004, accepting the induction plaque for his teammate who was the first athlete voted in by the HOF committee. And while he spoke so well in behalf of Hummy, it was none other than Fran Redmond (HOF '03) who mentioned how Dick Curtis was "the toughest ballplayer I ever played against" during Red's days as a Walton schoolboy.
This time Dick Curtis returns to accept a similar honor for himself. This time we get to know Dick for what he brought to Sidney sports and how he carried on the ideals of his mentor and former coach - and 2005 inductee - Harry DeBloom after his high school days were over.
Dick's varsity career spanned four sports over three full years: football, basketball, baseball and track. Remember, boys could participate in track and baseball in the same season back then. Also, each sport was headed by Coach DeBloom.
From the gridiron, Dick played two years of six-man ball and a season of eleven-man. Sidney teams went 13-6-1 during that time, with the 1943 squad going 7-0 featuring four shutouts. He rattled off the names of his offensive teammates: Myron Barnard, Kaye Felix, Al Bagnall, Bob Bennett and Gerard McGinnis. And while he played center on the 6-man team, he switched to quarterback for the full 11-man offense! His role of the defensive line with the smaller unit changed to a defensive back in the larger alignment.
Basketball was Dick's chance to play great defense and not worry about shooting the ball. Their championship season of 1944-45 was highlighted by the title game played in Afton versus Bainbridge. Sidney changed strategy (high scorer Hummy Hulbert never shot but instead passed to a wide open Curtis for some easy baskets) and was up at the half 29-2. Dick recalls in the locker room how he confessed to Coach DeBloom that it was he who allowed his man to score - though they were the ONLY points scored by the opposition in the entire half! He thinks the coach was kidding.
The baseball/track combination worked for most of the three years. Dick was the second baseman on the diamond and ran the 100 yard dash and did the high jump in track. He went undefeated in the 100 all the way up to his senior season. Then one day a Windsor player slid hard into him at second base, tearing up his leg. The track championships were the very next day which gave his leg no time to heal. Needless to say the streak was over. But his athletic exploits did not end at Sidney.
For the next four years Dick ran track for Ithaca College while preparing for a career in Physical Education. Besides the 220-yard low hurdles he did the high jump. His one and only victory came against Cortland when his opponent passed all heights until 5'10". Dick had cleared all of the heights before that. So when it came time for his opponent to jump - he missed on all three attempts! Dick had won!
In 1952, family friend and School Board member Clyde O'Connell helped Dick land a teaching and coaching position at the Unadilla Central School. He stayed there, coaching all sports like Harry DeBloom, until 1955 when he moved to Groton. In a small four-team league, Groton's basketball team won six straight titles led by Coach Curtis. His team also played the Ernie Davis-led Elmira Free Academy team during EFA's 54-game winning streak (they lost). His hoops team went 125-25 and he also coached track.
After coaching and teaching at Waverly for three years, Dick moved again. This time he found Williamsville High, near Buffalo. He stayed there as Athletic Director from 1964-85, coaching only cross country and, for a short time, girls basketball. His girls won a championship in the late 1960's!
Dick Curtis readily admits that the influence of Coach DeBloom played a part in his becoming a teacher, coach and athletic director. Perhaps he in turn became the inspiration for his former ballplayers along the way.
The honor of being selected and inducted into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame serves as proof that even though he went other places to help others strive for athletic excellence, it started for him right here. Congratulations, Dick! Welcome Bonnie to the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame!