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CENTRAL CHARACTER - page 2



CELTIC-NATION
You were born on March 26th, 1937.  Please tell a little about your childhood, and what it was like to grow up in Springfield during 40s.

 
WAYNE EMBRY
I grew up in a rural area, basically poor, but we were a proud family with strong values and a strong work ethic.  My parents instilled these things in me at a very early age.  They were also very good at setting goals, which is something else that has helped me tremendously, both in my life and career.


 

CELTIC-NATION
You were eight when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.  Do you have any recollection of that event, and did World War II touch your family in any way?

 
WAYNE EMBRY
I really don’t have much recollection of that specific event, but several of my relatives were in the service during the war.  I gained a sense of sacrifice from them, and respected them greatly.



 

CELTIC-NATION
Your grandfather, William, played an important part of your life.  Please tell me about him, and about the role he played in your education.

 
WAYNE EMBRY
William was a very demanding person who stressed the value of education, and someone who also imparted a real desire for learning.  It really helped to have him take an interest in my life.  He constantly reinforced the importance of going to school and getting a college degree.  He was always there to keep me from getting discouraged, especially whenever things got tough.


 

CELTIC-NATION
Goose”, and “The Wall” – what do these mean to you?

 
WAYNE EMBRY
These are two nicknames that I was given at different points in my basketball career.  “Goose” came from a high school teammate of mine.  We saw the Harlem Globetrotters play a game in New York, and Reese “Goose” Tatum palmed the basketball with those huge hands of his.  We’d never seen anything like that before.  Then it wasn’t long before I was able to do it.  My teammate started calling me “Goose”, and the nickname stuck.
 

 

CELTIC-NATION
And “The Wall”?

 
WAYNE EMBRY
Celtics’ radio broadcaster Johnny Most was the one who gave me that nickname.  He liked the way I set picks [laughs].

 

 

 

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