The Next Crompton Park Terrific 25!

Lou Angers

Steve Bilby

Artie “Bomington” Bomengen

Ken Engstrand

Bob Evers

John “Red” Flynn

Fred Gillis

John Glancy

John Grochowalski

Bob Head

Gerry Hippert

Donald Hughes

Robert Hughes

John Hurley

Wayne Jones

Alden Johnson

Mike “Spider” Jordan

Chris Kiernan

Bob Listewnik

Bob O’Brian

Dick Mazzaferro

John Murphy

Bob Penny

Joe Phelan

Tom Russell

A Tribute To Kirk Willar (1945–2002)

While Kirk was best known as an outstanding amateur and professional boxer, he was also a fine basketball player who competed at Crompton Park. Here is Dan Doyle’s tribute to Kirk.

Kirk.

Main South was a wonderful place to grow up in the 50s and 60s. Mitchell’s Bakery, Crystal Park, Notis Pizza, and of course the St. Peter’s Courts, asphalt gathering point for what the Worcester Telegram christened the largest summer basketball program in America, the Chi Rho League.

It was on those courts that I first encountered a boy whom I would come to think of as one of the most dynamic and endearing guys I have ever known. While I’m not sure every neighborhood has that one personified force to whom everyone is attracted, our neighborhood surely did.

Kirk Willar was four years my senior, Hollywood Handsome, masterful boxer but never a bully, terrific basketball player who absolutely loved Elgin Baylor, and not a guy but The Guy my friends and I all looked up to. There were many good reasons for our adulation, chief among them his unqualified goodwill.

I saw Kirk win the Golden Gloves at the Ionic Avenue Boy’s Club with a stunning KO. We were teammates on the Hammond Plastics squad in the Crompton Park Summer League. Years later, when I brought Sugar Ray Leonard to Worcester to box Kevin Howard, Kirk’s name came up with my matchmaker, Vito Tallarita. “I know Kirk,” said Vito. “Helluva nice kid…helluva left hook.”

The rest of America may have had The Fonz, but we Main Southers had Kirk… undiluted…infinitely more cool.

RIP Old friend.

Dan Doyle