Family Voices is a collection of conversations that preserves family stories in the voices of those who lived them. In this first interview, Richard Thomas “Dick” Wiess, father of Dugan Wiess Maddux, recalls growing up in Philadelphia in the 1930s and 1940s, sharing vivid memories of home, school, family, and everyday life. A standout athlete at Roman Catholic High School, Dick’s ability on the football field opened an unexpected path to the University of North Carolina, where he played two sports and became the first in his immediate family to attend college. He later served in the Navy and pursued a career in dentistry. Told with humor and remarkable detail, his memories offer both a family history and a window into an American childhood of another era.
