MAX W. READ

1982 INDUCTION TO THE HALL OF FAME

Max was a product of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  He graduated from Pennsylvania State Teachers College, majoring in Physical Education.  After college, Max started teaching in the Pawtucket School System in 1926, and became the Pawtucket High School Swimming Coach in1927, a position he held until retiring from coaching in 1960.  It is noted that the Pawtucket High School pool is listed as the oldest high school pool in the United States, and that Max was one of the first high school coaches in the country.  The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association honored Max upon his retirement in 1960, presenting him with a plaque for competing over 25 years of coaching on the high school level.  At that time Max was one of the few who qualified for this national award.  From his first year of coaching, Max established Pawtucket High School as one of the outstanding powers in Rhode Island and New England.  His team’s dominated high school swimming in Rhode Island in the 1930’s and 1940’s, winning 13 state titles and his 1952 Pawtucket High team won the New England title.  His teams won the Meehan Memorial Trophy, a meet which annually drew contestants from all sections of New England.  His Pawtucket team retired the “Bud Latham” trophy, after winning the award on three occasions.   In 1949, Max was named Director of Physical Education, but continued his coaching career until 1960, and for years, Max directed the Pawtucket YMCA Camp Westwood during the summer months.  Some of the outstanding swimmers produced by Max at Pawtucket High School include Jack Ryan, his brother Bill Ryan, Bill Sonner, Ralph and Hank Gossler, Joe Callery, his son Don Read, Ralph Briscoe, Dave McIntyre, Frank Merchel, Lou Brierly, Ray Mailhot, Frank Kouble,  Tom Gaughan, Milt Franklin, and Ellis Mayers.  One of the outstanding swim events each season, for Rhode Island High School swimmers, is the Max Read Memorial Meet.  Max died in 1967.