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We read of the passing of H. Reed Morse this past week in the online version of the Sun-Chronicle. In the brief published piece, many of Morse’s contributions to the town, and to the country, were mentioned. There is one further contribution to North Attleboro that we would like to point out.

Reed Morse was a fine track athlete, well-known for his sprinting talents in the early-to-mid 1930s. He held a field house record at Tufts University that stood for at least 30 years- well into the 1960s. As was mentioned in the Sun-Chronicle, Morse lost the full use of one leg during World War II, but he never lost his love for the sport of track and field.

In 1958, Morse was a major motivating force behind the founding of North Attleboro High School’s Track and Field team when he laid out a practice track on Rose Field near what is now the Community School, but was then the High School. From the team’s inception until at least 1970, Morse was a dedicated volunteer typically showing up five days a week to work with NAHS’s young men. His knowledge of the sport, skill in coaching, and dedication to the youth of North Attleboro was striking. During the 1960s, while serving on the Board of Selectmen, Morse again championed the sport in North Attleboro and was largely responsible getting the financial allocations for the first real track built on Rose Field.

Recently, one of us was privileged to view a scrapbook put together by Morse, currently in the possession of the current girl’s track coach at NAHS, showing the results of many meets on the early years of the sport in North Attleboro. Again, Morse’s love of the sport, and of North Attleboro and its youth, was evident.

H. Reed Morse- a dedicated citizen of North Attleboro and champion of its youth as well as a servant of his country in time of war- will be sorely missed.

P. Barry Ryan, NAHS 1970, Decatur, Georgia
Bruce Brockway, NAHS 1962, Track Team Captain, Old Town, Maine
J. Bruce Ryan, NAHS 1962, Atlanta, Georgia