THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND better known as
“THE CHIEF”
Part 1
Those of you who have been his closest friends are probably aware of some of the experiences he’s had in life, but I don’t think you know his whole story.
As has been the case with each of the people I’ve written about under the title of “WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” or “SPOTLIGHT ON…” for Editor Carol Robidoux’s Manchester Ink Link newspaper, I knew the subject of this story would be interesting.
I just didn’t realize how interesting Ray’s life has been – and has it ever.
To understand more fully, read on.
THE EARLY YEARS
Ray Valliere Sr. was born in Berlin, NH, the only child of Gerald and Doris Valliere. After he graduated from St. Mary’s Grammar School in 1947, the family moved to Newmarket, NH, so his father could be closer to his new job at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Ray’s parents wanted him to continue his Catholic education, but there was no parochial high school on the Seacoast. To resolve the dilemma, he enrolled at the closest one, Manchester’s St. Joseph’s High School for Boys (now Trinity) and began the daily commute to St. Joseph’s Grammar School located on the corner of Pine and Bridge Streets where classes were held for the freshmen. (Sophomores, juniors, and seniors attended the “other” St. Joe’s located on Lowell Street across from the Red Arrow Restaurant.) His daily commute continued for a month and a half until the family purchased a home on Beech Street in the Queen City.
It was during his first day at St. Joe’s that Ray would meet another member of the freshman class, one who would become his teammate, his workmate, his military buddy, a fellow coach, a fellow umpire, his best man (twice), and, most importantly, his best friend, Fred Jasinski.
HIS PLAYING DAYS
Back in the ’40’s, there was no Little League baseball or Pop Warner football so Ray spent his time as a youngster at a variety of fields playing with athletes whose ages ranged anywhere from 16 to the 40’s and 50’s. You read that right – he played with other athletes who were 30 or more years OLDER than he was and, not surprisingly, he was OK with that.
Games were played on Saturdays, mostly at Bakersville, but before Ray could join his teammates, his Dad had instructed that a very important chore – washing all the floors in each room of the family apartment…had to be completed BEFORE any baseball was played. To be sure he’d get in a full day of playing the sport he loved the most, Ray often did the floors on Friday evenings.
As intimidating as it may seem, playing with and against athletes twice his age (or more), Ray thrived on it, saying “You knew your place. You listened to them and took their advice because they had played many years of baseball than you had. We learned a lot from those guys.”
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
While at St. Joe’s, Ray played all three major sports lettering in baseball, basketball, and football.
With Fall came football season and Ray was a two-way half-back, meaning he played both offense AND defense – for coach Ed McGee. It was here that he was first influenced by a coach who stressed discipline, a trait that would prove to be extremely important to him as the years passed.
Playing football also provided him with his most embarrassing experience while playing a sport. Ray explained it this way.
“Other than sandlot, I had never played football before and that included never having worn the equipment, particularly hip pads. Teammate Ben Roy had been sitting there with a huge smile on his face as he watched me struggle to figure out how to put them on. Finally, while trying not to laugh, he said ‘Ray, it’s not a jock! They protect your hips, not your front.’ ”
Though there were several teams he liked playing against, the team he looked forward to was the local powerhouse. Manchester Central High.
With Winter came basketball season where Ray teammed up with Sonny Healy at the guard positions. This also was the first time that Ray experienced a little “media notoriety” when he heard his coach, John “Doodie” Healy, refer to him as a “highly promising guard”. Ray’s reaction? “I had never heard a coach mention my name publicly before. Having a highly regarded coach refer to me as ‘promising’ meant that he must think I’m a pretty good basketball player…and that really impacted me.”
He loved playing for coach Healy and was his choice as his most influential mentor. As Ray described him…“He wasn’t just my coach, he was also like a father-figure. Very religious and very concerned about every day life. He was a great role model not only for me, but also for our entire team.”
The team he most enjoyed playing against? Again, Central High.
Spring meant baseball season was finally here…and the chance to play his favorite sport under the tutilege of another infamous coach, Ray Dobens, and alongside such stalwarts as Ben Roy and Willy Shea (yes, the former principal and present Manchester Ward 7 Alderman).
While his favorite opponent remained Central High, this time he included a favorite opposing player, now a Manchester athletic icon, Nick Gabardina. “Nick was a really good athlete. one of the best around…and he was a great pitcher for the Little Green and for Post 79. High school games used to draw around 2000 fans for a regular season game and you just don’t see that today.”
Once the school year was over, he continued playing organized baseball during the summers as a member of Henry J. Sweeney Post #2 American Legion under the guidance of legendary head coach, John “Jumbo” Riley.
Becoming a member of Sweeney was no easy feat and the majority of those trying out for the ball club…even the really good ones…were never quite sure they’d make it.
