Athletic Hall of Fame

Ray Allard is one of only two LI Track and Field athletes to be a New England Champion.  In 1951, Ray was the New England Champion in the pole vault, clearing a height of 11 ‘11”.  This was when pits were ground level and filled with sawdust, and the poles were made of bamboo or sometimes steel, and athletes needed to land on their feet to avoid serious injury.  A far cry from the foam pits and fiberglass poles of today.  

Ray was the State Champion in both the pole vault and the long jump two years in a row, 1950 and 1951.  But also was the first LI pole vaulter to go over 12 feet.  At 12’1/2”, Ray held the school record from 1951 to 1969, when it was broken by Larry Griggs with a vault of 12’1”.

While almost 20 other vaulters at LI have gone over 12 feet in the pole vault in the past 72 years since Ray Allard first achieved the feat, he was the first to do it and the only one to do it without more modern types of poles and landing areas people have now become accustomed to using to vault.

Consider this:  In 1951, the world record in the pole vault was 15’7”.  Which meant Ray was only 3’6” below the world record. Today, the world record is  20’ 5.25”.  This means in a conversion, to be only 3’6” behind the world record today would put a high school vaulter at over 16’11”.  Impressive indeed.  Given the access to modern technology, who knows how high Mr. Allard could have gone.

Riley was born in 1994 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Derek Blankenship and Traci Williams. When she was a little over 1 year old, they moved to Lyndonville where she spent the rest of her childhood. She started playing sports from a young age, which included dandelion picking in T-ball and holding hands and skipping up and down the fields with friends at Lyndon Youth Soccer on Saturday mornings. In 5th grade she picked up basketball, which became her first true sports love. She played throughout high school, making the varsity team as a freshman. Her senior year was by far her best and that, as well as the team’s success and growth in that year, can only be attributed to the coaching wisdom and skills of Eric Berry; she also got the school record for blocked shots. She played softball from 7th grade to freshman year of high school at Lyndon Institute, and had the privilege of her late grandfather to not only umpire many of the games, but to also tell her to “suck it up buttercup” on more than one occasion (certainly formative moments for her athletic mindset and career). In sophomore year she decided to switch to track and field, and contributed to the team by sprinting the 100m, 4x100m relay, and throwing the shot put, discus, and javelin. Her success in shot put and discus would not have been possible without her excellent coaches, Mr. Bob Heath and Mr. Ron Pearl, who came out of retirement and put in countless hours of their expertise and wisdom to guide and mentor her. Riley made the record board in her senior year for both discus and javelin.  She also did the heptathlon at the end of her junior and senior year. She graduated from LI in 2012.

Riley attended college at Norwich University on an Army ROTC scholarship where she decided to learn a completely new sport and join the women’s rugby team. She played basketball her freshman year as well, but after one very busy and stressful year of two sports, nursing school, and ROTC and the Corps of Cadets, decided that one sport would suffice. Rugby became her second sports love – not only did she love learning all about the sport, but it also gave her a great community in college and two of her lifelong best friends. During her time there, the women’s rugby team won three 7s national championships and one 15s national championship; she was also named MVP in her junior year and was selected as an All-American in her junior and senior years. Riley graduated from Norwich University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in 2016.

Riley received orders to Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, in the summer of 2016. She attended Basic Officer Leadership Course from October to December 2016, and arrived in Hawaii in January of 2017 to begin her Army nursing career. She worked on a medical-surgical unit for 3 years, serving many of Hawaii’s veterans. Having been born at that very hospital, she truly felt like she had come full circle. She stayed active by hiking and joining a CrossFit gym, and truly enjoyed all of what Hawaii had to offer. She moved to San Antonio in December of 2019 and completed the Army’s rigorous critical care course in May of 2020. She has been in San Antonio for almost 3 years and has worked on the medical intensive care unit at Brooke Army Medical center throughout that time. She continues to fulfill her passion of staying active by training for Strongman competitions (inspired by her aunt Erin Williams) and occasionally does CrossFit or other various recreational sports. Riley is in the process of transitioning to the Reserves over the next year, after 6 years of active duty service, and figuring out where the field of nursing will take her. She is hoping to work for the VA hospital system and do travel nursing through them.


Jack Brown

Rick Cameron, ’67 was born in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. In 1971, after graduating from college, he married his high school sweetheart, Jane Howe, ‘67. They have three adult children and seven grandchildren. At this point in his life he enjoys an active retirement with his wife and family. In Rick’s own words:

“My experience with began in the early 1950s. As a young child I started my schooling at the Baker Hall located on the LI campus. At the early age of first and second grade I became exposed to LI and its athletes by watching them practice and play their games on the football field (Lewis Field).

During my eight years of elementary school and having gone to many LI sporting events I knew I was destined to play sports for LI. During my four years at Lyndon, I competed on the football, basketball, and track teams. I was chosen by my fellow teammates to be their team captain in both football and track. Football was my sport of choice. At the end of my senior football season 1966 the team was crowned Vermont State Champions. During that year I set several school football records, was selected to the State of Vermont All-North and State All-Star teams as well as being selected captain of those teams which were made up of the best players in Vermont. In the spring of 1967 I achieved one of my major high school athletic goals and that was the selection to and participation in the Vermont/New Hampshire Shrine Bowl game. The team’s selection to the LI Hall of Fame is a great honor.

I would like to thank my high school football coaches Al Reilly, Bob Stone, Bob Heath, and Don Erskine to name a few. With their help I transformed my raw, yet unskilled, talents into an athlete who had strength in skill and determination. Thank you to all the members of my LI and greater Lyndon community for their support.” - Rick Cameron

A true product of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Lori was born the second of four children to Marion and Dick Dane of Sheffield. She attended graded school in Sheffield before moving on to high school at Lyndon Institute. While at LI, she participated in cross country, track, indoor track, and gymnastics. Lori excelled in all her athletic endeavors during one of the true “Golden Ages” of LI athletics in the mid-1970’s. An excellent student, she was inducted into the National Honor Society during her senior year.

Lori entered the University of Vermont in the fall of 1977 on a partial track scholarship. She graduated from UVM in the spring of 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a minor in Reading. Lori taught in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont for 30 years, retiring in 2011. She is currently in her 40th year in education, teaching kindergarten in North Charleston, SC.

Lori has two adult children, Damon and Morgan, from her marriage to Kerry Smith of Wheelock and has recently been blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Cecilia, Annabella, and Nash. She currently resides in Charleston, SC with her husband Jerry Alexander.

Ralph Devereaux

Ralph Devereaux '59 was a member of the Vermont Division 1 State ChampionTrack and Field Teams in 1956, 57, and 58. These teams were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in October 2021. Ralph was selected for individual induction for the class of 2022, and honored with the class of 2023.

Ralph was the Vermont Division 1 State Champion in 120-yard High Hurdles in 1957, 1958, and 1959. During those years, Ralph not only set the Lyndon Institute Record in the 120 High Hurdles, but he also set the Vermont State record in them as well. Ralph held the record by himself at LI until it was tied by fellow Hall of Famer Milt Norway in 1970. Ralph’s record of 14.9 seconds makes him only one of two LI athletes to run under 15 seconds in either the 120-yard or 110-meter high hurdles.

Ralph honed his craft by trying to knock coins off of the hurdles without moving the hurdle itself while crossing the barrier. He became elite at this training exercise and added to his reputation as being the best hurdler in Vermont at that time.

Besides the 120 High Hurdles, Ralph was also the 1958 and 1959 State Champion in the 180 Hurdles. Again, he held both the LI and the Vermont State Record in this event with a personal best time of 20.8 seconds.

Ralph also participated in the High Jump, western rolling himself over 5”9.5” and into a ground level pit of sawdust. At the time of his graduation, Ralph was number 2 in the LI history books in that event.

Besides Track, Ralph excelled in skiing and was a member of the 1956 and 1959 State Champion Boys Combined Ski Teams. Ralph went on to participate in the Juniors Ski Program and ski across both the Eastern and Western United States as well as Canada.

After graduating from LI and as he hurdled through life, Ralph became a very successful businessman in the Lyndonville area, where he raised his family.

