Joseph Naughton is a 1968 graduate of Weston High School. The only way I can introduce Joe is by paraphrasing the nomination letter his former high school coach Don Duncan (here today) had sent into the MSTCA: Coach Don wrote: I would like to nominate Joseph Naughton to the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association’s Athlete Hall of fame. During the spring season of his junior year he became the State Champion in the shot put with a throw just under 60’. The following week Joe went on to win the New England Championship. During the indoor season of his senior Joe became, at that time, only the second Mass athlete to heave the shot over 60’. In the spring of his senior year at the State Championship meet he put the shot an amazing 63’2”. This record remained on the books until 2002. Continuing on with this hot streak Joe took his expertise again to the New England Championship meet. It was here that he again dominated the competition by not only winning but by setting the New England standard at 63’10” which also stood until 2002. Joseph was an outstanding person as well as an outstanding student. Joe’s dad died when he was very young and he was brought up solely by his mother. He scored a 1580 on his SAT’s and as a result he was torn between MIT and Harvard, Harvard won out. During his first two years at Harvard he continued to compete in the shot and continued to set all kinds of freshman and sophomore records. Late in the spring of his sophomore season at Harvard I received a phone call from his throw coach at college. It was late in the evening—and Joe’s coach started telling me that Joe had not been throwing as well as he should have been and that his attendance at practice had become erratic. He asked if I could help him with HIS problem. I really didn’t know the coach that well and thought that his demeanor was a little abrupt. I went back to bed but was so upset by the call I couldn’t sleep and needed to get to the bottom of this mystery; I needed to find out what was the matter. I began to make some phone calls and by 2 A.M. I found Joe at Newton hospital diagnosed with stomach cancer. I was simply devastated. I was close to being arrested after arriving at Joe’s coach’s house to tell him that his star athlete was dying. Joe was young and strong and as a result of never having abused his body was able to hold on for two more years. Joe managed to complete all requirements for his baccalaureate. He died the morning of his graduation. He was granted his degree (posthumously) for the first, and to my knowledge, only time in Harvard’s history. In the mid seventy’s Harvard created an athletic award in memory of Joe. The bi-annual track meet held between the combined Harvard and Yale Track teams and the combined Cambridge and Oxford Track teams compete for the Joe Naughton Trophy. Joe had no siblings and his mom passed away a number of years ago. At this time I would like to ask Don Duncan to come forward. Don I would like you to accept Joe’s induction into the MSTCA’s Athlete Hall of Fame posthumously on behalf of Weston High School. This trophy will be permanently displayed there with pride.
Class: 1969 Inducted: 2006