And that included one Raymond Valliere Sr.
He related his personal experience as follows: “Tryouts were held on Saturday at Gill Stadium and it wasn’t unusual to have 80 or more guys vying for a position on what many considered to be the best Legion club in the state. I watched other really good players and wondered if I had the stuff to make it and it was during the tryout when Post Athletic Director Wally Cronin walked up to me and wanted to see my glove.
After looking at it for a few minutes he asked where I got the rag and I told him I’d had it for years…ever since grammar school. He looked at it again then told me to go to Lynch’s Sporting Goods store on Elm Street and pick out a new glove, two bats, and a pair of spikes and sign for them before I left.
I stood there a little over-whelmed then told him that I didn’t have the money to buy a glove, never mind two bats and cleats to which he answered…’Who said anything about paying for them? All I asked you to do was sign for them.’
Still not getting it, I said ‘But Mr. Cronin, Coach Riley hasn’t made cuts yet so I don’t know if I’ve even made the team!’ ”
He turned and looked at me, not saying a word because the expression on his face said it all for him. It went something like this – ‘Come on, son, you can’t be that dim-witted.’
It was then that I finally realized that I was a member of the Sweeney Post baseball team!”
For the next three years he became a fixture first playing second base, then moving to shortstop and finally to left field.
Because of his leadership skills and the effort he displayed, and especially because he knew the rules inside & out (which earned him the title of “clubhouse lawyer”, he was named team captain for his last two years.
Asked what he learned most from playing sports, Ray answered “Discipline, dedication, and the love of the sport – particularly baseball.”
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
Ray was a member of the last class to graduate from St. Joseph’s School for Boys. In the fall of 1951, Bishop Bradley High School opened its doors, but, again, was only for boys. St. Joseph’s School for Girls would soon become Immaculata and then merge with Bradley to become Trinity High, a coed high school.
The popular line “Join the Navy and see the world.” enticed Ray and best friend, Fred, enough to enlist in the Reserves while still in high school. Upon graduation, they began what they believed would be a life-long career in the United States Navy. However, after completing three years of service during the Korean War and, after never seeing “the world” as the commercial had “promised”, they left the military.
With their commitment to the Navy now over, Ray and Fred decided to embark on a new career as CPA’s. They enrolled at New Hampshire College (now SNHU) where they each earned Bachelor of Science degrees. Ray then continued his education at UNH in Durham where he obtained a Masters Degree in Human Services. and started working at International Paper Company, where he would remain for the next 11 years.
It should be noted here that while still in the Navy, Ray played basketball in neighboring Massachusetts. The Fargo Building, a double Quonset hut, permitted two teams to practice at the same time. One club was the one he and his Navy teammates played on while the other court was used by none other than the Boston Celtics thus giving him the opportunity to both meet and scrimmage against some of professional basketball’s elite players.
It should also be noted that his best friend, Fred, was a fellow employee at IPC (in fact, it was Ray who got him the job there!)
His next place of employment was the Union Leader where he worked as a sportswriter for the next 14 years. He would have remained there longer, but his doctor told him that the stress he was experiencing was extreme and to continue in that capacity could cost him his life.
As a result, Ray left the paper and accepted a job with Manchester’s Office of Youth Services where he would remain for the next 17 years.
HIS COACHING DAYS
In 1952, 22 year old Ray began coaching as a member of the staff of John “Jumbo” Reilly and Jimmy Triantafillou at Henry J. Sweeney Post #2. His reason? They were so good to me when I played for them, I wanted to give something back and figured that helping out as a coach would be the best way to do that.
It was during that 12 year coaching stint that Ray played a definite part in Sweeney’s success helping them win district titles as well as a trip to the American Legion World Series.
During those coaching years, Ray also took on the responsibility of serving as the Post’s Athletic Director from 1956 to 1965, a position he held until turning it over to the legendary George Smith.
A PROLIFIC CAREER IN UMPIRING
Believe it or not, to help relieve his job stress, he began a another “career” – one in, of all job choices, UMPIRING!
It all started one night at Gill stadium where he was watching an American Legion game. Guy Lavallierre (Mike’s father) and the manager of Jutras Post saw him in the stands and, needing another umpire, he asked Ray to work the bases.
“You’ve been a clubhouse lawyer all your life, Ray. And you’ve certainly been arguing with umpires. Don’t worry, you’ll be all right.”
And from there, things just mushroomed.
Starting in the youth leagues, Ray climbed the officiating ladder, eventually umpiring in the world amateur championships. And in 1987, he was named USA Baseball Umpire of the Year,
In 1971, he joined the New Hampshire Baseball Umpires Association (NHBUA) and continued working until 1996 after completing a stint at the Atlanta Olympics.