 

Ron Dunphy

Ron, Class of 1959, competed in football and track. His natural speed and agility contributed to both teams enjoying great success. Ron started making his mark his sophomore year on the track team as he grew stronger and started to train seriously. That hard work began paying dividends and in his junior year he became the first recipient of the Burns and Lewis Award for earning the most points in a single season-45! It was also that year that he was State Champion in the 100, 220, and 440 setting both LI and State records in those events finishing undefeated. The boys track team won the state championship that year and traveled to Rhode Island to compete in the New England Championship.

The team was able to repeat their championship the following year and Ron was able to again capture the title in the 100 yard dash. Ron considers himself grateful for his LI years not only for his accomplishments, but also because he got to train and compete with other amazing athletes such as Bob Heath, Tim Simpson and Ralph Devereaux.

Ron married his high school sweetheart, Leora (Thompson) Dunphy in 1960, who was also a classmate. They had four daughters Pamela, Patricia (Tissy), Paula and Peggy, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Ron joined the National guard after graduation and worked as head of maintenance at the Lyndon Town School. Ron and his family have a long tradition at Lyndon Institute as his mother, his brother, his children, and some of his grandchildren are LI grads.

Don was born in 1924 to parents Warren and Hester Erskine and grew up at 518 Main Street, Lyndonville along with 1 sister Dorothy. He was full of curiosity and enjoyed learning how things worked, constructing model airplanes, and particularly enjoyed skiing with his friends which involved hiking up hills time and time again carrying wooden skis on their shoulders to experience the thrill of plummeting down the terrain, or going over ski jumps. A pair of these wooden skis, with Don’s initials embossed, are still on display in his daughter’s home today. When Don Erskine entered Lyndon Institute as a freshman in 1938 there were no ski teams at the time. However, the Lyndon Outing Club was founded in 1937 and, like many ambitious skiers, Don was drawn to the 35 meter ski jump in the Fletcher pasture, by the Oscar Baril Farm, which was later rebuilt to 45 meters. Here he honed his technical skills and fostered a love of ski jumping and competition that would later lead him to remain involved in the sport as the treasurer of the Eastern Ski Jumping Judges Association, long after he had hung up his own competitive skis.

Don Erskine also had a love of learning. He was fascinated by science and technology. At age 16, he obtained his FCC radio operator’s license which is a skill that served him well during World War 2. Don left Lyndon Institute before completing his senior year to enlist with the 10th Mountain Ski Division. He was a technical sergeant in the Division Signal Corps radio and ski patrol in the Apennine Valley in Italy until 1946. When the war ended he had an opportunity to ski in the Austrian Alps for the sheer joy of it, and he talked about that experience many times later in life, although he always mentioned how happy he was to return to a peaceful world and his home in Lyndonville, VT. 

On return from the war, Don Erskine completed his final year of high school, graduating from LI in 1947. During that year, he is also responsible for initiating the very first girl’s ski class at Lyndon Institute. He then went on to Norwich University for 2 years on the GI Bill, then to the University of VT graduating with a BS in Education in 1951. He was a member of the Alpine and Ski Jumping teams at both Norwich and UVM where he achieved many individual and team wins. 1951 is also the year that he married fellow Lyndon Institute alumnus Evelyn Coe (LI class of 1946), took a position teaching chemistry and physics at LI, and moved into the Sanborn House as a dorm proctor. Don and Evelyn eventually moved to Collison Cottage on the LI Campus, then further down the street in Lyndon Center years later. They had 5 children; Cheryl, Karen, Linda, Diane and Bryant who all attended Lyndon Institute.

For 15 years Don was a teacher and ski coach at Lyndon Institute from 1951 to 1965. His love for learning transitioned well for becoming a respected teacher, coach and mentor. Under his tutelage the Lyndon Institute Ski Team flourished. They won: • 13 district championships • Nine VT state championships - 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 • Two All New England championships 1960 and 1963.  Don Erskine had high standards for himself and his students, whether it was in the classroom, a laboratory, or on the ski slopes. He believed that everyone can excel, but that there will also be times of defeat. He never berated a student or athlete for falling short of a goal, so long as the effort was strong. He believed that if you do your best, and continue to learn and improve from each experience that you have, then you are a winner. He also encouraged appreciation of being part of a team, something larger than yourself. This philosophy put into action is what made him a great coach. It also accounts for his unwavering loyalty to Lyndon Institute where, even after he left LI to become a research engineer, he continued to be a corporator and vocal advocate of the school and Lyndon Institute sports until his death in 1988.

He was inducted into the VT Ski Hall of Fame in 2003 posthumously for his service in the 10th Mountain Ski Division during World War 2. He would be equally proud and honored by this induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Lyndon Institute.

Mickey enjoyed sports from his youngest years in elementary school and excelled there as well as at LI (1951-1955). He was a well-rounded student and particularly enjoyed Music and the Arts. Bertha Koury, Mickey recalled, opened up a whole new experience for him.

Mickey was a starter on the varsity football team all four years and played quarter back his first three years and running back as a senior. He was third in the state his senior year for points scored in the state and in one game, versus Newport, ran two kickoffs back for touch downs. He was selected for the VT Shrine Team as a punter, return man, and running back helping VT record a 12-6 victory. In Track Mickey participated in the Long Jump, Javelin, Shot Put, Pole Vault, and the 100 Yard Dash. He held the LI record in the Long Jump at 21’ 1 ’ until it was broken by Milt Norway. In one meet his track coach, Mr. Lewis, asked him if he’d try the high jump as they needed a point to edge their rival that day. Mickey agreed, placed third, and gave LI the victory. After high school Mickey stayed active with baseball, softball, and archery among other pursuits. He won the 1963 VT Indoor Archery Championship.

Mickey’s children with his wife, Frances, also participated in sports at LI: Brad ’85, Casey ’87, and Joy ’89. His grandchildren followed in those big shoes as well. Dylan ’09, Breanna ’11, Rossen ’18, Sawyer ’21, and Brody, Emma, and Brinley are waiting in the wings. Mickey was a Corporator and Trustee for LI and served as a member and President of Lyndonville Rotary. He also was on the boards of the LOC and the Caledonia Forest and Stream Club.

 

Born in May of 1955 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, to loving parents Ernest and Gisele, Ernie Gaskin’s life has been defined by his unwavering commitment to excellence. A proud graduate of Lyndon Institute’s Class of 1973, Ernie was a three-sport athlete and left an indelible mark on the world of sports.

At Lyndon Institute, Ernie Gaskin showcased his talent by becoming a Vermont state champion in not one, but two track and field events: the shot put and the high jump. His athleticism extended beyond the track, as he was a formidable presence on the Vikings’ football and basketball teams, earning admiration and respect from teammates and opponents alike. He was nominated to the Vermont Shrine Football team.

After his time at Lyndon Institute, Ernie briefly attended Kimball Union Academy, further enriching his education and athletic journey. Yet, it was his destiny in the world of Standardbred horse racing that would truly define him.

In the early 1990s, Ernie Gaskin embarked on a new chapter in his life when he arrived in the state of Indiana. The dawn of pari-mutuel racing presented an opportunity, and he and his wife, Darla, seized it. Together, they established Crimson Lane Farm, a harness racing training facility that set the standard for excellence. Complete with a state-of-the-art training track, two training barns, and a breeding operation.

Before venturing to Indiana, Ernie honed his craft as the second trainer for the renowned Billy Haughton, where he assisted in the training of illustrious horses like Peace Corps and Nihilator. His apprenticeship under Haughton solidified his reputation as an extraordinary talent in the world of Standardbred horse training.

Ernie Gaskin’s contributions extended beyond the racetrack. He was a founding member of the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development committee, dedicating countless hours to advancing the sport he loved. His advocacy for projects in horse racing, such as casino gaming at racetracks and enhanced breed development funding, played a pivotal role in shaping the industry in Indiana.

Recognizing his immense impact, Ernie was appointed as a director for the Indiana Standardbred Association and achieved a prestigious position on the Hambletonian Society Board of Directors. His dedication and influence culminated in his induction into the Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Fame.

Today, Ernie Gaskin and his wife, Darla, continue their legacy as they train a stable of horses and operate Crimson Lane Farm. Ernie and Darla have two daughters, Emily Ratcliff (husband Dr. Josh Ratcliff) and Amanda Gaskin. Ernie has a log home in Granby, Vermont, that he frequently visits with his family throughout the year.


