as read by Mayo HS Activities Director Jeff Whitney
September 14, 2006, Mayo vs. Winona - football game, Mayo High School Field
Good Evening, I am Jeff Whitney, Activities Director of Mayo High School and at this time, I would like to take a brief moment to honor our former, longtime, head football coach, Ralph Pucci, who passed away last Saturday afternoon.
Tonight, I would like all of us to celebrate his memorable career. Let's all be thankful that Ralph Pucci was a teacher and a football coach. Ralph Pucci epitomized what we long for in the world of sports today. Ralph was a coach who maintained the highest level of sportsmanship and composure through the most intense competitions. He was a role model, mentor and most important, a teacher. I know I speak for many former and present Mayo High School student-athletes and staff when I say that our most meaningful life lessons were taught to us by teacher-coaches such as Ralph Pucci.
Today, our attempts to separate ourselves from the culture created by Pro and College sports are a daily challenge at the high school level. Unfortunately, many games are filled with taunting, fighting, questioning calls, and show boating. We can be proud that Coach Pucci instilled in so many of us the true spirit of high school activities, because he not only taught integrity and fair play, he lived it. I believe the great Knute Rockne, once said, "One man practicing sportsmanship is better than 50 preaching it."
Coach Pucci will always be a part of Mayo High School and most importantly our football program, for tonight his legacy lives through this current coaching staff; a staff he once mentored and trained and, most importantly, through the past and present student-athletes who have benefited or will benefit from his guiding principles as they are passed on for generations. The memory of Coach Pucci will always be present on this sideline.
At this time, Please take a moment of silence to honor Coach Ralph Pucci.
Ralph Pucci was a life-long coach and teacher. He was the head football coach at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota, from 1972 - 1993. He then served as an assistant coach under James Miller from 1994 - 1997, until retiring from teaching in 1998. Ralph Pucci was the consumate gentleman, always kind, positive and patient. His positive influence on the 1000s of lives he touched was demonstrated by the many donations the Pucci family received upon his passing in September 2006. With these financial gifts the Pucci family has established a scholorship fund. At the end of each school year at Mayo High School, a $1000 dollar scholarship will be awarded in Ralph's name to a senior football player who demonstrates good character, is in good academic standing, and plans to further their education in college or in the military.
The family would like to raise more money to establish a additional scholarships. Events such as a charity golf tournament will be held each summer in the Rochester area. If you would like to make donation to help the Pucci family reach this goal, please do so by clicking on one of the donation buttons below. Your gift in sincerely appreciated.
I promise, we just found a bunch from the 2007 golf classic!
Mayo establishes scholarship in honor of late coach
(Rochester Post-Bulletin, November 29, 2006)
The legacy of former Mayo football coach Ralph Pucci will be carried forward, thanks to the generosity of his family and other supporters.
Pucci, who died earlier this year, coached at Mayo for 26 years. His death, which came on a football field while coaching his grandson's youth team, stunned the football community. Pucci was 70.
To honor his memory, the Pucci family has established a scholarship that will be awarded every year to a Mayo football player.
The Ralph T. Pucci scholarship was announced publicly Monday night at Mayo's annual football banquet. Ralph's wife, Judy, and son, Tony, were on hand when Mayo coach James Miller made the announcement.
A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded at the school's spring awards banquet to a player who possesses the following qualities:
*-Must be a graduating senior in good academic standing.
*-Has a passion for football that is matched by compassion demonstrated for others.
*-Must be planning on post high school education or military service.
The family has encouraged activities to continue raising money for the fund. If enough money is raised, they will award two $1,000 scholarships.
- Charity CD to raise money to fight ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
Special offer!
Donate $25 to the "Songs for Jenny" Charity CD project and get Tony Pucci's CD "Unfolding" (now) and you're also reserved for a copy of "Songs for Jenny" once it is released!
- Charity CD to raise money to fight ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
