RHS Gym To Be Named For Coach

Tens of thousands of students over the years have passed through the gymnasium at Radnor High School, which has been nameless. Until now.

The Radnor Alumni Association worked for more than a year to get the gym named for Ellis Dwyer, an educator and coach who worked for the Radnor School District from 1942 to 1973.

From 1942 to 1974 Dwyer coached Radnor High School to record of 524-232. Those years included 13 league titles, 7 district titles, 5 Eastern Finals and one advance to the state finals.  He was a line coach on the football field and was also Radnor’s first golf coach.

According to a document on Dwyer, in the 1940s  to 1960s he managed the playground at Rosemont Elementary School during summers, creating "a haven where parents could send their children to play and know they were safe. For many, Mr. Dwyer was the first introduction to athletic sports of any kind."

"In addition there were intramural baseball or basketball games with the other two playgrounds in Radnor Township,  The teams were organized by age, so everyone got to play.  He lined the baseball fields and swept the basketball courts himself. There was no fighting or swearing. If you did he put you off the playground," the document nominating Dwyer for the naming states.

Also during that time Dwyer ran the Radnor Summer Basketball league and refereed all the games.

Dwyer was "quiet, unassuming and always put his kids first. Regardless of race or socioeconomics, he treated all the same. It is impossible to list all Mr. Dwyer did for the residents of Radnor Township. He was a positive influence on  thousands of kids. He was welcome in all homes. Most of who were poor. Some of the kids were from single parent households. Many were latchkey, because parents or guardians had two of three jobs to make ends meet. No one was more highly respected than he," the document reads.

The gymnasium naming ceremony will take place February 3rd after the varsity boys basketball game with Strath Haven.

There will be a reception following the game at Radnor High School.  All alums are invited. Speakers will include former students and athletes.

The gym will be called the "Ellis Charles Dwyer Gymnasium".  There will be a bronze plague posted at the entrance to the gym.

According to Ralph Gray, who assisted in the naming effort, Dwyer continued to follow and attend Radnor activities as long as his health permitted. He died in 2005.  

"Many were surprised that there wasn't already something named for Mr. Dwyer," Gray said.