A member of the faculty since the
creation of the school until his death in 1975, Denny Barrett
was a powerful force and a driving influence behind the school’s
pursuit of excellence. His coaching record is exemplary. From
1956 to 1960 he guided his freshmen football teams to a record
of twenty-two wins and only one loss. In 1961, he was named head
football coach and promptly won the school’s first athletic championship
when his team posted an undefeated City Series record and only
one loss on the season. In 1962, his team repeated as city champions.
Not only had he brought gridiron greatness to Mooney, he has also
initiated the first off-season training programs in the area a
fact that soon to be copied throughout the conference. He was
a motivator with a “thirst” for victory....his oft quoted “Win,
no one remembers who finishes second” still hangs in the Mooney
weightroom. A multidimensional person, Barrett’s presence was
also strongly felt in the school’s speech program where he led
his orators to four state team titles, numerous, individual state
championships and a national individual state championships and
a national individual championship. In addition to his teaching
and coaching careers, he was a successful radio and television
broadcaster; in short, he persued excellence and he achieved it.
Denny and his wife Ellen were the parents of three children. He
died in 1975.
