To Do in RI: Pawtucket Hall of Fame Awards night TOMORROW

The annual Pawtucket Hall of Fame Awards banquet will be held TOMORROW, Friday, November 1, 2024 with a 6:00pm Reception and a 7:00pm Dinner at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center, 172 Exchange Street • Pawtucket, RI 02860.

Each year new members are inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame as well as recognize a person from the community who will receive that year’s “Person of the Year” award. The Pawtucket Hall of Fame has been well-served over the years by a working volunteer committee of local community members. This ceremony first took place in 1986 as part of the Centennial Celebration event created by Mayor Henry Kinch as a fitting way to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Pawtucket as a city. During this celebration, 25 people were selected that night and honored for their contributions to the community, an honor that clearly instilled a sense of pride to the inductee.

These honorees were praised as local heroes – for they were educators, industrialists, businessmen, sports figures, Olympic gold medal winners, poets, television personalities and producers – all people we could proudly call our own. Their names have been honorably placed in the lobby of Pawtucket City Hall for all visitors to see and while 25 people were recognized in 1986, as the years went by, there were certainly others that followed worthy to receive this honor. In 1992, under the direction and charge of the late Raymond Dalton, Sr., the Pawtucket Hall of Fame was ‘resurrected’ and became an annual celebration to stand on its own. It would recognize those special individuals whose contributions, in any line of endeavor, had added to the heritage of the City of Pawtucket.

Each year the class of inductees have rightfully satisfied this requirement in their own respective ways. As a group, their life experiences are diverse, but each share the thread of passion and selfless determination to make a difference in our community.

RINewsToday is proud to be the Digital Media Sponsor for the event.

Read more about the incoming class of 2024:

Bill Mulholland

The 1953 children’s book The Man Who Planted Trees is a tale that tells the story of one shepherd’s long and successful singlehanded effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps, near Provence. The story shows how a small, sustained, selfless, and consistent act of just one man can commit to restoration, growing, and new development. Over the decades the barren valley is eventually revived and noticed, transformed into a beautiful destination. We are honoring Bill Mulholland for a long career dedicated to such a cause, bringing to this communityhis dedication, commitment, and vision that has impacted so many. 

Bill Mulholland is not an unfamiliar name to most Pawtucket residents as well as the entire state of Rhode Island. From 1980 – 2011, Bill served as the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation for the city of Pawtucket, a position that requires 24/7, 365 days a year oversight. Throughout his career, Bill left an indelible mark on sports and recreation. His contributions not only had a positive impact in the City of Pawtucket, but other communities as well, through his involvement in the Rhode Island Recreation and Parks Association. Bill’s impact on municipal recreation in Rhode Island was unparalleled. His visionary leadership paved the way for a groundbreaking partnership with Major League Baseball, resulting in the annual Pitch Hit & Run event hosted at McCoy stadium in Pawtucket from the early 1990’s until 2019. This event fostered in youth a love of all sports. Through his involvement with RIRPA (RI Recreation & Parks Association) he inspired and mentored countless young professionals in the field. He was committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and was a great role model with tireless devotion.  

Serving under five mayors, Bill’s exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment over the years has gone above and beyond for the residents of Pawtucket, serving as the main guardian of some of this city’s most valued assets – its recreational facilities.   He has been recognized for his achievements through the prestigious Walter A. Henry Leadership Award and the Jack Cronin Award for Excellence in the Recreation profession. He was the initiator of the “Block Booking Meeting” dedicated to planning performances for the summer concert series which continues to this day. Other communities have followed his lead on this venture. He was also instrumental in the addition of a new playground, animal shelter, Daggett Farm, Ted McConnon Baseball Field, Veterans Flag Memorial, and the renovation of the Looff Carousel that collectively served to restore Slater Park as a source of city pride. In 1992 he founded the “Friends of the LooffCarousel at Slater Park” a non-profit organization as being a way to help fund programs, restoration, maintenance, and operation of the Looff Carousel at Slater Park. 

