Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame - Class of 1999 Biographies
Back Row Left to Right
HOWARD "HOWIE" BROMAGE
Born and raised in Enfield; played the first year Enfield had Little League (1950) and Senior League (1953 state tournament champions). 1957 graduate of Enfield High School: letters in baseball (4), basketball (3), and football (3). EHS "Athlete of the Year" 1957. Brown University: varsity baseball center fielder 3 years, including 1959 Ivy League Champions; hit the first home run at Brown's new stadium in 1961. Numerous years as Little League manager and CYO basketball coach; has sponsored teams in many sports for Enfield's youth. 1999 National Senior Olympics in Orlando, Florida for basketball.
WILLIAM RASMUSSEN
1954 received a BA from DePauw University and a MBA from Rutgers University in 1959. Founded the Entertainment Sports Programming Network (ESPN) in 1978, after a successful 20-year radio and television broadcasting career. Had been play-by-play announcer and Communications Director for New England Whalers from 1974-78, while an Enfield resident. In 1994, USA Today called him "the Father of Cable Sports"; that same year, he was included on Sports Illustrated's list of the 40 most influential individuals in sports of the past 4 decades. Inducted into the Connecticut Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1997.
PETER KING - 1999 EMCEE AND 1997 HOF INDUCTEE
CHARLES "CHUCK" AFRICANO
1978 Graduate of Enfield High School: State Class "L" Wrestling Champion; State High School Freestyle and Greco-Roman Champion. 1978-82, Western New England College: 28-0 senior year, ranked 2nd in NCAA; Champion of New England College Conference and Great Dane Classic NCAA Invitational; New England College NCAA All-Star Team. U.S. Army: numerous championships including Central European 1984, USA Europe Greco-Roman 1985 and 1986, All-Army Freestyle and Greco-Roman 1985 through 1989. USA National Team 1987-88; USA Olympic Qualifier Finalist 1988; Captain of Army wrestling team 1989 (ranked #2 in nation). Selected as an official for the US Open National Championships in 1999.
THE GEORGE DALY SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
EDWARD LAPPONESE
Owned Eddie's Sporting Goods, and sponsored youth and adult teams in baseball, softball, basketball, and football for many years. Coached and officiated in numerous town leagues, including Enfield parks and Recreation and the Enfield Parents Sports Association (EPSA). Co-founder of Enfield Flag Football League, commissioner for 6 years. Organizer and chairman of the Annual Brian Fisher Softball Tournament, which raised scholarship money for high school students.
MICHAEL WHALEN
1978 graduate of Fermi High School: State Class "LL" Heavyweight Wrestling Champion as senior (28-1 record); All-CCIL Football Team on both offense and defense; honorable mention All-State Team. Loomis-Chaffee: CT Prep Champ, 3rd in National Prep Wrestling Championships; 1st team All-Prep and All-State in football. Wesleyan University: 1st person to win Division III New England Wrestling Championship 4 straight years (66-2 overall); ECAC Division III All-New England football 1st team 1980-82; honorable mention AP All-American. Member of the American Football Coaches Association. Assistant coaching positions at various colleges since 1986; current head wrestling coach and assistant football coach at Williams College.
Front Row Left to Right
JERRY MARQUIS
Has compiled over 200 victories in various auto-racing divisions (late model sportsman, pro stock, modified) since 1973. Has won 19 track championships at 4 speedways: Riverside Park, Monadnock, Stafford, and New Hampshire International. Holds record for most wins in a season at Riverside; only the second driver to win 3 consecutive Riverside modified championships. 1991 Northeast Regional Winston Racing Series champion; voted Most Popular Driver in 1991 and 1992. Very active in supporting many Enfield-area youth programs and charities, including the Cub Scouts pinewood derby race and Muscular Dystrophy Association.
SUSAN M. GUAY
Standout goaltender in Enfield Hockey Association; received many awards, including the 1983-84 Bobby Orr Sportsmanship Award and the 1984 EHA Lynch Goalie Award for sportsmanship & fairplay. 1987 graduate of Fermi High School: 1st female to play varsity boys Ice Hockey in CT; named to CT North All-Star Team; Fermi softball team MVP in senior year. Northeastern University: career 1.71 goals-against average; played on 1988 (undefeated) and 1989 women's national championship teams; 1991 Beanpot Tournament MVP (Tournament champions all 4 years). Won bronze medal in White Nights Tournament in Russia. Appeared on CBS and ESPN television, as well as being featured in USA Today Newspaper. Waterbury Dek Hockey's Most Valuable Goaltender 1993; team went on to win the women's national tournament.
WALTER "WALLY" LIGENZA ( Daughter Dr. Cynthia Ligenza shown)
1934 scholar athlete & graduate of Enfield High School. 1934-41: Player/Manager of the St Adalbert's baseball team in Connecticut State/Western Mass. League, and Bigelow-Sanford in Triple A Industrial League, including 1941 baseball league champions. Semi-pro catcher for Troy's Garage, called by Casey Stengel "the best semi-pro team I've ever seen". Established and operated outstanding Club Silhouette semi-pro baseball team; later successfully coached many baseball and basketball teams in Thompsonville, CT. A local pioneer in devising unique methods and techniques for improving athletic skills.
WILLIAM H. "BILL" BALL
Outstanding star for the Enfield Tankers swim team from 1972-83. 1983 Graduate of Fermi High School: Varsity Swimming (1981-83) and team captain in 1982 & 1983; 3-time CCIL swimming champion in 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke; set many longstanding school records. Southern CT State University: New England Champion 1986 and 1987; CT Senior Champion 1989; sixth in 100-yard breaststroke at 1987 NCAA Division II Championship, earning All-American honors. Assistant swim team coach at UConn since 1993. Age Group Champion of the CT Triathlon Series in 1997 and 1998.
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