Michael Guyer

Personal athletic achievements include:

• Football captain junior and senior years; First team all state junior and senior years; Vermont Shrine team 1970
• Skiing captain junior and senior years;  Eastern Nordic Combined champion senior year; 3rd place at 1970 US & Canada Nordic Combined Junior National Championship; Selected for the US national Nordic Combined B-team 1970
• In track, set LI freshman record in the 440 yard dash at 55.1 seconds 1967; 1970-2nd place finish in the New England high school track championships with a javelin toss of 197.7  feet
• Track team captain junior and senior years. 

A standout member of the LI Class of ’58, Bob was a star in football, basketball, and track. The ’56, ’57, and ’58 teams were State Champs in an era when all teams were grouped in a single division. He was a two-time State Champion in the 220 and the first of only seven LI throwers to reach 48 feet in the shot put.

Bob led his football mates in scoring his Senior year and set records for punting and receiving. His accomplishments led to his selection for the VT Shrine Team. He was honored to be recruited by Syracuse University as their punter but chose to stay home to work while also attending Lyndon Teachers College. He did note that Syracuse became National Champions in 1959. At LTC Bob competed in, and excelled at, soccer and track. He won a New England Championship in the 220 and along with his exploits on the pitch was selected to the Lyndon Athletic Hall of Fame’s second induction class.

Bob returned to LI in 1964 where he was a teacher, coach, and administrator-usually all at the same time-retiring in 1998. He remained a fixture on campus coaching track athletes long after his retirement, many of whom went on to set their own school records, and win their own state championships. Bob was inducted into the VT Principals Association Athletic Hall of Fame for his service to Vermont Athletics.

Andrew joined the athletics staff at Middlebury in 2013-14 as the head coach of the Nordic ski program. The former Panther skier and two-time United States Olympian came to Middlebury from the University of Vermont, where he served as an assistant coach for three years, helping the Catamounts to the 2012 NCAA title.

Andrew was honored as the 2017-18 Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) Coach of the Year after the Panthers qualified a full squad for the NCAA Championships. Before joining the Catamounts, Andrew was an assistant Nordic coach at the University of Utah during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. While at Utah, he earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies.

A native of Greensboro, Vermont, Andrew was a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1999-2007. He competed in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. He also competed in the Nordic World Ski Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Andrew was the U.S. National Champion in cross-country skiing in 2005 and 2006. Andrew began his career at Middlebury where he was a three-time NCAA All-American from 1997-99 under head coach Terry Aldrich. He was the U.S. Junior National Champion in cross-country skiing in 1996.

 

Duane was born in 1953 in Montpelier, Vermont, to David and Vinnie Johnson of Plainfield, Vermont. In 1957, he and his family moved to Lyndon Center. Throughout grade school, he was able to watch many football and track events. He started skiing on Dutton and Harris Hill in Lyndon Center with his twin brother and the Harris brothers. They would pack trails to ski on and build jumps to see who could jump the furthest.

During the spring, they would make high jump standards and bars out of boards so they could compete against each other. Duane and his friends would play on the LI track, jumping over hurdles and using the long jump pit in the evenings after LI practices were over. From 6th through 8th grade, Duane joined the Lyndon Outing Club junior ski team coached by Reg and Dick Welch. He learned to ski slalom, giant slalom, ski jump, and ski cross country. He started competing in a few Eastern Ski Association meets during the weekends.

The highlight of 8th grade was competing against the LI high school JV ski team. In 1967,  Duane attended LI and graduated in the spring of 1971. During high school, he played on the football, ski, and track teams, and was a co-captain of the ski and track teams during his senior year. Duane was the 1970 and 1971 Vermont state high school Ski Meister champion (slalom, giant slalom, jumping, cross country) and finished second in both years in the New England Ski Meister competition. In the spring of 1970, he was a member of the Eastern Junior National ski team (Nordic combined (X/C, Jumping)) held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He won the jumping portion of the Nordic Combined competition and placed 9th overall. Duane was named to the 1970-71 US B-Nordic Combined Ski Team. In track, Duane set the LI freshman javelin record and was the 1971 Vermont state high school Javelin Champion.

In 1971, Duane attended Champlain Junior College, majoring in Data Processing. In 1973, he was the Regional and Northeastern US Junior College javelin champion. He placed 6th in the javelin throw at the National Junior college competition at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. In 1973, Duane attended Northeastern University, majoring in Business Administration (co-op program) on a track scholarship. In 1975, he won the New England college Division-1 javelin (New England Record). He competed in NCAA track & field competition at Brigham University, Provo, Utah.

During high school, Duane met the love of his life, Jane Melcher, his sophomore year, and they were married shortly after college in 1976. They have two wonderful children, Maria and Michael, plus one grandchild, Nolan. After college, Duane and Jane moved back to Lyndonville where Duane got a job at Ethan Allen in Orleans, Vermont, as a computer operator and was later promoted to computer programmer. In 1978, he started a new job at Fairbanks Scales as a computer programmer and worked his way up to IT Manager. After 41 years at Fairbanks Scales, Duane retired in June of 2019. 

For a few years, Duane was able to help coach javelin at LI. He helped coach Lyndonville boys tee ball, Minor League, Little League and Babe Ruth baseball, plus girls Little League Softball. Duane also coached in the Burke Mountain Academy junior race program for eight years. He was fortunate to help a number of youngsters learn to ski race, and enjoy skiing.

Jen was born in 1982 to Larry and Joan Kirchoff, and grew up in Lyndonville on Pudding Hill on the Circle K Farm. Living on a beef farm and helping with all sorts of farm chores taught her invaluable lessons that served her well in athletics, and life – the importance of teamwork and dedication.

During her youth Jen was naturally competitive and participated in multiple sports, but by high school at Lyndon Institute chose to focus on girls soccer, boys ice hockey and softball, where she was a member of the varsity team all four years for each. Senior year she was captain of the State Champion Softball Team, and was voted Most Valuable Player at the Twin State VT vs. NH game. She was also Captain of the soccer team and 2000 member of the All State Soccer Team.  As a forward for all four years on the boy’s hockey team, Jen received the Viking Dedication Award.  She was elected for three years to both the Northern Lights Women’s Hockey Team of VT and the Make a Wish Women’s Hockey Team where she was recognized as the most valuable player her senior year.  In 2001 she received the Booster Club Award.  The summer before college Jen was chosen for the Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Training Camp in Lake Placid.

After high school, Jen attended the University of Vermont on an athletic scholarship and was a member of their NCAA Division I women’s hockey team for the 2001 season.  Jen transferred to Lyndon State College in 2002 to finish out her college career where she was a celebrated two sport athlete in soccer and softball all four years and a member of the Men’s Lyndon’s Hockey Club for one year.  She was a three-year captain for the soccer team and four-year captain for the softball team.  She received numerous college, regional and conference honors for both sports, achieving national recognition in softball where in 2004 she ranked first in runs batted in per game, first in individual stolen bases and fifth in batting average. She received the Dudley Bell Award, which is given to the outstanding female athlete of the year, three years in a row. In 2005 she played softball in Stockholm, Sweden for the USA International Softball Athletes. In 2006, she received the Character Award. Jen was inducted into the Lyndon State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. 

After graduating with a degree in allied health sciences (now known as exercise science) in 2006, Jen stayed involved in LSC athletics, assistant coaching volleyball for one year and head-coaching softball five years, taking the team to nationals in her first year. Jen is currently the Associate Director of Philanthropy at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, a professional skating coach at Fenton Chester Ice Arena, Minor League Softball Coach in Danville for her daughter’s team, and assistant soccer coach for her son’s team. Jen and her husband Joe (LSC grad ’02) reside in Peacham, VT off the grid, raising two children, and tending to a mini farm (mini horse, egg layers, and meat birds). Jen remains involved in recreational sports and is training for her first half marathon.

 

Janet was born in 1959 in Manchester, Connecticut to Richard and Lorraine Kwiecienski. She moved to Lyndon, Vermont with her family in 1967. Janet loved tagging along after her brothers, Erik and Mark, in as many activities as she could, providing her with an endless source of competition upon which she thrived.

