George Albro '65

George Albro, athletics have played a major role in your life and you, in turn, have played a major role in the lives of many young athletes as a coach. You were a fierce competitor as a player, a trait which has not diminished throughout your coaching career.

You were a team leader at point guard during your career at Worcester State, handing out a record number of assists as well as scoring 648 points from 1961 through 1965. You led the team in assists for four straight years.

You were a key starter for the 1961-62 Worcester State team that won the New England State College Championship and finished with a 16-7 record. Your leadership and determination resulted in you being selected Co-Captain of the basketball team your senior year and you also served as an officer in the Men's Athletic Association for two years. In addition to your basketball achievements you also earned two varsity letters in baseball.

You continue to serve Worcester State College as treasurer of the Worcester State Alumni Board of Directors and a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame selection committee. You served Worcester State as assistant men's basketball coach for five years and as head coach from 1979 through 1982.

You have coached baseball at Leicester High School and your team has won the Southern Worcester County Championships in 1986 and 1987. You are currently coaching basketball at Leicester and your team won the Southern Worcester County League championship in 1987, and you were selected as the District E Coach of the Year.

You are currently a teacher in the Leicester School System and your continued dedication to your College and your students serve as an example for all of us.

George Albro, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

John F. "Doc" Coughlin

John F. "Doc" Coughlin, you were a key role model for so many college and area athletes, and you played a major role in the personal, professional and athletic development of players, coaches and officials.

You were the first and most successful hockey coach in Worcester State College history and your teams won more than 140 games in your 15 year career. Under your leadership the Lancers won the Eastern College Athletic (ECAC) Division III hockey championships in 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74, and again in 1976-77. Your 1971-72 team set an NCAA National record with 252 goals in only 24 games. Those indeed were the glory years for WSC hockey.

You were the first hockey coach at St. Peter's High School from 1960 through 1966. You were a founder of the Worcester Little League in 1956 and coached for 17 years. You were instrumental in the formation of Worcester PeeWee Youth Hockey Association and also coached for 14 years.

You have been referred to as a person who had a way about him like a pied piper - kids gravitated to you. You inspired young players to play to their potential and often beyond. In 1981, you were honored at a testimonial for your work with the sports community of Worcester for over 25 years.

The Ted Williams Little League Field was renamed in your honor and is now known as John Coughlin Field, Home of Ted Williams Little League. The football field on the Worcester State College campus was also dedicated to you at Homecoming in 1986.

"Doc", you were referred to as a "one-man alumni association", years before an active alumni association was developed at the college. Your giving and caring continues today through those you taught by your example.

Tonight, we honor John F. Coughlin's extraordinary life with his posthumous induction into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame, and, in doing so, we are deeply honored.

John F. Eager

John F. Eager, you gently touched the lives of many young people and you dedicated your life to your student- athletes in the classroom and in athletic competition.

You were a highly acclaimed basketball and baseball coach at Worcester State College and were instrumental in the development of both varsity sports at the College. In fact, your outstanding basketball record of 97-49, a .664 winning percentage, places you as the winningest coach in Lancer history. You never had a losing season.

You played your high school basketball at St. Peter's Central Catholic High in Worcester, and you began coaching in 1940 as the Director of Athletics and assistant basketball coach at Mission High in Roxbury. Your teams twice won the New England Catholic Championship. You began coaching at Worcester State in 1950. You retired from coaching in 1959.

In 1983, you were the recipient of the Paul N. Johnson Award, given in memory of the late sports editor of the Worcester Telegram, for your overall contributions to Worcester area basketball. You also served as an official at the local high school baseball and basketball levels.

You were a professor of Natural and Earth Sciences in the Biology Department and served as chairman of the department. You were also the Associate Director of Continuing Education. You also served for many years as a voluntary advisor and financial aid advisor to veterans attending the college.

In May of 1986, the Sullivan amphitheater on the Worcester State College campus was dedicated in your memory and is now known as the John F. Eager Memorial Lecture Hall.

Tonight we honor John F. Eager's extraordinary life posthumously with this richly-deserved induction into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame, and, in doing so, we are deeply honored.

Richard Lamothe '64

Richard Lamothe, your accomplishments on the baseball field are among the most memorable in Worcester State College athletic history.

Your abilities as an inspirational leader were evident as you were co-captain of the College's undefeated 1964 baseball team. You compiled records in baseball that to this day, place you among the leaders in many categories. You had a .400 career batting average, (54 hits in 135 at bats). You knocked in 34 runs, stole 22 bases, had seven triples, and scored 53 runs in just 36 games. The Lancers were 26-9-1 while you were a star1er, including 13-0 in 1964.

In your first year you hit .425, came back with a .340 average the next year and closed out your career with a phenomenal.444 season.

You were the class marshall at Worcester State College in 1964, and a member of the Men's Athletic Association, the Newman Club, and the Prom Committee.

