Honoring Legendary Southwick Math Teacher and Coach, Mr. Atkinson
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| Richard Atkinson University of Massachusetts 1960 |
Mr. Atkinson also coached 14 Southwick High School advanced math students, who participated in the first Western Massachusetts Mathematics League competition on October 25, 1966.
Mr. Atkinson was vice president of the Western Massachusetts Track Association (1968). That same year he also took over the duties of putting out the Western Massachusetts track newsletter.
Mr. Atkinson and other area coaches volunteered their time in the winter to host youth track indoors at UMass in 1971. The Western Mass Indoor Schoolboy Track Championships were held on February 26, 1972. It was the third year of the informal program. The turnout was higher than expected, and Mr. Atkinson pushed for a formal program.
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| Math Teachers Mr. Atkinson (seated) with Mr. Hynek and Mr. Perry Southwick High 1969 |
Mr. Atkinson received the Coaches Award during the second annual Western Massachusetts Cross Country awards banquet on November 16, 1978.
Coach Atkinson, who led Southwick to 293 wins in outdoor track and cross-country over 23 seasons, was inducted into the Massachusetts Track Coaches Hall of Fame in March 1986. Under Coach Atkinson, Southwick's track program was one of the most successful.
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| Mr. Atkinson, Southwick High School 1966 |
Mr. Atkinson was raised in Revere, Massachusetts, by his parents, Joseph H. and Mary T. (Haumann). Joseph was born in Maine and was a chauffeur for many years. Joseph Henry Atkinson died on February 25, 1964. Mary was born in Massachusetts. She died on December 15, 1984. Joseph and Mary had seven children (listed oldest to youngest): Loretta A. (Hughes), Henry F., J. Paul (Joseph Paul)., Grace T. (Manfre), Barbara (Prochilo), Robert E., Richard G.
Mr. Atkinson received a diploma from Revere High School on June 14, 1951. He ran the Boston
Marathon in 1953. Mr. Atkinson took 3rd place in the open handicap two-mile run during the YMCA's 41st annual indoor games held January 12, 1957. He served as best man at the wedding of Anthony LaConti and Brenda Prive on July 26, 1959. In October of that same year, as captain of the cross-country team at the University of Massachusetts, Mr. Atkinson won a marathon in Springfield at Hampden Park. His winning time to complete the 4.6-mile race was 25 minutes, 55 seconds.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Atkinson was still married to the former Miss Rachel Gallant. Both attended the University of Massachusetts. The pair married in August 1960 in the Assumption Church at Green Harbor. Richard's brother Robert was his best man. The couple lived in Springfield before moving to Agawam.
Mr. Atkinson received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts in June 1961.
Mr. Atkinson was involved in a car accident on July 31, 1963. Leaving his Springfield residence, he crashed into the side of a station wagon while making a turn. Mr. Atkinson was not injured, but the other driver was treated and released at Wesson Hospital.
The Coach Richard Atkinson Track & Field Facility at Southwick officially opened in October 2014 due to a generous financial gift provided by Steven and Elizabeth Nielsen and funds from the Community Preservation Committee. Mr. Nielsen graduated from Southwick High School in 1981.
R.I.P. Mr. Atkinson - You were one of the greats!
Richard Gerald Atkinson: June 30, 1933 – September 13, 2021.
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| Richard Atkinson (seated 2nd from left) University of Massachusetts 1957 |