McKinley High School - President Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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The Presi cent 1194 E William McKinley i' Mc KINLBY VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL 1500 ELMWOOD AVENUE BUFFALO 7, NEW YORK

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A GREAT COACH The following article was in print before the passing of Mr. Philip Ackley. May 20, 1947. Just before his illness Mr. Ackley was planning the football strategy for the 1947 season, and as football was his great interest the Presidents stag' is 'leaving this article unchanged. because it portrays our Coach in his favorite rule, producing championship teams. The faculty and students of McKinley pay respects to a great coach,'r'able instructor, and good friend, Mr. Philip Ackley. Mr. Ackley was born in Ohio, where he graduated from Caldwell High School. He next attended Oberlin College, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. Bucknell College came next. There he carried on in the field of physical education, and took a course in football from the late Knute Rockne. Mr. Ackley came to Buffalo in 1929 and taught physical instruction at Seneca Vocational High School. In 1930 Mr. Ackley left Seneca and came to McKinley where he assumed the position of physical instructor. Since 1938 Mr. Ackley has been head coach of McKinley teams. He will always be noted for the outstanding performance turned out by his foot' ball, teams during the past Eve years. In 1942 McKinley shared the title for the cup with Burgard, but in '43, '44, '45, and '46 the lvlacs' team came out on top with flying colors, not to mention the pennant, and the permanent possexion of one coveted trophy. Mr. Ackley relates, the winning of the 1944 season Harvard Cup, as his greatest thrill. In reviewing his teams of the past, Mr. Ackley recalls his football team of 1945 as the best grid team that he has ever coached, because of their keen sportsmanship, speed, deception in plays. , ' Mr. Ackley is also an acclaimed basketball coach, and in 19444945, 19491946 seasons his teams captured the Yale Cup. Over this two year period Mr. Ackley's teams gained the reputation of being good sports, as well as great players. In this period they turned out a remarkable twentyfthree game winning streak. Some of the college athletes of today who have received their training under Mr. Ackley are Bob MacKinnon, Les Molnar, Tony Bolognese, and Chet Kwasek. Unknown to many of the boys is the fact that Mr. Ackley was formerly a topfrate bowler, but he has now retired from' active participation in sports. Mr. Ackley believes in teaching his teams sportsmanship, and his outlook on this subject is indicated in his comment, Ten years from now the boys won't remember what the scores were, but they will remember and practice the lessons they have learned in sportsmanship. So in dedicating this, the 1947 President, to Mr. Philip Ackley, the students and faculty of McKinley are taking this method of saying thank you for a job well done. 4 DoN ANGER '47 Horticulture r Three