Honoring and preserving legacy can come in many forms.  After a ‘premonition’, perhaps fueled by his love of sports and history, Bill ‘pitched’ a sports show to local cable-access TV and the rest is history. “Good Sports” has chronicled over 1,500 athletes, several of them Pawtucket Hall of Famers, for over 33 years.  In 1996 he also began writing a daily sports feature called “Blackstone Valley Memories”, culminating close to 10,000 articles for the Pawtucket Times!  

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Lou Schwechheimer

On any given summer night, you were likely to catch a glimpse of Lou Schwechheimer, walking the grounds of McCoy Stadiumsporting that twinkle in his eye and knowing smile, and you just knew it was going to be a fun night. As part of the team known as the “PawSox Holy Trinity,” Ben Mondor, Mike Tamburro and Lou Schwechheimer were the three amigos – all familiar names to us just as “hot dogs, peanuts, and cracker jack” are to the world of baseball.  

Lou’s connection to Pawtucket began in 1979, when the North Kingstown native arrived as a college intern, eager to make his mark in the sports world. After graduating from U-Mass-Amherst with a degree in Communications, Lou joined the PawSox full-time in 1980, where his passion and work ethic quickly propelled him through the ranks, serving as the club’s Director of Public Relations from 1981 to 1983 and Assistant General Manager from 1984 to 1985. In 1986, Lou became Vice President and General Manager of the PawSox until 2015, also becoming part-owner of the club.

Lou’s leadership was pivotal in revitalizing McCoy Stadium, turning it into a cherished venue not only for baseball but also for community events. He was at McCoy every morning, noon, and night, often staying late and sometimes even sleeping there. His tireless dedication to McCoy and the team became legendary.

His leadership extended far beyond the ballpark, where he played a critical role in establishing ties between the PawSox and the community, helping secure key business partnerships that helped fund the $16 million renovation of McCoy Stadium before the 1999 season. His efforts ensured the stadium remained a hub for family gatherings and local events, while easing the financial burden on team owner Ben Mondor, who had personally invested millions into the project.

Lou’s contributions to baseball were recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, reflecting the respect and admiration he garnered within the baseball community. He was named International League Executive of the Year twice (1987 and 1992). He received the prestigious Minor League Executive of the Year Award from “The Sporting News” in 1992.

Perhaps one of Lou’s most notable accomplishments was his work with youth in the community. As an Eagle Scout, he was especially proud to establish lasting relationships with local Boy and Girl Scout organizations. He masterminded the popular Scout Sleepovers at McCoy Stadium, a summer tradition that brought joy to countless young fans for more than 25 years.

After leaving the PawSox in 2015, Lou played a vital role in the broader world of Minor League Baseball, spearheading the return of affiliated baseball to Wichita, Kansas and overseeing the construction of Riverfront Stadium. He also became the owner of two Minor League teams: the Charlotte Stone Crabs and the New Orleans Baby Cakes, which eventually relocated to Wichita.

Lou Schwechheimer’s legacy is not just in the stadiums he helped build or the teams he managed but, in the countless individuals he mentored and inspired. His passion for baseball, dedication to the community, and commitment to fostering the next generation of sports professionals have left an indelible mark on the sport and the city of Pawtucket. His induction into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame is a testament to the profound impact he had on the city, the PawSox, and the lives of those he touched throughout his remarkable career. Lou’s induction into the 2024 class of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a man whose dedication to baseball, community, and the Pawtucket Red Sox spanned over four decades. His tireless work behind the scenes and warm, approachable nature made him a beloved figure in the world of Minor League Baseball, especially in Pawtucket, where his influence still resonates.

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Merry Stanley Caswell

Merry Stanley Caswell has always been a force to be reckoned with – but a force with class, grace, kindness, empathy, and always a wonderful sense of humor.  Known for always going ‘above and beyond’ in helping students, teachers, families, and her hometown of Pawtucket, one would expect nothing less. 

