Sports Hall of Fame Induction to Honor 15 Athletes and Xavier Football

To the Editor:

This letter is an invitation to the citizens of Middletown and contingent communities to attend a very exciting evening of recognition. On Jan. 31, the 20th annual Middletown Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be held at Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 100 Berlin Road, (Route 372) in Cromwell at 7 p.m.

The evening will begin at 5:30 with a cocktail hour. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

(In the event of postponement because of inclement weather, please do the following for any postponement information: call the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 860-635-2000), listen to radio station WMRD-FM in Middletown, 1150 on the AM dial, log onto our website at www.middletowncthalloffame.com and click on “current information,” or tune into Hartford’s WTIC Fox CT TV Channel 6).

Immediately following dinner, 15 outstanding athletes of yesteryear will be read into the record by Rich Coppola, sports director of Fox CT TV and Jim Bransfield, the voice of Middletown sports, and inducted in the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame.

The following individuals will be honored for their accomplishments and inducted: Fred Balsamo, Joe Ferraro, Christine Hickey Fritz, Louis Labbadia, Paul LaBella, Mike Muraca, Orville Palmer, Bill Piantek, Jason Schuberth, Robert Sienko, Sandy Tucci, Reuben Wilson, Larry Woods, as well as Art Hatje Sr. and Tom Prue Sr., posthumously.

In addition, the Board of Directors has selected the 1971 Xavier High School undefeated football team led by the Head Coach Larry McHugh and captained by Bob Chamberlain, John Sullivan and the late John Shukis to be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with the Class of 2013. The 1971 XHS football team posted a 9-0 record as they captured the Hartford County Conference Championship as well.   

If you would like to be a part of this invigorating event, you may contact Johanna Bond at the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, 393 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457, telephone (860) 347-6924 or email johanna@middlesexchamber.com for tickets to this impressive gala sports recognition dinner.

Tickets are $50 each and the closing date for reservations is Jan. 25.

The Annual Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner has become the highlight of the Middletown sports calendar as well as a community reunion of former friends where the recalling of fond memories is abound.  

I know that those who have attended in the past have had a very enjoyable evening. I look forward to seeing you on Jan. 31 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

For further information about the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame, please log on to our Website at www.middletowncthalloffame.com. 

Thomas J. Serra, President, Middletown Sports Hall of Fame