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By Ron P. Coderre
RPC extends a sporty hello to Andrew Morrison of Thompson. A little known secret about the coordinator for the Putnam Business Association is that he was an outstanding soccer player during his high school years at Tourtellotte.
Left-handed pitchers are a welcome commodity in baseball at any level. In the early ‘80s Tourtellotte Memorial High School was fortunate to have a lefty mound ace in the person of Bill Guillot. In 1980 and 1981 Guillot dominated the baseball scene in Eastern Connecticut.
Under the tutelage of coach Tom Auclair, Guillot was the Tigers Most Valuable Player in 1981, posting a minuscule ERA of 0.86, while batting .421. He was rewarded for his efforts, being named a Quinebaug Valley Conference All-star. He also received all-star recognition from the Putnam Observer-Patriot, Worcester Telegram & Gazette and the Norwich Bulletin.
Following graduation, Guillot’s mound guile and pinpoint accuracy earned him a position on the mound staff at Eastern Connecticut State University, where he toiled for coach Bill Holowaty for two seasons. He also enjoyed four successful seasons with the Tri-Town American Legion team as well as pitching in the Norwich City League.
Guillot was also a skilled basketball player. He was chosen QVC North Most Valuable Player in his senior season, while garnering newspaper all star recognition and being selected Connecticut Class S Honorable Mention All-State. He was captain of both basketball and baseball in his senior year at Tourtellotte.
He went on to coach baseball and basketball and girls’ soccer at Killingly High School, where he was a mathematics teacher. He’s currently the chairman of the mathematics department at Woodstock Academy. Guillot was inducted into the Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2011.
ND Irish vs. BYU…
While relaxing at home a couple weeks ago the phone rang and the caller I.D. read Notre Dame University. Thinking my friends from South Bend were making their annual call for support, I hesitated answering. My better judgment took over or maybe it was guilt.
The caller on the other end of the line politely said, “Mr. Coderre?” After telling him it was I, he went on to say that I had won a pair of tickets to the Notre Dame versus Brigham Young University game in South Bend on Saturday, Oct. 20. In addition, there was a room for two nights, on campus with the tickets. It was a pleasant surprise and well worth answering the call.
I was reminded by the caller that I had participated in the Sacred Heart Parish raffle last season when I was on campus for the Notre Dame and South Florida University game. I reckoned it’s good to support worthwhile causes.
From The Where
Are They Now Files…
It’s North Eastham, Mass., on Cape Cod for 1948 Putnam High School grad Russ Burgess. The former principal of Putnam Elementary School, where he teamed with his friend Gerry Cotnoir in overseeing the education of approximately 800 students, is now in the relaxation mode of life.
In the mid-‘40s, Burgess was a three-sport standout for the Clippers in the early years of coach Jim Greenhalgh. Burgess was a lineman and tight end on the football field, a center-forward on the basketball court and a strapping first baseman on the baseball diamond.
Over the past three years he’s made frequent trips back to his home town as part of the committee raising funds for a scholarship in memory of their beloved coach.
Wonderings and Wanderings…
Just thinking out loud while waiting for UConn and Pomfret resident coach Jim Calhoun to get back on his bicycle; and attempting to learn how to use my ‘Smart Phone’ while all the kids around me do it so easily.
* Just wondering why, after the Public Works Department clean sweeps the Union Square Parking lot that folks insist on depositing their coffee cups, beer cans and bottles and other paraphernalia on the ground rather than using the conveniently located trash cans.
* Just wondering why automobiles insist on speeding through downtown Putnam and placing pedestrians in peril, when our fair community is striving so hard to be a destination and “walking friendly” community.
* Just wondering why the Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame limited its inductees to high school grads only, while there are many worthwhile candidates who went to the former St. Joe’s or Putnam Trade or because of other obligations didn’t go to high school at all.
* Just wondering, wouldn’t it be nice to see passenger trains coming through Putnam again? Or having a community trolley to transport people to different parts of town during the warm weather months.
* Just wondering how many people know that Russ Burgess’ given first name is Leroy.
* Just wonder when the Putnam School system will hire administrators who’ll stay in town for longer than three years. Or for that matter, when will they move to Putnam.
* Just wondering when Toronto Blue Jays outfielder and New London native Rajai Davis will get recognition for his steady and sometime outstanding play for the birds.
* Just wondering if my Bobby Valentine autographed Red Sox uniform jersey will be more or less valuable following his departure from Boston at the end of the season.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Pair’em up in groups of three.” Attributed to New York Yankee great Yogi Berra, during a spring training drill while he was manager of the Bronx Bombers.