Janet and her brothers learned to ski that very first year in Vermont at the local ski hill, Lyndon Outing Club. They began competing in Northern Council III & IV division ski races for LOC and soon transitioned to training at Burke Mountain. Janet excelled and claimed the title of Girls Vermont State Champion during her final year in the USEASA Division III & IV. She eventually qualified to compete in the eastern Can-Am circuit. During her high school years at Lyndon Institute, Janet was on school athletic teams (field hockey, skiing, track) every season.

Academically, she was inducted into the National Honor Society for her junior and senior years and graduated with high honors in 1977. Personal high school skiing achievements include: Vermont State Champion in Slalom (4 years), Vermont State Champion in Giant Slalom (3 years), Vermont Skimeister, New England Champion in Slalom and New England Skimeister (all senior year)--leading her team to claim the State Championship title (junior year) and earning her a presence in the “Faces in the Crowd” section of Sports Illustrated Magazine in March of 1977.

Buddy Lamothe born  in 1990, in St. Johnsbury VT. Moved to Lyndonville in the 6th grade from Danville.  He grew up loving the game of baseball and no matter what anyone said, or how many times they told him it wouldn’t be possible to make it to the major leagues, that was all he wanted and he wouldn’t stop until he made that possible. 

 

Buddy started playing at the early age of 3. At the age of 12 Buddy was asked to play for the 15 year old all-star team, before they knew he was only 12. In 2009, he was part of the undefeated State Championship team and was also the winning pitcher in the State Championship game. Ending the regular season with an 8-0 record with 3 saves and 3 no-hitters. He pitched 56 ⅓ innings striking out 127 batters he faced, with a ridiculous ERA of 0.25. Buddy was a 3 sport varsity athlete, playing Baseball, Football, and Hockey. He was captain of the hockey team his junior and senior year. Buddy was asked to play in the North South football game, but elected to continue training for baseball.

 

In 2011 he was given a full scholarship to San Jacinto junior college in Houston TX. He became their number one closer, with a record of 2-0, 7 saves in 36.3 innings, striking out 44 batters and an astonishing ERA of 0.77. With a fastball of 95-97 miles per hour topping out at 99 MPH, a slider that buckled knees and a changeup that froze hitters in their stance, quickly caught the eyes of many scouts. Including; the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and the New York Yankees, to name a few. He was projected to go in the second round of the 2011 MLB Mock Draft.

 

On May 1, 2011, Buddy was in a diving accident that left him paralyzed and ended his baseball career at the very height of his ability. The Houston Astros recognized his ability, talents, and dedication to the sport, and knowing that he would never play again, they still honored Buddy by drafting him. They used their 40th round pick in the 2011 draft to choose Buddy and become part of that elite group he had worked so hard to join.

 

I would like to thank my father Joe Lamothe for all the days and nights he spent throwing with me out in the yard until dark, and the miles and miles he drove to games and practices, never once complaining and always pushing me to be the very best I could be. I would also like to thank the rest of my family and friends for all their love and support they have shown,  not just by attending my games but also all the support they’ve given after I was hurt.  Lastly, I would like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee for electing me and allowing me to be part of this group of outstanding athletes.

My formal education consisted of high school at Lyndon Institute (’56), and Middlebury College (‘62) in my home state of VT. High school and college sports activity, specifically skiing, influenced the professional work direction I was to take. I can credit my early athletic development with enabling me to lead a pro-active lifestyle, both recreationally and professionally, I feel fortunate that that lifestyle remains with me to this day.

Early employment in public relations departments at Colorado and VT ski resorts led to several years of freelance photography and cinematography assignments in and outside of the U. S. Editorial photography throughout the mid-’60’s and 1970’s included published work for Today’s Health, Maclean’s Magazine, Ski, Skiing, Venture, True, Sports Illustrated, Travel and Leisure, Seventeen Magazine. Additionally, I worked at the 1968, 1974, and 1980 Winter Olympic Games as an accredited professional photographer.

  Still Photography morphed into motion picture photography with eighteen years as a regular cameraman for Warren Miller Productions in California, and several film projects with Edward Films of Chamonix, France and Eagle Bridge, NY.

  Along the way photography stimulated my interest in photo-mechanical reproduction, and by working in the trade I learned pre-press skills  and computer imaging.  This was augmented with technical programs at Rochester Institute of Technology and at the Kodak Center for Creative Imaging in Camden, Maine.

I joined the Stinehour Press in Lunenburg, VT early in its digital transformation and enjoyed several years as an imaging technician producing fine art reproductions for national publishing companies.

Retiring from the Stinehour Press in 2004 I continued my activity in digital imaging working independently and in association with Stinehour Editions in Lunenburg, VT.  Lancaster, NH has been my home for the past 24 years.

 

Margaret, “Meg,” was born in St. Johnsbury, the first child of William and Claudia McCormack.  Named after her mother’s favorite Aunt Margaret (“Marnie”), who interestingly had polio as a teenager and was limited in her activities, yet rarely let that condition stop her from doing the things she loved.  While Meg enjoyed skiing at a young age, she also loved to dance and took ballet lessons until her teacher relocated to another area.  When Fenton Chester Ice Arena started offering figure skating lessons, Meg’s parents thought she might enjoy using her ballet skills on the ice; she did and became a successful competitor and also performed in many local ice shows during her school years. It was during her junior high years at Lyndon Graded School Meg heard about a summer track program being organized by some local coaches.  With the help and encouragement of Paul Wheeler and Bob Heath, she developed a love for sprint running and jumping events.

During the four years at Lyndon Institute, Meg played field hockey in the fall, kept up her figure skating skills in the winter, and participated in track and field in the spring. In 1989, she was a member of the field hockey team that made it to the Div. II Semifinals.  From 1988-91, she was a member of the undefeated girl’s track team, winning the state long jump title each of those four years.  She also competed in the triple jump, 100 yd., 4x100 relay, and 100 hurdles.  At the 1989 New England Track and Field meet, Meg placed 4th in the long jump with an LI school record of 17.5”.  Coach Merlyn Courser beamed that day!  In 1991, Meg received the Gatorade Player of the Year Award for Track and Field.  In addition to sports, Meg attended Girl’s State in 1990 and was inducted into the National Honor Society in 1991.

Meg attended The University of Vermont on a partial track scholarship, graduating in 1995 with a degree in Medical Technology.  Soon after, she moved to Boulder, Colorado with her college roommates, finding a job as a forensic chemist in a private lab and her future husband, Brian, on the ski slopes.  While living there, skiing and hiking the Colorado 14’ers, she discovered she had a congenital heart defect that later required two open-heart surgeries.  

Meg’s quiet but competitive nature eventually led her back to an active lifestyle, competing in various road races and running her first marathon at age 40.  Meg currently lives on the coast of Maine with her husband, where she’s raising two sons, a dog, and six chickens.

Milt was born in 1952 to Milton and Ione Norway of Sheffield, the next to the youngest of eight siblings.  Living in the rural town of Sheffield and attending Sheffield Graded School, Milt didn’t have the opportunity to join any youth athletic programs.   It wasn’t until he entered his freshman year at Lyndon Institute that his natural athletic ability began to shine.  At Lyndon Institute, Milt participated in football and track.  

Milt holds school records in indoor track in long jump (only LI jumper to go over 21 feet indoors) as well as school records in 45 and 55-yard hurdles. He holds the school record (tied with Ralph Devereaux) in the 120-yard high hurdles.  They are the only 2 ever to go under 15 seconds in the hurdles At one time, Milt held the school record in the long jump, 21’ 10.5”, from 1970 to 1982 (broken by Mark Weigle) by .5”.  He is still number 2 all-time
at LI in that event.

Milt remains in the top 10 of LI triple jumpers.  At one time, he held the school record in that event until broken by Duane Johnson in 1971.  After graduating from Lyndon Institute in 1970, Milt went to college to pursue his football passion at Huron College in South Dakota.  After a short time there, his love of the Northeast Kingdom brought him back to Lyndon State College, where he continued to set records in track at the college level.

