David Edward Redmond

VIDEO OF SPEECH: http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Senatedemsall&i...

ORDERS OF THE DAY

The Chair laid before the Senate the following Tabled and Today Assigned matter:

JOINT RESOLUTION - memorializing David Redmond, of Portland, longtime educator, sports coach, United States Army veteran and public servant.

                 SLS 8 

Tabled - January 3, 2007, by Senator HOBBINS of York

Pending - motion by same Senator to ADOPT

(In Senate January 3, 2007, on motion by Senator Hobbins of York, READ)

At the request of Senator HOBBINS of York, Joint Resolution READ.

THE PRESIDENT: The Chair recognizes the Senator from York, Senator Hobbins.

Senator HOBBINS: Thank you, Madame President and men and women of the Senate. I rise today in honor and respect for David Redmond who passed away at his home on November 25, 2006 surrounded by his family after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Portland in 1932 and was the third son of John Redmond and Mary Flaherty Redmond. He attended St. Dominic's Catholic Grammar School and graduated from Portland High School in 1951. He attended Portland Junior College, graduated in Aroostook County at the former Ricker College in 1958, and received his Masters Degree from the University of Southern Maine in 1968.

     As the resolution stated, he was a long and beloved football coach and he coached many sports throughout the years.  He taught and coached at St. Louis High School in Biddeford, but he is best known for his many wins in his years at Biddeford High School.  When he took over the Biddeford High School program, unfortunately for those who lived across the river, like myself, in Saco and attended Thornton Academy, he led Biddeford to two consecutive State Championships in 1965 and 1966 and was selected Maine Coach of the Year in 1966.  As President of the Class A Football Conference he established the first ever Maine Super Bowl.  The football conference he established was the first ever established and in the first game of that particular Super Bowl the Bangor High School team was the victims of a 20 - 0 victory by the Biddeford High School team.  He ended his football career with 25 consecutive wins.

He also had another life and that was that he went from the competitiveness of football to the competitiveness of the political arena. He was a skillful administrator and spent many years as the Chief of Staff of his lifelong friend Joe Brennan and served on the Executive Council. I was fortunate to have voted for him. He won by one vote and he always said he won by a landslide. He was always very appreciative that he knew who voted for him because he had a long political memory. He was a skillful administrator and was a very popular individual politically. He subsequently ran for Governor in 1986 and lost the Democratic Primary. He later served as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Joe Brennan in Washington when Governor Brennan served as a member of Congress.
Always the athlete, David continued to be a competitor, even into his 60's, winning several medals in the Senior Olympics. One honor that David was especially proud of was the dedication in 1997 of two youth league football fields in the city of Biddeford. To tell you a sidebar story, unfortunately the sign maker that was asked to make the sign for the Dave Redmond Field, his first draft of the sign was The Dave Redmond Memorial Field. He was reminded that Dave Redmond was well and alive. It was somewhat of a joke for many years.
He is survived for Joan Mitchell Redmond of Bonita Springs, Florida; his six children, Maureen, Michael, Kathleen, Colleen, Richie, and Arleen; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three brothers, John of Portland, Richard of Sidney, and Tom of Glendale, California; and many nephews and nieces. In fact some of them are familiar with all of us here. At the funeral that over 1,000 individuals attended to pay their respects at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland two prominent dignitaries and friend provided eloquent eulogies in honor of Dave. The first was done by his childhood friend and former Governor Brennan. The second eulogy was eloquently prepared and delivered by our Governor Baldacci. Governor Baldacci shared this Irish prayer with those who were there in honor of Dave and I'd like to share this Irish prayer with you. This is a quote from the Governor; 'There are wood ships, there are good ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships. May they always be.'
David will be sadly missed by all of us who have known him and this resolution is in his honor and I wish him peace. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: The Chair recognizes the Senator from York, Senator Sullivan.

Senator SULLIVAN: Thank you, Madame President. On behalf of Biddeford, we indeed did lose a true friend. Biddeford has been hit in 2006 with the loss of many people that have become institutions. Dave Redmond was just one. As you know, there was also Coach Landry. We lost a Kennebunk clerk. I need to tell you that Dave Redmond's legacy goes on through my constituent, his son, Michael who is also involved in sports and Biddeford education. He was a colleague of mine when I was teaching across the river in Biddeford. I well remember, as does the good Senator from York, Senator Hobbins, being the victim of Biddeford several times because, while I know this will be hard to believe, I'm a couple of years older than the Senator from York, Senator Hobbins. Dave Redmond's football team always seemed to do a good job on our football team. By a good job I mean that Thornton Academy always ended on the low side of the score. His legacy to the children of Biddeford as they became young adults is well known and he continues on through his son. He will be missed very much.

On motion by Senator HOBBINS of York, ADOPTED.

Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.

THE PRESIDENT: The Chair is pleased to recognize in the rear of the Chamber Barbie Redmond and Rick Redmond, David's niece and nephew. Would they please rise and receive the greetings of the Maine Senate.