Merry has an enduring connection to the city of Pawtucket, having attended it’sschools throughout her childhood, and ultimately graduating from Tolman High School During her high school and college years, she was known to volunteer tutoring students in need as well as painting seats at McCoy stadium.  She became a teacher of the utmost caliber and dedicated her role as an educator back to the city that originally formed her.  She excelled first as an English teacher, and later as principal at Slater Middle School, turning it from a low-performing school in the 1990’s to one that welcomed, encouraged, and supported students by the mid-2000’s. She succeeded at getting 95% of the teachers at Slater involved in school improvement activities. Under her leadership, Merry put Slater Midde School on the map when Slater was ranked one of the top 5 Middle Schools in the state.  She was involved with a multitude of extra-curricular volunteer activities for students, such as the school newspaper, homework club, and girls’ basketball coach, as well as engaging youth in community service activities themselves.  She was instrumental in garnering grants to continue to improve the educational climate at Slater.    The students who benefitted from her leadership and example are surely grateful for having received her guidance.  She was responsible for taking students with potential and mentoring them to be highly successful as adults.  The proof lies in the fact that many of them who were in the “PASS” program (Pawtucket’s Advanced Standing Students) are now doctors, lawyers, broadcasters, politicians, psychologists, and yes, Pawtucket teachers themselves!  

Merry not only gave of herself to students but also to those in college learning to become teachers themselves.  Merry accomplished such remarkable work during her tenure.  In 2007, she was selected as a finalist for national recognition as Middle Level principal of the year.  In 2019 she was honored by URI Education majors with an “Excellence in Teaching” award.  

Merry has demonstrated passion, commitment, and dedication few have equaled.  Even in retirement, she was called to work with foster children as part of the URI First Star Academy and was honored in 2022 as an “Angel in Adoption” award by Congressman Jim Langevin. Merry is the epitome of giving back to the community and making it a better place in which to live.

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Pamela Hughes

Pamela Hughes is an individual who sets her sights on seeing ‘the big picture.’ Not one to shy away from hard work, she simply likes to get things done.  Her dedication to community service, advocacy for the arts, historic preservation and tireless efforts in revitalizing downtown Pawtucket have not only fueled her endless energy but have left an indelible mark on the city. 

Twenty years ago, Pamela Hughes relocated to Pawtucket from Cambridge, MA after a remarkable journey of service and advocacy. Pamela was a very active volunteer in the Cambridge community, serving on a number of boards.   Her volunteer efforts would lead to her recognition by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Children (1996) and to her receiving the Cambridge Peace and Justice Award (2000). Prior to her move, she demonstrated exceptional commitment as a mother to ten children, six by adoption and four by birth. Notably, Pamela founded and managed the first adoption agency for orphaned Vietnamese children licensed by the state of Massachusetts. 

After touring an artist studio during the Pawtucket Arts Festival, she relocated to the city in 2004 and her commitment to the arts has been transformative for the community. As a member and president, Pamela brought her leadership and energy to the Pawtucket Amory Arts Districtadvocating for the integration of art into the city is downtown. Through her personal sponsorship and support of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, Pamela ensured through financial support, that artistic expression thrives in Pawtucket’s downtown. Pamela has been a volunteeron City’s Riverfront Commission since 2011, where she has served as chair for the past 8 yearsto provide guidance on development along the river. One year, when budgetary cuts would eliminate the downtown’s annual Riverfront Concert Series, she donated over $ 5,000 to the city to ensure that the much-anticipated event would be held.

One of Pamela’s most significant contributions was her leadership in the creation of the Riverfront Park and bike path along the Blackstone River. Her vision and perseverance led to the transformation of a parking lot into a vibrant green space, providing residents and visitors alike with a picturesque area for recreation and reflection. Pamela’s dedication to maximizing the city’s resources exemplifies her innovative approach to community development.

Pamela’s efforts to commission landmark murals in downtown Pawtucket have been significant, fostering a sense of identity and pride among residents. Today she prefers to focus on grants and donations to build the City Hall section of the bike path, plant more gardens, and get savmore murals painted. Her commitment to public art demonstrates her deep appreciation for the city’s history and culture. Two beautiful murals by Mimo Gordon Riley behind City Hall’s Riverfront Park and bike path commissioned by Pamela, can be found for public viewing. One mural depicting bicycles riding along the tops of colorful waves of the river, waves that seem to glisten in the sun as the water moves. The other mural continues on the walls that surround theMemorial Garden. The garden wall alludes to vegetation and foliage rustling in the sun producing sparkle of light and points of deep shade, a subject and treatment that is a favorite of the artist. Pamela planted and maintains this hydrangea garden in memory of her son, Peik Larsen, who died in 2014. The most recent mural Pamela commissioned was painted by Greg Penniston and is in honor of Morris Nathanson’s life work. It fills the three-story east wall of the Nathanson building on Exchange Street, right across from the Armory.