After college, he enjoyed playing softball with local teams.  He was very proud of his three children, Jeff, Chris, and Carrie.  He enjoyed watching Jeff and Chris as they played baseball, football, and hockey both at the youth level, high school, and college.  Although Milt passed away in 2014, he would have loved to watch his grandchildren pursue his love of athletics as they continue
in his footsteps, setting records in baseball, football, and lacrosse. 

John Howard Sackett was born Feb. 25, 1959, in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, the son of the late Howard J and Joan L. (Sandstrom) Sackett. After moving to Durango, Colorado as a young boy, John then made the move to Lyndon to join the dorm program at LI., where he participated in cross country running, skiing and track & field. John graduated Lyndon Institute with the Class of 1977 after what was an accomplished career at Lyndon Institute. In 1982 John married Corinne “Coco” Berry, soon thereafter they began raising a family in Lyndon.

While constantly pursuing his passion of nordic ski racing, John narrowly missed making the 1984 U.S. Olympic cross country ski team. He started the Nordic ski program at Burke Mountain Academy in East Burke during the 1980’s and coached students at Lyndon Institute as well. Sackett won two silver medals and a bronze at the 1998 World Championships in Lake Placid, NY.

John was looking forward to attending the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City where he would be lending technical support to the American Nordic athletes. While being known as one of the area’s greatest athletes, it was all too common for John to casually bike up Kirby Mountain and back on his lunch break. He was the manager of the Village Sport Shop in Lyndonville for many years and continues to inspire local athletes young and old.

 

Judi St. Hilaire was the finest female runner (and occasional X-C skier) ever to wear maroon for the Vikings. All four years (Class of 1977) she set and broke records in fall X-C running and in track when spring finally rolled around. She skied X-C in her Junior year and the LI girls won their first State Championship! Judy led her fall X-C teams to championships in 1974,’75, and’76. She replicated the feat in track as LI rolled to state titles from 1973, 1976, and 1977. She won the 440 in ’74, the 880 in ’75, ’76, and’77, and the mile in 1975 and 1977.

Judi went on to great success at UVM winning All-American honors in a wide number of running competitions. In 1981 she was named VT Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Athlete of the Year. In 1991 she was inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Judi enjoyed a long post-collegiate professional running career (1981-1996) under the Nike banner winning numerous major road races and named first in world road race ranking in 1993. Previously she was named to the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and placed 8th in the summer games running the 10,000 meters.

Upon turning 40 Judi returned to competition in the Masters division winning more major races and getting involved with triathlons and road biking up to the present day. Judi also lent her knowledge and experience to young athletes at Boston College and Case High School in Massachusetts. Somehow, she found time to meet and fall in love with Paul Coogan, getting married in 1989, and wisely advising him as he pilots the ship of Fall River, MA as mayor.

 

Throughout his time at LI, Paul established several school records in track and won numerous State Championships in cross country running, cross country skiing and track and field. 

During the 1966-1967 school year, Paul was the State Champion in cross country skiing, as well as the State Champion in the mile run and two mile run in Track.

In the 1967-1968 school year, Paul was again the State Champion in cross country skiing, as well as repeating as the State Champion in the mile run and two mile run in track.

Paul also excelled in cross country running in the New England Championships. It is important to note that during this time, there were no divisions, and he was competing against the very best from throughout New England. In 1966, he finished 8th in the New Englands, and in 1967 he finished 7th. He was the only Vermonter in the top ten finishers each of those two years. 

After graduating from LI in 1968, Paul attended UVM and LSC before enlisting in the US Navy in 1970. He served until 1974 during the VietNam War. During this time, he was deployed three times for about seven months each to Southeast Asia aboard the Destroyer USS Rupertus 851, based out of San Diego. 

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Paul worked in San Diego for nine years in the Civil Service at Miramar Naval Air Station. In 1986, he moved back to Vermont. In 1989, he started work at Lyndon Furniture, where he remained until his medical retirement in 2020.

Paul has one daughter, Cassie, LI Class of 2000. Cassie is teaching English and Science in Louisiana. Paul also has three grandchildren, Mikey, Kaden, and McKenna. Kaden is a freshman at Northern Texas Baptist College. He is playing football as a linebacker and receiver. He also hopes to be able to play basketball.

 

Susan Simpson, born in Hanover, New Hampshire, was raised on the Wilder Farm in Lyndonville. Her parents are fellow LI Hall of Famer and long time LI teacher and coach, Tim Simpson and Sara Simpson, former LI teacher, and current LI trustee.

Susan grew up cross-country skiing in the Bill Koch Ski League, playing baseball in the Lyndonville Little League, downhill skiing at the Outing Club, running in Littleton fun runs, and riding her bike with her sister three miles out to town to swim at Powers Park. She also played in whole wiffleball seasons organized by her brother, and she also occasionally engaged in running races against her grandmother, Zelda Cox Simpson, who was extremely fast and an under-recognized athlete of the family.

Running was just an assumed path in the Simpson family. Susan was preceded by her sister Beth and her brother Timmy on all of her teams. She was coached by her father in cross country and track, guided by his unique brand of very quiet, but highly effective encouragement.

While at LI, she participated in cross country, and track. She skied one especially cold winter on the Nordic team before turning to basketball, which she loved. 

Susan was the 2x Division 2 State Champion in 800 meters in 1985 and 1987,

and Division 2 State Champion in 1500 meters in 1987. She was 2x State Division 2 record holder (800 m and 1500 m) (1987) 2:20.2 + 4:51.30. She holds the school record in the 1600 meters (5:05.30). She is tied with Judi St. Hilaire for the L.I. school record in 880 yard run (1986) 2:19.6.

Susan graduated from Brown University with a BA in Fine Arts and received her MFA from California Institute of the Arts, where she also taught for 14 years.

Susan lives in Los Angeles with her wife, Deborah, and daughters, Diana and Jessica. She works as an artist and furniture maker. She has coached youth soccer and basketball. She has continued running throughout her life for fun and fitness.

She ran the L.A. marathon in 2019, though kind of slowly. Most of her athletic pursuits these days are in and around the mountains in Los Angeles. She is an ardent hiker and passionate about hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She is an avid women’s sports fan, especially the new Los Angeles soccer team, Angel City FC.

She is grateful for all the support she received from her parents and siblings, and all of the coaches that brought so many sports to Lyndonville and made it such a fun place for a sporty kid to grow up.

 

Tim was born July 22, 1940 to Leland and Zelda Cox Simpson.  He loved growing up on the farm with his parents, grandparents, and brothers and sister.  He graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1959, where he was an outstanding athlete, playing football, basketball and track.  His senior year he won the state meet in the half mile and the javelin.

  He graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of science degree in 1963 and a master of science degree in 1965.  At UVM Tim competed in cross country, track, and cross country skiing.  In 1997 he was inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1968 he graduated from Cornell University with a Ph.D. in soil chemistry. After serving two years in the Army at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, NH, Tim returned to Lyndonville to teach at LI and live on the family farm.

On September 1, 1962, he married Sara Jackson.  They had three children, Tim, Beth, and Susan.  One thing that made him especially proud was that he was a father, teacher, and coach to all of them.

Tim taught chemistry and physics and coached cross country and track at LI for 32 years.  He was a well-loved teacher, appreciated for his gentle teaching methods and understated wit.  He never tired of talking about his love of teaching and the many accomplishments of his students.  Twice, Tim took a sabbatical and taught at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Tim loved the soft  air of Hawaii and he and Sara returned often to visit.

Tim was a life-long runner and a familiar figure on the roads around Lyndonville.  His after-school runs with LI buddies were one of the many joys of his life.  He  ran several marathons, including Boston twice.  Sometime in his 40s he began running in Masters track meets and in 2001 he won the National Masters Indoor Championship in both the mile (5:15) and 800 meters (2:18).

Tim served the community as a school board member and a selectman.  He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Lyndonville.

Tim enjoyed traveling with his family, in the 1990s he and Sara took several trips to Europe, twice trading houses with people in England and France. He loved being with his grandchildren, walking with Sara, reading, gardening, painting, beer-making, and working on the farm with his father. He was a lifelong Red Sox fan, sadly the team never won a World Series in his lifetime.

Tim died on March 31, 2003 in the house he built on the farm on which he was born.

 

Tim was born in 1963 in Burlington, Vermont to Tim and Sara Simpson. He moved to Lyndonville, Vermont with his family before starting second grade.