You were a teacher-coach at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High in Fitchburg from 1964 through 1977 and were appointed the assistant principal at Newburyport High School in 1977, a position you still hold today. Your 1969 St. Bernard's team won the Division I Central Massachusetts basketball championship, defeating St. John's. As a coach, you had more than 120 wins in basketball. You also coached baseball for 13 years and cross country for five seasons. You have kept your hand in the coaching ranks and will be the freshman basketball coach for the 7th straight year at Newburyport High.

Your excellence as a student-athlete, and later as a teacher, coach, and administrator, reflects brightly on your alma mater.

Richard Lamothe. it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

William S. Leach '65

William S. Leach, your accomplishments on the baseball field are among the most memorable in Worcester State College history.

You were an outstanding catcher and never missed a game during your four years. Your individual accomplishments are a tribute to you natural abilities, hard work, and determination as evidenced by your .287 career batting average, 37 runs scored in just 40 games, and your outstanding .987 fielding percentage, committing only four errors in your career. Your leadership qualities were recognized and you were elected captain of the 1962 team.

Baseball has played a major role in your life. You played four years of high school and legion ball and each year your legion team competed in the State Playoffs.

You were selected to play in the regional finals of the W. R. Hearst New England Sandlot Championship game at Fenway Park in 1959. You were the starting catcher and caught Wilbur Wood, famed pitcher for the Red Sox and White Sox. You also played semi-pro ball in the Blackstone Valley League from 1959-63. You were selected by the Washington Senators and offered a professional contract, but you decided to return to Worcester State College.

You were a baseball umpire for 10 years and a member of the Worcester Umpires' Association, officiating many high school, legion and college games.

In 1980 you were appointed the Superintendent of School in North Brookfield, MA, a position you still hold today. You are a member of the State and New England Association of School Superintendents. You continue to distinguish yourself, and do honor to your Alma Mater, both professionally and personally.

William S. Leach, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Patricia Provost '73

Patricia Provost, your exceptional athletic ability and competitive spirit have distinguished you as one of the most versatile athletes to ever wear a Worcester State uniform.

From 1970 to 1973, you earned 16 varsity letters while playing field hockey, basketball, tennis, volleyball and lacrosse. You were an integral member of teams that won State Championships in field hockey, basketball and volleyball. You played five varsity sports, an incredible feat, and one that has not been, and may never be, surpassed.

You were a tenacious point guard in basketball and one of the all time leading scorers in field hockey with 19 goals, including a school record 15 in 1972. Your leadership qualities were acknowledged as you were elected captain of field hockey and basketball.

You continued to play field hockey for the Boston Field Hockey Association from 1973 to 1985 and were selected to the Northeast Field Hockey team that played in the nationals. You were a part of the grass root movement which resulted in the first United States Olympic Field Hockey team being selected for the 1980 Olympics. You played against National teams from Germany, New Zealand, and Australia and scrimmaged the US Olympic team.

You were named head basketball coach at Notre Dame Academy in 1974, a position you still hold. You obtained a full time teaching position at Notre Dame in 1976 and were later named as athletic director. You began coaching field hockey in 1977 and your teams have compiled a 97-61-52 record and numerous district tournament appearances. Your basketball team won the Clark Tournament in 1974-75. You were the first woman ever inducted into the Wachusett Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Patricia Provost, it is with a great deal of pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dr. Robert J. Reidy Jr. '68

Dr. Robert J. Reidy Jr., your initiation, drive, and determination were instrumental in the establishment of the varsity hockey program at Worcester State College.

You combined your efforts with Frank Shea, the late Matthew Hehir, and the late John Coughlin to elevate the program from club to varsity status in 1965.

You were an outstanding defenseman in hockey and excellent defensive catcher in baseball, playing four years on each team.

Your leadership qualities were evident as you were elected a tri-captain in hockey in the '67-68 season and a co-captain in baseball in 1968. In 1968 you became the first Worcester State College hockey player to be selected to the Worcester College All Star team. You were also president of the Men's Athletic Association in 1968. You went on to serve as an assistant ice hockey coach at Wachusett Regional High from 1968 through 1970.

You were an All-City Baseball All Star selection by the Worcester Telegram and Evening Gazette newspaper while playing for St. Stephen's High School.

After graduation from Worcester State, you continued to distinguish yourself as a scholar and you were the recipient of two Charles S. Mott Foundation Fellowships, one at Central Michigan University in 1970-71 and one in the doctoral program at the University of Connecticut in 1975.

You continued your active participation in challenging physical activities as a biathlon competitor, and each year you participate in a 100 mile bicycle ride for cancer research. You bring pride to Worcester State College in your present position as the Superintendent of Schools for the East Greenbush Central School System in New York.

Dr. Robert J. Reidy Jr., it is with further great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.