For Pamela efforts to transform the City’s downtown, she received the Pawtucket Foundation’s Special Distinction Award that honored outstanding contributions to the community. She was recognized for her civic leadership at the 13^th Annual Pawtucket Foundation Awards Ceremony April 5, 2016.

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Robert Andrade

They say that if you want something done – ask a busy person. As a member of the Pawtucket community and through his work at Pawtucket Credit Union for 42 years, Robert Andrade has always been a passionate supporter of the Pawtucket community in his career and in his continuing service through numerous organizations and boards.  Simply put, Bob exhibits his love for our community and the people in it, by his actions. Professional in manner, friendly and empathetic in nature, his willingness to step up and help others has always been admired but not easily duplicated. 

Throughout the years, Bob has served on the boards of many non-profit organizations including the Memorial Hospital, Narragansett Bay Commission and Friend’s Way. In addition, he served on many committees in the city of Pawtucket – time spent on helping make Pawtucket a better place to live. 

Bob began his career at the Pawtucket Credit Union in 1972 as Office Manager with twentyemployees and $17 million in assets. When he retired forty-two years later as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the credit union had grown under his leadership to be the largest in Rhode Island with fifteen branch locations, four in Pawtucket, and more than 250 employees and $1.5 billion in assets. Pawtucket residents were a main focal point for the business of the credit union for many years and remain so today. Bob made his mission to support the Pawtucket community by helping credit union members fulfill their financial goals, lending his advice and counsel to many organizations, by donating his time, talent, and treasure to so many.

Bob was a fierce advocate for the youth of Pawtucket and understood the power of education. Under his direction and support, the credit union established a program and dedicated a resource by providing financial literacy education to high school students. This program began at Tolman and Shea High Schools in the 1990’s and grew over the years to include schools throughout Rhode Island, becoming a model for others to emulate. Because of Bob’s vision and determination, he has been recognized as an individual who goes above and beyond philanthropically within the community as a recipient of the Ben Mondor Award from the Northern RI Chamber of Commerce and has twice been honored by the Pawtucket Lions Club as a Melvin Jones Fellow.  

A tireless advocate on credit union issues at both the local and national levels earned him the Robert P. Andrade Political Advocate Award, named in his honor. Bob remains a champion for credit unions and has served for many years on various committees for several national advocacy organizations. 

Bob was a champion of the arts and was active in many activities over the years in furtherance of the revitalization of the city, which included serving on the board of the Gamm Theater, as well as his support of the Pawtucket Arts Council and Pawtucket Winter Wonderland to name a few. 

In his role as a Pawtucket Lion, Bob has been part of the planning and the execution of community volunteer support for over 30 years. Whether it is building a ramp to provide handicap accessibility, raising funds to support those in need or volunteering in our public schools assisting the school nurses in vision screening for students, Bob is the first to give of his time, energy, and heart. He has held every position of leadership in the Pawtucket Lions, working endlessly to ensure the direction and sustainability of the organization as a valuable resource in our community. 

Bob continues to build on his legacy of selflessness and compassion as he continues to serveduring his retirement years. His dedication to the Pawtucket community and its residents by his contributions of time and expertise while making a positive impact on the organizations he is a part of and the people they are serving. 

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Vivian May Marshall

This year’s historical inductee is a woman who was born in Pawtucket in 1909 and became a Hollywood sensation.  Vivian May Marshall was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Augustus Marshall (originally Marcil) and was raised in homes on Darlingdale and Coyle Avenues.  She attended the Broadway Grammar School, where she was known for her loud singing voice.  Although she left school at age 14, she knew she was destined for the entertainment business and set her sights on New York City several years later.  Her career began as a chorus girl in 1937, when she also studied voice as a coloratura soprano, performing in a musical revue on Broadway, known as Earl Carroll’s “Vanities”.  During this time, she discovered other hidden talents for both comedy and impersonations.  