Tim has two younger sisters Beth and Susan who were no doubt tired of his desire to constantly compete and play games. Tim’s running career was perhaps inevitable considering his father Tim’s stellar athletic career as well as Tim and Sara’s siblings (Wilder and Gib Simpson and Bill Jackson) who all excelled at sports at LI and St. J.  

During his high school years at Lyndon Institute, Tim ran cross country for four years and track for four years and was on the ski team for three years. During that time the track team won the state championship in 1979 and 1980 and finished second in 1981.

Personal high school achievements include a State Champion in the 1500 meters in 1981 as a senior in 4:02 which at that time was a Div. II state meet record. Tim finished 2nd in the State Meet in 1980 in the 1500 in an epic race contested on the LI track. Tim finished 2nd in the state as a senior in XC.

He studied communications at the Michigan State University earning his bachelor’s degree in 1987. Tim earned NCAA D1 All-American honors in 1987 in the 1500 meters, scored highly in the Big Ten conference numerous times and set a school record in the 1500 meter run at MSU that stood until 2022. Tim placed 10th in the TAC Nationals in 1987 and competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials and placed 12th. In 1987 Tim ran a split of 3:57 in a 4-mile relay at Drake Relays (the relay record still stands at MSU) and later ran his fastest 1500-meter time of 3:41.06 which converts to a 3:58 one-mile time. At that time Tim was the first Vermonter to run a mile or the metric conversion under 4 minutes. At the time it was the fastest 1500-meter time run by a collegian from New England. 

After graduation Tim moved into a graduate assistant and then assistant coaching position with the MSU track and field/cross country program which he held for three years before taking a high school coaching position and a job in private industry. 

Tim took a position with the Michigan Office of Retirement Services in 1996 where he is still employed as a manager in their customer service process.

Tim and his wife Angela who is now a retired State of Michigan employee were married in 2004 and their only child, daughter Zee was born in 2005.  They have lived in the Lansing, Michigan area the entire time and Zee is currently a senior at Lansing Catholic High School where Tim is coaching.

Tim took the coaching position at Lansing Catholic High School in 2000 and has been coaching boys’ and girls’ cross country and track at the school since. Tim’s teams have won four state championships with the most recent coming this spring in boy’s track. His teams have finished as runner-up another seven times with numerous individual state champions and athletes going on to compete at the collegiate level. Tim has been named Michigan Coach of the Year in the various sports six times and been a finalist for national honors. Tim is an avid sports fan still watching every Red Sox game as well Michigan State football and basketball among others. Tim’s running these days is limited to the running he does during coaching. 

 

Charles (Chuck) was born in 1950 in St. Johnsbury, VT, to Genevieve and George Smith, and grew up in East Burke, VT.  He, his brother Francis, and their friends attended elementary school in East Burke, where they played baseball and football, rode bikes, and spent time ice skating, and skiing.     He attended Lyndon Institute his freshman through senior years where he began school athletics, which became a major part of his life.   Bob Heath was one of his teachers his freshman year and became a life-long inspiration for Chuck.   Coach Heath was the freshman class sponsor and varsity football and track coach.  He saw talent in Chuck that Chuck didn’t know he had and encouraged him to run track along with playing football (which he was already planning to do).

His freshman year (’65-’66) he began running track.  During his time there, he set the 100-yard dash and 220-yard dash records, formerly belonging to Coach Heath. He began playing football his sophomore year (sat out freshman year because of an injury).  He graduated high school in 1969 and attended New Hampton Prep School (New Hampton, NH) in 1969 – 1970 where he played football, ran track, and threw the shot put.   In the summer between Lyndon Institute and New Hampton Prep School, he was selected and played in the Vermont-New Hampshire Shrine Bowl.

During his time at New Hampton, he received the McLeon Football Award and the Roger D. Newell Track Award for leading point getter.  In addition, he set the 100-yard dash record and ran on the 880-yard relay team setting a New England and school record. Chuck and his track team won the Class B New England Prep School Track and Field Championship that year.

Chuck received a scholarship to play football and run track at Yankton College in Yankton, SD, where he lettered in football and track and was a member of the YC Greyhound Greats.  He set records in the 100-yard dash and 880-yard relay (‘71 and ‘72).  Other accomplishments include All Conference Football (‘73), All District Football (‘73), and Little All American Football (‘73).   He graduated from Yankton College in 1974 with a B.S. in Physical Education and in 1978 from University of South Dakota with a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Personal Services, where he was a graduate assistant as a coach on the football team.   He was inducted into the Yankton College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.     

Chuck was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.  After being released by the Cardinals, he finished the season playing semi-pro for the Madison Wisconsin Mustangs.  The following season, he signed with Charlotte Hornets (World Football League) until a serious ankle injury ended his season.  He was invited in 1976 for a tryout with Calgary Stampede (Canadian Football League).

He began his career in public education as a teacher, counselor, and coach in 1975.  He was recognized as Linebacker and Defensive Back Coach for state 4A High School Football Champions (‘94 and ‘96), Sprint Coach for state 4A High School Track Champions (‘99), and was inducted into the Excelsior Springs School High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a football and track coach.  He was a member of and competed in the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association and (‘79 – ‘94) and achieved national ranking and qualified for two national meets.

Chuck is retired and lives in Missouri and winters in Bradenton, Florida.  He is married and has 4 children and 5 grandchildren.  He continues to be physically active, spending time in the gym 4 days a week and enjoys traveling in and out of the U.S.

 

Wendy Ellen Griffin (Smith) was born on June 23, 1960 the daughter of Clarence and Karlene (Boardman) Smith.  She attended the graded schools in Lyndonville and was raised on Church Street with her four siblings.

Childhood photos show a very active girl in many different genres.  She was a dancer, baton twirler, girl scout, cross country skier, down hill skier, track and field fielder, swim team member as well as a Shadow Lake water skier and sailor.  It was no wonder that Wendy would go on to have such a successful athletic career in both high school and college. 

During her high school years, 1974-1978, Wendy received many team honors in cross country running, skiing and track and field events and even setting some team records but her individual honors showed her true abilities.  In 1977, she was a Vermont Division I State Champion in Cross Country Skiing.  In 1978, she was the Vermont Division I State Champion as Vermont Skimeister which meant she was the best female alpine and nordic skier in the State of Vermont.  Wendy was the first female track and field athlete at LI to clear 5’0” in the high jump.  She held this record from 1976-1994 and is currently ranked number three all time in the high jump at LI and one of only four female athletes, at LI, to clear five feet.  Wendy was on the Junior Olympic Ski Team and competed all across the country as far away as Alaska. She also excelled in academics being a yearly member of the National Honor Society. At UNH, she continued with her passion for skiing and competed on their ski team. Wendy was also a sister of AXO sorority. Wendy has many life-long friends from both Lyndon and UNH.

During college, Wendy met Christopher Griffin and they married many years later and raised their family in Hingham, MA.  Wendy worked for many years as a purchasing agent for Sheraton Hotel before being a stay at home mom.  Wendy was a devoted mother to her children and she enjoyed watching them in their sporting events. She was a devoted and skillful advocate for her autistic son, Daniel. Wendy enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family at Ho-Hum on Shadow Lake in Glover, Vt., family ski trips to Burke Mountain and Madeira Beach Florida.

After a short period of declining health, Wendy passed away on January 28, 2017.

Harry was born in Lyndon, Vermont on May 14th,1916. He was very close to his 2 siblings, brother Bernie and sister Dorcas all his life.

 

While attending Lyndon Institute, Harry excelled in athletics, especially track and field. As team Captain, some of his accomplishments include:

Harry also excelled in both basketball and football.  As captain of the basketball team, he was a defensive star.  In football, he was a backfield running back and member of the undefeated and untied 1933 State Championship team.

 

A few months after the Pearl Harbor attack, like many young Americans, Harry joined the Army.  He was assigned to the 16th Infantry of the First Division ( the infamous BIG RED ONE).  His campaigns During the war included Oran, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland, and Central Europe.  At Normandy, Harry landed on the third wave at Omaha Beach on D Day.

 

Additionally, Harry fought in Korea during his 20 years of service and retired as Lieutenant Colonel.

