The following eleven (11) distinguished athletes, coaches, officials and administrators will be inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic League High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2008 on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at the Quidnessett Country Club.
Louis “Duke” Abbruzzi
The late “Duke” Abbruzzi was a three-sport athlete at the former Warren High School earning 12 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was named All-State by the Providence Journal six consecutive seasons in those three sports. He coached football, basketball and baseball at the former De La Salle Academy in Newport. In college, he was an All-Yankee Conference football player, played basketball, and was an All-New England Conference baseball player.
James Joseph Ahern
James Ahern was a legendary basketball coach at Mt. Pleasant High School for 38 years and baseball coach for 17 years. Winning state basketball championships in 1980 and 2003, he was named Coach of the Year on both occasions. He played basketball at Providence College where he was a member of the 1963 NIT – Championship Squad.
Leroy Archibald
Leroy Archibald has officiated basketball games for the past 46 years and is still active. He serves as an excellent role model and mentor to students/athletes, and other officials. Archibald is a member of the North Providence Hall of Fame and received the Alumni Award from the Fox Point Boys’ Club. He has been recognized for his work in promoting girls and women in sports.
Joseph V. Conley
Joe Conley is recognized as a pioneer in girls’ high school athletics in the State of Rhode Island. As a tireless advocate for girls’ athletics, he was instrumental in the development of the first summer basketball league for girls in the 1970’s. Over his fifteen year coaching career, Joe had an overall winning record of 275 wins, 23 losses and captured four State basketball championships. Conley was chosen as one of the top 100 most significant people in Rhode Island high school sports by the Providence Journal.
Maureen Dyer
Maureen Dyer was one of the finest high school female athletes in the mid to late seventies, graduating in 1979 from Lincoln High School. She was an All-State field hockey, basketball and softball player at Lincoln High School. 2
Richard “Dick” Ernst
A high school level coach in the sports of hockey and tennis for 45 years, “Dick” Ernst is a legend. Ernst coached hockey at North Providence, Cranston East and North Smithfield with over 400 victories. He coached tennis at Cranston East from 1976 to 1990. His 1983-84 team won the State and New England tennis championship and finished with a perfect 32-0 mark.
Joanne Fitts
For 28 years, Joanne Fitts has been the face of volleyball at North Kingstown High School first as coach of the girls from 1980 to 1998 and as the boys coach from 1988 to the present. North Kingstown won five girls State Championships, nine Division wins and State runner-ups six times with three perfect seasons. Her boys’ teams won four State Championships, six Divisions and State runner-up four times.
Henry “Skip” Kenyon
The late “Skip” Kenyon was a teacher, coach and promoter of youth activities in South County. He coached Chariho Regional High School for 33 years, from 1961 to 1994, winning the 1966 State Championship. His teams captured eleven Division crowns and reached the State finals four times.
Brian Lawton
The list of great players to come out of Mt. St. Charles hockey program is equaled in number only by State Championship banners and All-State awards. Brian Lawton was the first American-born hockey player to be selected No. 1 in the National Hockey League in 1983, playing for ten years in the National Hockey League. At Mt. St. Charles, he was a multiple All-State selection on a string of State-title Mt. St. Charles Hockey teams.
Donald Panciera
Don Panciera was one of the greatest football players in Rhode Island. The Westerly native was the quarterback for Coach Jack Cronin’s powerful LaSalle Academy teams of 1944-1946, earning All-State honors twice. He played at Boston College and the University of San Francisco where he earned All-American honors. He played professionally in the former All-American Football Conference, National Football League and Canadian Football League.
Thomas Spann
Thomas Spann is the long-time track coach at Hope High School, earning the reputation as a man highly respected, not only by legions of runners, but by the entire state track community. For the past 25 years, as indoor and outdoor coach of boys and girls track at Hope High School, his teams have won numerous State Championships and individual All-State honors. Currently, 21 State track records (boys and girls) are held by athletes he coached.