Mechanicsburg Alumni Association

Gerald B. Wood was a two-year letterman in football and track and field. During his senior year he was selected as a First Team Fullback and Linebacker; was the 1953 South Penn Scholastic Football scoring champion with 60 points; was selected as the Harrisburg Lions Club Player of the week in Scholastic Football; and was honored at the Nobe Frank Memorial Dinner. He attended Bloomsburg University and earned three varsity letters in football playing fullback and linebacker, four varsity letters in Track and Field throwing the shot put and discus and his B.S. Degree in Secondary Education specializing in Social Studies and Geography.

After graduation from college Gerald taught and coached for four years at Big Spring High School. He was a varsity football assistant in charge of offensive and defensive backs, and also became the Head Track Coaching position in 1962. In the fall of 1962 he joined the faculty of Cumberland Valley High School as a teacher in the social studies department as well as an assistant football and head track coach. As the Head Track Coach, he compiled a 31-8 record and coached two individual State Champions. His next stop was at William Penn High School where he was an assistant football and head track coach for two years. While serving as an assistant football coach for eleven years, his desire to become a head coach was stronger than ever. In the spring of 1969, Gerald was hired to direct the rebuilding of the Dallastown High School “Wildcats” extremely deficient football program. During his eight years, he compiled a record of 56-20-3, three Championships and one undefeated-untied season and returned respectability to the Dallastown Football program. He was named Y.C.I.AA Coach of the year in 1969 and 1971 and Quarterback Club of York Class A Coach of the year in 1976.

Gerald was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at birth which is an incurable retinal degenerative disease resulting in night blindness and tunnel vision. He has been legally blind since 1984 and used a CCTV system in his classroom and at home as a visual aid for the last 12 years of his teaching career due to the retinal degeneration. He retired from Dallastown High School in 1993 after 35 years of service in public education, 24 of those at Dallastown. Mention Gerald Wood’s name to his former peers and players and they have nothing but praise for him. They point out his enthusiasm, his teaching and coaching strategy, his ability to motivate, and the respect of the players as the keys to his success.

The teachers, coaches and teammates at Mechanicsburg High School provided Gerald with many role models during his career, including John Fisher his tenth grade history teacher who encouraged him to change his course of study from business to academic; Charles Slaybaugh, guidance counselor who made sure he had the necessary academic subjects to graduate; Coach John Frederick for the lessons he taught on the field; and close friend, teammate and classmate Irv Alexander, who invited him to go along to Bloomsburg for a campus visit. His coaches were willing to look beyond the fact that he was visually challenged and gave him opportunities to participate. His teammates were always willing to extend a guiding hand when he needed one, especially after dark. All these things contributed to the success of Gerald Wood as a teacher and coach… looking out for kids.

In 1994 Gerald was inducted into the West Shore Chapter of the
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Gerald and his wife Martha have been married for 47 years, currently reside in Dallastown and have two daughters and four grandchildren.

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