 

Some of his military decorations include:

 

While in England, preparing for D- Day, he met his future wife, Jennie Mae Peterson, a US Army nurse. Their union produced four children, Steven, Mark, Sheryl and Karen. Their marriage lasted 55 years until their passing in 2001.

 

After his military career, Harry served 20 years as an Army civil servant stationed at Ft. Meade, Maryland. During this time Harry became a strong advocate for people with disabilities. He spent 40 years spearheading and lobbying for residential programs and special education schools. Under his leadership, two schools were opened (Sunny Glen and Marley Glen) as well as residential communities Langton Green and Bello Machre.  A few posts Harry served:

 

Later in life, Harry enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling and camping.

I am the first of three daughters born to Elaine Fournier and William Turner.  Our parents were the true reason for any success my sisters and I may have had.  They were, and still are, the most generous, loving and supportive parents.   At the urging of one of my favorite people, Bob Heath, I began participating in the youth track and basketball programs from a young age. I was a 3 sport athlete, throughout high school, participating in field hockey, basketball, and track.    

 

I was a part of the ‘88, ‘89, and ‘90 Vermont State Championship track team. I participated in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, high jump and 4x100m relay.  With the mentorship of Dan Daley and Merlyn Courser, I was able to break the school and state record in the 110Y/100m hurdles my senior year, only to be broken shortly thereafter, by my amazing and very slightly faster sister, Treny.  I placed 2nd in the 300m hurdles, 3rd in the high jump, and won gold as part of the 4x100m relay team during the 1990 State Championship.  This allowed me the opportunity to participate in the New England Championships competing against a multitude of amazing athletes.  Later that summer I placed 5th in the statewide heptathlon.

 

Though successful in track, basketball was my true love. Our ‘88-‘89 and ‘89-‘90 team made it to the semifinals at the Barre Auditorium, yet the championship game remained ever-so elusive.  I lead the team in steals, assists, and points my junior and senior years.  I was selected to the Alhambra team as an alternate, and was named Player of the Year by the Caledonian Record in 1990.  I went on to make the team at UVM, but quickly shifted my focus to the rigorous academics of the Physical Therapy program.

 

I was lucky enough to be a part of an amazing, close-knit group of females who loved sports and one another.  We had a special group, as any teacher, coach or parent would tell you.  When I think back to all the successes our teams had, the most rewarding aspect was the everlasting relationships we developed.  This particular group of ladies has recently started having breakfast together with our mother’s to reminisce about the years gone by and to simply to enjoy each other’s company.

 

I currently reside in Danville with my significant other, Phil, and our precious pup, Cali.  I have 2 grown children, Molly and Rian, who were star athletes in their own right through high school.  Molly and her husband, Ryan, recently blessed the family with our first grandson, Charlie Mac.  I am a physical therapist and became a Certified Wound Specialist in 2001.  I am currently the Assistant Director of Home Care & Hospice, helping to serve the community where I was raised. I continue to be heavily involved in recreational sports including volleyball, basketball, and running.  


Treny Turner

Mark was a three-sport star at LI in the early nineteen eighties: football, basketball, and track. His accomplishments and records were many at LI as they were up the hill at LSC. He was inducted into the LSC Athletic Hall of Fame for his successes there, so it is fitting that he joins the inaugural class at the formation of the LI Athletic Hall of Fame. Rather than submit a list of his athletic achievements Mark sent the following:

“I have spent the past 32 years doing exactly what I always wanted to do, work with kids and be around athletics, which is why I have the best job I could ever imagine: teaching physical education. I have spent the past 30 years at Thetford Academy and look forward to more. The bulk of my coaching career took place in the 90’s. I coached varsity boys’ soccer and basketball. I was fortunate to have coached some great people and to win championships in soccer, ‘93 and in basketball, ‘94. All of my success began with great coaches and great teammates at LI!

I left paid coaching positions to volunteer coaching as my children came through the youth sport’s programs. Once they reached the high school level, I stopped coaching and became a dad and fan for my three boys. Once my boys graduated from high school, I returned to coaching varsity soccer at Thetford Academy. I coached for eight years before I decided it was time to stop. I think back to my playing days and realize I can’t appreciate my mother enough. She was a single mom with four children, yet she attended all of my games, made sure I was fed, and where I needed to be. I owe her everything.” - Mark Weigel

 

Dave, Class of 1978, competed in football, skiing and track.  He excelled at skiing, winning eight individual state or New England titles.  In 1976 he was named to the US Ski Team and he ski-jumped for the University of Vermont.

He taught science at Lyndon Institute until he retired in 2015.  He also coached the Alpine Ski Team for 28 years, the highlight coming in 1989 with a state championship.  He also coached the VT team for the Eastern High School Championships for a number of years.

David attributes the friendly competition between team members for their overall success.  Having Lyndon Outing Club in his backyard was also instrumental in his success.  The families of the team members supported the entire team, the parents became ski waxers and tuners and their children’s best supporters.

David lives in Lyndonville and is the proud dad of Nykea(Class of 2009) and Delanie(Class of 2011) and grandkids Bransyn, Jaydin, Brylee, Tatum, and Lennyn.

The 1933 Football Team accomplished something that no other football team in Lyndon Institute History has ever achieved before, or since. This amazing team of young men and Coach Robert K. Lewis went undefeated during the season, becoming not only the State Champions but the Division 1 State Champions along the way, and became recognized as the best high school football team in Vermont that year.

The team was blessed with great athletes, great speed, and great size on the offensive and defensive lines. With names like Forrest, Eaton, and Goulding up front, the lines blew up the opposing offensive plans while creating space and time for their own backs to find their way to the endzone.

This was truly a team for the ages…..

Over a two-year period, the team went 13-1.

The 1944 - 47  Boys Combined Ski Teams.  What an era it must have been!  These teams amassed four straight Division 1 State Championships, culminating with Lyndon Institute’s first   New England Championship in 1947.    One of the most dominant groups of teams, and individuals, to ever don the maroon and white,  these teams served as the spark that ignited into one of the most dominant runs in Lyndon Institute history, Vermont High School Athletic history.  

1944 was LI’s first Boys Combined Skiing State Championship Team,  Rudolph Wheeler was the individual State Champion in Ski Jumping, while Wayne Brown  won Nordic Skiing at States,  Duane Pierce was the individual Champion in the Slalom and the Vermont Skimeister that Year.

 

 In 1945, Edward Smith won Nordic Skiing at States, and  Franz Smith won ski jumping and was the  Vermont Skimeister.  

 

Cedric Sherrer Jr.  led the  1946 Team as the State Champion  in ski jumping,  and as the  Vermont  Skimeister. 

 

 In 1947, Cedric Sherrer Jr. reigned in Nordic Skiing, while Bill Nolan was the  State Champion in the ski jump.  

 

Team State Championships however are not won, solely, by individual titles.  It takes many individual  efforts for second, third, fourth, fifth, other finishes to create a state title team in skiing.  These teams were loaded with those types of efforts and finishes from other athletes such as Conrad Allard, Richard Wheeler, George and Donald Guy, Gerald Dickerman, Lucian Cote, Gerald and Gerard Baril, Elmer Brown, Norman and Delmer Leach, Ronald Prinn, Leland Pierce, Douglas Thompson, Dale McDowell, Stan Amadon, and Dwight Stimson.  The teams were coached by Mr. Lombardy and Mr. Lewis. These athletes all brought a great deal of athletic talent to the team, and excelled in other athletic endeavors at LI as well.  

 

This  group of individuals won the first Boys Combined Ski Team title for Lyndon Institute, and continued the dominance,  which helped kick off a historic span of 9 State Titles in 10 years, as well as 15 State Titles in a 20 year period which also included 3 New England Titles in that same period of time. This has stood the test of time as not only one of the most significant accomplishments in Lyndon Institute athletic history, but in Vermont athletic history.

Coach James “Jim” Riddervold’s 1953-1954 undefeated girls’ basketball team had its best season yet. They copped eleven games straight with not one loss to mar their record of 11-0. The six league games with Derby, Orleans and Newport offered little trouble giving the Lyndon Lassies a nice trophy as Champions of the Northeastern Girls’ Basketball B Division for the third time in a row for the senior members.

