A Resolution In Recognition of Timothy Morris's Two Hundredth Win as the Head Coach of the Melrose High School Football Program

Transcript (~8 min @ 24:22)

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▶ 24:13 Leila Migliorelli: Nope. Okay. All right. Seeing no objections, I will motion by Nana's consent to close public comment. Public comment is now closed since we have a very full house tonight, I am gonna entertain a motion to move, um, order 2025 dash four, the resolution out of order. So Moved. So Second. Um, motion to move order. 2025 dash four made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Firo on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Uh, any injections? No. Okay. Um, we will now take order 2025 dash four in this, um, resolution, recognition of Timothy Morris's 200th win as head coach of the Mallor High School football program was sponsored by, uh, counselor at large Hamilton Ward. Six, counselor Ro and Ward four Counselor Repe. Counselor Hamilton, I'll turn it to you.

▶ 25:10 Ward Hamilton: Thank you Madam President. I would request immediate consideration. Thank

▶ 25:18 Leila Migliorelli: Yes. Seeing no objections. Floor is yours.

▶ 25:23 Ward Hamilton: Thank you. A resolution and recognition of Timothy Morris's 200th win As the head coach of the Mars High School Football Program, this resolution is offered by myself, council Ward Hamilton at large, counselor Mark Repe, ward four, and Counselor Karo Ward six. Whereas the Melrose City Council recognizes that participation in athletics and the public schools promotes the development of student athletes by instilling the qualities of good character, discipline, integrity, and teamwork. And whereas Timothy Morris has taught and coached thousands of Melrose Public School students in football, wrestling, and track since 1983, becoming head coach of the Melrose High School football program in 1994. And whereas Timothy Morris has been recognized with many prestigious honors and awards over the years, including the Boston Globe Coach of the Year in 1998, Middlesex League Coach of the Year in 19 98, 19 99, 2004, and 2007, named Patriots Coach of the Week in 1999, 2004, 2007 in 2017, named Coach of the Shriners All Star Classic four times. And in 2019 was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and or the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association named Timothy Morris, the coach of the year in 2017, an award that recognizes and honors teacher coaches who have had an impact on the lives of student athletes by encouraging them to succeed and by helping them develop self-confidence, ambition, a sound work ethic, and other skills and values necessary for success in their later lives. As well as a record of encouraging student athletes to be well-rounded by displaying excellence in the areas of scholarship and citizenship, and a reputation among their peers in the broader athletic community for fair play, good sportsmanship, and the development of these attributes and their student athletes. And whereas on September 27th, 2024, Timothy Morris achieved his 200th win as the head coach of the Mar High School football program with a 34 to 27 victory over swamp Scott High School. And now therefore be it resolved that we, the Merose City Council congratulate Timothy Morris on the occasion of his 200th win as the head coach of the Morris High School football program, making him the only coach to mark such an achievement in the program's esteemed 142 year history and be it further resolved that we, the Melrose City Council, recognize and commend Timothy Morris for his lifetime of service to the youth of the city of Melrose as a teacher coach who has had a positive impact on the lives of student, thousands of student athletes on this 21st day of October, 2024, attest members of the Melrose City Council. Thank you.

▶ 28:50 Leila Migliorelli: Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. Um, Councillor Hamilton, do you have anything else before we, uh, motion to recess?

▶ 28:56 Ward Hamilton: The, I just wanted to take Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to thank you and, uh, the council for indulging us in, uh, this moment to recognize, um, a very important person in our community. And I also wanted to recognize three men who are here tonight, who are Melrose's residents, um, who were there at the first win 30 years ago, which came down to the wire in a, in a win against Malden. And we have, uh, David Blanchard, who was a long time teacher and coach. Jason Merrill, long time teacher, coach, and principal of Morris High School. Adam Federico, longtime teacher, coach, principal in Danvers, and now assistant superintendent in the Linfield Public Schools. Mr. Blanchard snapped the ball to Mr. Merrill who held it, and Mr. Federico kicked it through the uprights for the win. And I think these, and these three men, to me, they epitomize the, the type of, um, it epitomizes the influence that Coach Morris has had over so many of us in the years. It, uh, that he's, he's been involved in ours. So thank you very much and thank you all for coming tonight.

▶ 30:04 Leila Migliorelli: Okay. Um, I'll enter, obtain a motion to recess. So moved. Second Motion recess made by Councillor Williams, um, seconded by Councillor Repe. And we are, uh, going to take a photo. Take a moment to take a photo, so please join here. Come up here.

▶ 30:57 Speaker 10: Yeah. One more. Okay. One more silly. One, one more.

▶ 31:04 Speaker 8: Mark. Come on.

▶ 31:22 Speaker 11: I just wanna, excuse me. I just want to thank everyone for this and the, and the councilors, um, Cal and, and GPA and wood, um, you know, this, this is as much a community recognition as anything. All those wins were, you know, hardworking boys from Melrose and a lot of dedicated coaches, uh, that, that got those wins. And, uh, you know, I'm, I'm just, you know, proud to be here and proud to be, uh, have my career in Melrose. Uh, you know how like, when, when people say to one another, like, uh, how's it going? And somebody says, oh, I'm living the dream. And they kind of say it sarcastically. Well, I am living the dream and this has been my dream and I'm still living it. So thank you.

▶ 32:37 Speaker 10: Yeah.

▶ 32:44 Speaker 10: What we wanna say? No.

▶ 32:49 Leila Migliorelli: All right. Back to the agenda. We are now at communications from her honor, the mayor. And, um, before we hear from the mayor, I'll motion by unanimous consent to suspend rule 37 B. Seeing no objection, rule 37 B is now suspended. Um, welcome Madam Mayor.