In 1978, he joined the New Hampshire Softball Association (NHSUA) working until 2000. From 1978 to 1985, he served as the association’s interpreter and apprentice chairman and in 2002, the NHSUA rewarded his efforts by electing him to their Hall of Fame and making him an honorary lifetime member.
Following his retirement from the field, from 2006 to 2012, he involved himself in the development of the current NHSUA evaluation system and currently works with new umpires on a one-on-one basis.
NEW HAMPHIRE BASEBALL UMPIRES ASSOCIATION (NHBUA):
- 1971-1996 – member of the association until after the Atlanta Olympics in 1996
- NEW HAMPSHIRE SOFTBALL UMPIRES ASSOCIATION (NHSUA):
- 1978-2000 – member of the association
- 1978-1985 – worked as interpreter and apprentice chairman
- 2002 – inducted into the Hall of Fame – made honorary life-time member
- 2006-2012 – involved in developing the current NHSUA evaluation system – currently working with new umpires on a one-on-one basis
NOTE: In both NHBUA and NHSUA tournaments, Ray had the distinction of working the plate in each of the four divisional baseball and softball championship games – the only official to ever have that distinction.
NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION:
- – honored as recipient of the Richard Clarke Outstanding Umpire Award
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) BASEBALL:
- 1982-1996 – Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) under director Richard Case – upon retiring, he turned the direction over to Duane Welch
- 1987 – selected as Umpire of the Year
INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (IBA):
- 1992-1997 – served as UIC under President Aldo Notari (Palma, Italy) – took over from Tom Ravashiere (Toledo, Ohio)
BABE RUTH BASEBALL:
- 1984 – UIC – Babe Ruth World Series (15 year olds) – Jamestown, NY – after working the Babe Ruth World Series, the Junior Olympics in Baton Rouge and the Junior Olympics in Houston and three American Legion Regionals, Ray was named the “USA Baseball Umpire of the Year” and was ranked in the top 10 amateur umpires in the entire country.
- 1988 – worked regional tournament in Manchester, NH
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS:
NOTE: The designated UIC is the title of the person who is in charge of assigning the umpires to their games and handles all matters pertaining to the crew during each event. All expenses of the events that the umpires are selected for (air fare, housing, local travel, sight-seeing tours and any other benefits believed to be necessary) are covered by the sponsoring countries. A small honorarium is paid for their efforts during the events.
1984 – UIC – Junior Olympic Festival @ LSU in Baton Rouge, LA
- Ray was recommended by the National Federation of High Schools
- 1985 – UIC – Junior Olympic Festival @ Houston, TX
- 1989 – UIC – Copabe Championships @ Londina, Brazil
- 1990 – UIC – Goodwill Games @ Seattle, WA – Jim Fletcher of Derry also worked this event 1991 – Pre-Olympic Championships @ Barcelona, Spain – Mike Hodgdon of Goffstown also worked this event
- 1992 – Selected to work the Olympics @ Barcelona, but couldn’t due to open heart surgery 1993 – As UIC of the IBA, Ray attended the IOC conference in Lausanne, Switzerland (met NY Yankee owner George Steinbrenner there) – while there, he was asked to revise and update the four-man field mechanics manual
- 1994 – while in Hiroshima City, Japan, he operated clinics and completed evaluations of Japanese umpires
- 1994 – UIC – World University Games played @ Bison Stadium & Niagara Fall, NY and Sal “The Barber” Maglie Stadium – Jim Fletcher of Derry also worked this event
- 1994 – UIC – Pan American Games @ Chicago, IL – Chris Larose, Tom Ebol, & Fred Jasinski also worked this evet
- 1995 – UIC – World Championship Games @ Havana, Cuba (met Fidel Castro)
- 1995 – completed evaluations of umpires from the Canadian Association @ Brandon, Manitoba – assisted by Duane Welch
- 1996 – UIC – Olympics @ Atlanta, GA – Mike Hodgdon also worked this event – Jim Fletcher was selected as an alternate
- 1996 – UIC – Pan American Games @ St. Louis, MO – Lee Charbonneau, Peter Perich, Don Menswar, and Dan Dresher also worked this event
It was in 1996, that Raymond Valliere Sr’s career as New Hampshire’s most successful baseball umpire involved in Amateur Baseball came to an end. Understanding that he had reached its pinnacle, he stepped down as an active participant in umpiring his favorite sport, baseball, but decided to continue umpiring softball.
Part 2 Coming tomorrow
Ted Menswar Jr. is a life-long resident of the Queen City and a retired member of the English Department of Memorial High School who has been involved in local sports for 70 years as a player, a coach, a mentor and a fan. He can be reached at tedmenswar@outlook.com