Biography

Dan Plumb never scored a touchdown or made a tackle for Big Red Football, but no one had a bigger effect on the program in the 1980s.  When Dan found that he was unable to continue playing football during his freshman year, he accepted the opportunity to help Honorary Hall of Famer Carl Mitchell on the training staff.  There Dan found a home and became a fixture at North Attleboro HS for the next ten years.  

“Plummer” personified loyalty and commitment to North football and believed many of the clichés associated with the sport, such as “Football is life!”  Before everyone left the coaches room after the Thanksgiving game, he would start the Dan Plumb Countdown to Football, marking the days left before the start of next season.  His John Wayne pictures in the equipment room were replaced with photos of Big Red players past and present, and graduating seniors proudly autographed his Wall of Fame. If you were a “good kid” and respected the program, you were “OK” with Dan.  He was proud to wear his 00 jersey every Friday before games, and he delighted in telling the story of the Shriner’s All Star Classic when he took down Doug Flutie by tripping him on the sideline with Coach Beaupre’s head set cords, but one of Dan’s proudest moments came in 1984 when his younger brother, Michael, was elected captain.

Dan had a special relationship with the coaching staff.  Former AD and Head Coach Ray Beaupre and present Superintendent of Schools Rick Smith chauffeured Dan to his first prom.  Ray also taught Dan to drive and still considers it one of his greatest fetes.  Dan’s most famous drive involved a school tractor heading down Stoddard Drive with him behind the wheel, not knowing how to work the brakes.

After graduation, Dan worked at N.A.H.S. in many capacities before deciding to attempt to join the NA Police Department.  By exhibiting the same dedication he expected from North football players, Dan lost close to 100 pounds and eventually became a proud member of Chief Coyle’s department.  No one was ever prouder to wear the uniform and serve North Attleboro.

Sadly, in July 1990, Dan passed away in his sleep at his mom’s house on Stoddard Drive, located about five-football fields length from his beloved North High.  Six weeks later, over 200 friends gathered for the Dan Plumb Memorial Golf Day.  This annual event has raised thousands of dollars that sponsor the Dan Plumb Coaches Award and Scholarship that is given annually to the senior player who best exemplifies Dan’s spirit and commitment to North Attleboro Football.  The fund has also financed championship plaques and purchased equipment for the weight room.  He would be proud to join the past and present Hall of Famers we honor tonight.