Ilion High School - Class of 1923

Ilion Sentinel - April 15, 1954

Mel Wenner Honored

Former Ilionite Honored by Appointment As School Physical Education Director

Article 8

Mel Wenner Honored

Former Ilionite Honored by Appointment As School Physical Education Director

by Bob Whittemore

ILION - "His outstanding coaching ability, his experience with youngsters, and his winning personality qualify him to carry on the work started by his beloved predecessor."

This sentence is only one of the many glowing phrases used to praise an Ilion man who has recently been promoted to a higher job.

It appeared in the Belmont. Mass. Herald, and it was a part of an editorial commenting on the appointment of Mel Wenner to the post of Director of Athletics, Health andPhysical Education in the Belmont School System.

Saw Wenner At Work

The editorial went on to explain that Mr. Wenner was refereeing a basketball game one night in Belmont back in 1331. Wenner was teaching at Winchester, Mass. at the time, and keeping busy officiating and working at Boston University for his Master's Degree.

Well, the man who held the post of Athletic Director at Belmont at the time, a Mr. Lewis S. Harris, saw young Wenner at work during the game and afterwards went down to the locker room at Belmont, clapped Wenner on the shoulder, and said, "You are the type of man that we'd like to have working for us at Belmont, how about it?"

The surprised Wenner agreed and moved into Belmont later on in the year, after giving his notice to the school authorities in Winchester.

Meldon Wenner was born in Sangerfield, New York, but came to Ilion before he knew too much about the world. He entered school in Ilion and attended classes at West Hill, and Morgan Street schools before entering high school.

He attended the high school from 1919-1923 and really didn't give any indication of the important figure he'd eventually be in the athletic world.

Always interested in athletics, young Wenner just couldn't find time during his days at Ilion High, mainly because he was working at several different jobs. Mel always kept one eye cocked towards the future and felt that a college education was a necessity. In those days a college education was even harder to come by than it is now.

So Meldon Wenner moved on through high school, working. studying, and playing when he bad time, and in June, 1923 he received his diploma.

During his Junior and Senior years at Springfield, he acted as instructor for the freshmen class at that institution.

Attended Ilion High

He attended the high school from 1919-1923 and really didn't give any indication of the important figure he'd eventually be in the athletic world.

Always interested in athletics, young Wenner just couldn't find time during his days at Ilion High, mainly because he was working at several different jobs. Mel always kept one eye cocked towards the future and felt that a college education was a necessity. In those days a college education was even harder to come by than it is now.

So Meldon Wenner moved on through high school, working. studying, and playing when he bad time, and in June, 1923 he received his diploma.

During his Junior and Senior years at Springfield, he acted as instructor for the freshmen class at that institution.

Graduation for Wenner came in 1928 from Springfield and he was immediately hired for a job at Winchester, Massachusetts. They soon had him hard at work at a variety of jobs in the physical education and corrective work, grades 4-9; after school activities for five elementary schools; Head Coach high school cross country and track teams; Coached Junior High and 9th Grade football and basketball. Quite a schedule, isn't it!

On top of all this, as we said before, Wenner officiated basketball games and was hard at work on his Master's Degree at Boston University, which he obtained in 1936.

It seems that the Belmont job might be considered the big break for Mel Wenner, as he's not only done very well there and worked his way up in the school system, but he was married and has raised a family since going there in 1931.

Extra Activities

Since going to Belmont, Wenner has continued working in many, many intra-mural activities as well as continuing his work in after school activities and in corrective education.

Among his other experiences, Mr. Wenner can number 14 years in Summer camp work and summer work at Dartmouth College as well as work with Y-12 candidates during World War 2. In addition to that, he has found time to work for the State Civil Service Commission giving exams to candidates for various jobs.

His most noteworthy job at Belmont, however, has been his coaching where Be has produced championship track and basketball teams, and always contending soccer teams.

His basketball success has been most noticeable and he has produced several championships in the eight team Middlesex League as well as runner ups in many other years.

High Esteem

"In recent years. Belmont has been practically a fixture in the Eastern Massachusetts tournaments." says the HERALD, "the 1948 team piled up 20 straight victories in winning the State and New England Class 'B' titles."