The starting six were Marjorie (Greenwood) Legge, Nancy (Shonyo) Rahm, Sybil (Shonyo) Hazen as forwards, and Nancy (Davis) Hill, Mary Ann (Greenwood) Dennis, and Mary (Charron) Farino as guards.

Good teamwork and faithful bench substitutes and junior varsity players did a lot towards making a successful season. The 16 girl squad was composed of five seniors, eight juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen.

Letter Winners: Capt. Nancy (Shonyo) Rahm ’55, Sheila (Kropsky) Aronoff ‘54, Capt. Sybil (Shonyo) Hazen ’54, Dorothy “Dot” (Charron) Dudley ‘57, Marjorie (Greenwood) Legge ’55, Rachel (Astle) Wozniak ‘56, Mary Ann (Greenwood) Dennis ‘54, Deanna (Blake) Wheeler ’55, Nancy (Davis) Hill ’54, Beverly (Paige) Lewis ‘54, Mary (Charron) Farino ’55, Virginia (Lawrence) Ray ‘55, Lucille (Gero) Casteel ‘55, Barbara (Bailey) Sahlin ’57, Joyce (Vantine) St. Peter ’55, Nancy (Scribner) Prescott ’55

Managers: Mary (Shattuck) Tebbetts ’54, Dorothy “Dot” (Gray) Goodwin ’56

The 1956 Track team had only won one dual meet, and yet they accomplished a rather unusual feat of being the first team in history to win a State Championship without placing first in any of the events. Bernie Simpson, Jim Willard, Ron Sherburne, and Tim Simpson took fourth in the mile medley to put the team in first place. The 1957 Track team only lost three out of eight meets and after losing the Northern District meet by only a narrow margin, they came back to win the State Meet. This was the second time in a row for the first place finish.

The 1958 Track team was undefeated for the season. The best track team to represent Lyndon Institute at that time, and perhaps the best track team to represent any school in Vermont, as they won the VT State Interscholastic Track Championship for the third time. This was not a divisional championship, in fact this was the best team in the entire state.

1958 Finishers: 100yd and 440yd Sprints – 1st place Ron Dunphy, 180 Low Hurdles & 120 High Hurdles – 1st place Ralph Devereaux (setting two new state records), 220yd – 1st place Bob Heath, 880yd & Broad Jump – 2nd place Tim Simpson, Javelin – 4th place Barry Blackwell, Mile Medley Relay – 1st place John Davis, Lyndol Chester, Jim Douglas, Russ Simpson (school record)

Team members: Henry “Hank” Robinson 1957, Timothy Simpson 1959, Ronald Clifford 1956, Ralph Pinkham 1959, Peter Low 1956, Samuel True 1959, Fletcher “Duke” Manley 1956, Ronald Dunphy 1959, Bernard Simpson 1957, Ryno Gaffney 1961, Norman Legge 1956, Barry Blackwell 1959, Robert Bass 1957, Richard Barber 1960, Thomas Edney 1957, Eric “Lyndol” Chester 1959, Ronald Sherburne 1958, James Douglas 1960, Robert Heath 1958, Phillip Davis 1960, Kenneth Dwyer 1957, John Davis 1958, David Fifield 1957, Russell Simpson 1959, Edmund Buschmann 1957, Jackson “Denny” Carter 1959, Ashley Edmunds 1957, John “Jack” Dunphy 1957 

Managers: James Willard 1957, Robert Brown 1959, Kenneth Hartwell 1958 Duane Knowlton 1961, Kermit Hartwell 1957, Don Clark 1958, David Gilman 1957, Ralph Devereaux 1959, Clifford James 1959, Timothy Grant 1959, David Hill 1959

From 1959 to 1963 perhaps no Lyndon team dominated the Vermont and New England ski trails and slopes like those teams did!  Led by legendary coach Don Erskine the team captured five straight state championships while also garnering two New England Championships (1960, 1963).  In 1961 the graduating seniors had won three Vermont titles, a New England Championship, and two Canadian Jackrabbit Championships. In 1959 Roland Mayo emerged as the Skimeister of the state meet!  In 1960 Captain Wayne Smith won the state jumping championship for the second straight year.  One week later, Brian and David Beattie entered the New England Championship and it was the first time since 1947 that LI had won the New England Championship.  In 1962 the team overcame a six point deficit winning the state title by 3.44 points! Brian Beattie was the New England Skimeister in 1962 while Gary Cassady claimed the Vermont Skimeister 1963 and Art Sanborn captured the 1963 New England Skimeister.  In that same year Greg Peck placed either first or second in every cross-country race he participated in!  They had a collection of tremendously talented individuals, all who played a great part in paving the way for a group of teams that were a dynasty!

Football at LI generates spontaneous enthusiasm and pride from the entire student body. With this heartening support the Vikings are encouraged to train and play in unison. The 1966 team was decked in flashy new uniforms and had the determination to win. On the helmets white wings, designed by the school’s art teacher, Miss Koury, became a symbol of the team’s speed and stamina. For the first time training camp was conducted in late August, under the guidance of Trainer, Ed Fregosi and Coaches, Al Reilly, Bob Heath and Bob Stone. During the eleven-day training sessions the boys developed in mind, muscle and competitive spirit.

A telegram from the Minnesota Vikings Football Club was received that year sending them “The best of luck in one of the oldest rivalries in football-Beat St. J!” “To win all games and then lose to St. Johnsbury…this is like eating cake without the frosting, you can have anything in this world if you want it bad enough” – Coach Al Reilly. With these oft-repeated words ringing in the team’s ears, the Vikings crowned the season 7-6 against the Hilltoppers. Because of the exceptional record posted, Lyndon Institute was named Co-Champions Class II, by the Vermont Headmasters’ Association. The team members and coaches remember when Fred Bona fulfilled his promise to the team and footed the bill for a steak dinner prepared by many of the LI Boosters at the Lyndon Outing Club.

For one team to find its way to the top of the winners’ podium three years in a row is an amazing feat. For both the boys and girls Cross Country Running teams to have done it in the same years is something that is mind boggling. And yet, the 1974 -1976 Boys and Girls Cross Country Running team did exactly that.

The boys ski team of 1974, led by Paul Wheeler, had drawn a bead on the Vermont title only to see their hopes slip away as a host of broken X-C skis on an ice encrusted course left them mere seconds from first place behind host Brattleboro. Those not graduating vowed to train harder,ski faster, and jump longer the next winter and bring the trophy back to LI where it had not resided for several years. They probably had no idea their dedication and coaching would lead to three consecutive years of championship skiing!

Soon after the championship years the title format was changed. First, ski jumping was eliminated (liability fears) both in high school and in college. Then Alpine skiing and cross country became separate sports and the New England Ski Championship meet was discontinued which is the current format today. So…the last of the four-way powerhouse ski teams in Vermont and New England were the Lyndon Institute Vikings! It is only fitting that they join other champions in this inaugural LI Hall of Fame induction.

Team Members: Nicholas McGowan 1977, Michael “Jim” Gilman * 1977, Erik Kwiecienski 1975, James Quinn 1977, Chris Devereaux 1978, John Vinton 1979, W. David Williams 1978, Gary Carr 1979, John Hasenfus 1977, Gail Baillargeon 1978, Brian Towle-Zeugschmidt 1975, Joseph Mulholland 1976, Mark Wheeler 1976, Brian Devereaux 1980, Brian Bona 1976, Peter Jarry 1980, Steven Hasenfus 1976, Michael Wheeler 1979, Thomas Greenwood 1977, Michael Gaboriault 1978, Bruce Wakefield 1977, Charles Bartlett 1977, Mark Kwiecienski 1976, Lawrence Berry 1978, John Brewer 1976, Phillip Harris 1979, Eric Metoyer 1978, Forrest Greenwood 1979, Timothy Aldrich 1979, David Downer 1978, Richard Towle 1979, John Harvey 1978, Anthony Laplant 1979, Chris Fors 1978, Kenneth Welch 1976, Robert Quinn 1977, Robert Melcher 1979, Nathan Bangs 1977, Nicholas Lavrov 1978, Joseph Holder 1977, Christopher Silbernagel 1978, Laurence Welch 1977, Mitch Gaboriault 1979.