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Celebrating

Stan Sheldon, second from right, pictured with his teammates, celebrated the 45th anniversary of the 1946 undefeated Putnam High School football team at a reunion in 1991.  Courtesy photo.

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to former Putnam High School three-sport standout Phil Durand.  In the mid-'60s Durand dominated the Clipper sports scene as a shifty halfback, crafty guard and nifty baseballer.  Today he confines his spare time in retirement to travelling, spending time with his family and relaxing with friends.

It took some time for the word of the death of Stanley Sheldon to reach the far corners of northeastern Connecticut, but as word spread the response to the news was heartfelt sadness and shock.

Sheldon, who was a 1947 graduate of Putnam High School, had an outstanding record of public service to his community and numerous civic and fraternal organizations.  As a public servant, Sheldon is remembered as the former First Selectman of Pomfret, where he also spent time on the Board of Education.  

He is also recalled as a member of the Free Masons, where he held a variety of posts on the local, state and national level.  He served as a member of the Day Kimball Board of Trustees and Development Committee and was also a longtime corporator.  In recent years he was an integral member of the Coach Jim Greenhalgh Memorial Scholarship Committee.

In the mid-1940s Sheldon, as was the tradition of the time, matriculated at Putnam High School.  It was an era when the “farm boys” of Pomfret attended high school in Putnam and added so much luster to the Clipper athletic teams of the times.  It was noted in local newspaper publications that many an evening following a day of classes, sports practice or a game, these Pomfret lads would often be seen walking on Rte. 44 and thumbing their way home as was typical of the era.  

Sheldon was one of the many Pomfret athletes who were part of some great Putnam teams.  He was a member of coach Jim Greenhalgh’s first football team in 1946, a team that compiled a 9-0-1 record and was crowned the CIAC Champion. His name is found in many of the stories that highlight the season.

In the days when players never came off the football field he was a skilled receiver and talented defensive end.  He played with the likes of Teddy Tetreault, “Hooks” Sponcey, Matty Johnson, Bartlett Blassetti, Charlie Ayers, Walt Plantier and the Hattin brothers Ronnie and Irvie.

On the baseball diamond Sheldon anchored Clipper teams behind the plate as the Putnam catcher.  In 1946 he was a member of the team that compiled a 16-1-1 record and followed that with a 12-2 log in his senior year, 1947.   

In 1991, Sheldon and Irv Hattin organized a reunion of the 1946 and 1947 football teams that in the combined two seasons lost only one football game.  At the reunion Sheldon was quoted as saying, “The reason the teams won so many games during those seasons was the friendship between the players.”  He also noted at the time they had to get along because 11 players played both offense and defense.  Among his other memories were the large crowd at the Killingly – Putnam Thanksgiving Day game of 1946 won by the Clippers 40-0.  He estimated, between 7,500 to 8,000 people, were on hand in Danielson that day.

Stan Sheldon was a very humble man.  Anyone who knew him never realized the type of athlete he was in his high school days.  They also admired his dedication to his town of Pomfret and the many affiliations he was associated with over the years.  Stanley Sheldon was a throwback, a man who will be difficult to replace physically and in our memories.  Rest in peace, Stan.

Locals Golfers Compete

in Cosgrove Worcester 

County Four-Ball

The Walter Cosgrove Worcester County Four-Ball golf event is one of the premier tournaments in Southern New England.  Annually some of the region’s best golfers gather for this two-day event that’s held at Green Hill Golf Club in Worcester.  This year’s tourney, which was held Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8 was no exception.

The twosome of Herb Aikens and Ryan Riley captured this year’s championship for the fourth straight year.  They won with rounds of 69-62-131 for a one stroke victory over Dan and Dave Falucci of Cyprian Keyes Golf Club.

At the end of the first day of play the leaders were Jeff Bastien and Chris Poblocki, who shot an opening round 65.  

The duo was unable to maintain the advantage on the second day, shooting a 70 and falling off the winning pace with a two-day total of 135.  Poblocki plays out of Quinnatisset Country Club and Bastien is from Blackstone National.

Local favorite and former Quinnatisset and Norwich champion Brian Bardier played the Cosgrove with his perennial partner Dave Jones of Norwich Golf Club.  They finished 11 strokes off the winning pace with a 69-73-142.  Another entrant was Dale Smith, also a former Quinnatisset Country Club Champion.    

Congratulations Madam President

Crista Durand of Pomfret was recently named the president of Newport Hospital in Rhode Island.  Durand, a graduate of Salve Regina University and Nichols College where she earned her MBA, has had an illustrious career in the healthcare industry.

Durand, who will assume her role as the head of the Newport Hospital on Aug. 1, most recently served as the vice president for Business Development at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London.  Prior to serving in New London she was the Chief Financial Officer at Day Kimball Hospital.

The new president is a graduate of Putnam High School, where she starred on the Lady Clippers basketball team.  She also played on the hardwood at Salve Regina.  

She and her husband Steve, a Clipper football and basketball standout, live in Pomfret with their sons, Peyton and Dominic.  Steve Durand is the president of Connecticut Tool Co. in the Putnam Industrial Park.

RPC’S Closing Thought For The Day: Happy belated Father’s Day to all the dad’s in our reading audience.  Congratulations on the role you play in the lives of your children and grandchildren.

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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