Honing her craft in New York, Vivian set her sights on Hollywood, and soon began performing in nightclubs such as Ciro’s and El Mocambo, as well as The Grace Hayes Lodge on West Ventura Boulevard.  She was eventually discovered by Ken Murray, a producer known for his racy stage variety show “Blackouts” where Vivian became a featured performer, best known for her portrayal of a slightly inebriated prima donna.  In 1942 she purchased a house with her co-star, Marie Wilson, and they rented rooms to other Hollywood performers in need of housing.  In January 1944, she appeared in a small blurb in The Pawtucket Times regarding this.  She was again covered in June 1946 when she returned to Pawtucket to visit her family, in an article entitled “Hollywood Singer Returns to Visit Pawtucket Home”.  She performed with Bob Hope, and, presumably under his influence, began to entertain American soldiers in both California and the Caribbean.  She returned to Pawtucket again in February 1953, and The Pawtucket Times again covered the event under the heading “Actress Always Good For Laffs”. 

Vivian never ceased to mention in all her articles the importance of The Old Slater Mill and its’ history, which she encouraged people around the USA to visit and discover.  (She would be happy to know it has now become a National Park!).   By 1954 her foray into film began.  She appeared in “Three Young Texans” as a saloon singer, and in 1955 she acted in the role of Mrs. Meggs in “Good Morning, Miss Dove”.  That same year, she appeared in the film “Women’s Prison” in which she played the role of Dottie LaRose, a stripper who had murdered her agent.  In this role she was able to utilize her talent for impersonation, doing spot-on imitations of Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, and Ida Lupino.  In 1956, she had a small part as a showgirl in “The Opposite Sex”.  In subsequent years, she appeared on General Electric Theatre with Ronald Reagan, and the “Peter Gunn” television series.  Her final film was in “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” in 1961.  

Although much of her life was spent in California, it was evident that she never forgot her roots in Pawtucket, R.I., appreciating and elevating her hometown and native state.  Vivian died in 2009 at the age of 98.  This late star of stage, film, and television whose roots were in Pawtucket, fulfilled her dreams of success in Hollywood while sharing some of the spotlight with Pawtucket- thus shining a light on our city. 

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Gabe Amo

At a young age, Gabe Amo understood the meaning of hard work, for his parents lead by example.  The son of immigrant parents from West Africa, his parents always emphasized academics and made sacrifices for Gabe to attend prestigious and more expensive schools. Gabe is a proud Rhode Islander and grew up in Pawtucket. After his parents immigrated to Rhode Island from Ghana and Liberia respectively, when Gabe was not in school, he would help his father at the family liquor store, while his mother worked as a nurse. Known for having ‘this sort of encyclopedic knowledge that was jaw-dropping,’ Gabe was drawn to politics at a young age and joined the student senate at Moses Brown where he soon began receiving awards – and as they say, ‘that was just the beginning’…. Gabe Amo had a reputation for ‘defying expectations, whether on a football field, in the classroom or most recently, in a hotly contested Democratic primary for Rhode Island’s 1^st Congressional District, winning the election, and in 2023 becoming the first person of color elected to represent Rhode Island in Congress.

“I used to be able to go down to the kindergarten teacher and ask her, ‘who was the smartest student in the school. There would be no hesitation, she would always say, ‘Gabe Amo’” reflects Amo’s seventh grade teacher, Lanny Goff at the now-closed St. Mary’s School in Pawtucket. Amo’s resume reflects his intellectual prowess; he attended high school at the prestigious Moses Brown School on Providence’s East Side with an academic scholarship, where he was part of the student senate and received the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Civic Leadership Award. He was also selected to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C. 

Amo earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, where he studied political science and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He also was a member of the student government association. He received a Truman Scholarship, a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship, and a Marshall Scholarship to study comparative social policy at Merton College, Oxford.

Under President Obama, Gabe Amo worked in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs as a liaison to Governors and state elected officials. Gabe was then appointed by former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as Director of Public Engagement and Community Affairs. He served as Governor Raimondo’s principal advisor on outreach to businesses and labor, faith groups, local government, grassroots organizations, and communities of color. Most recently, Gabe served as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Assistant to the President, working as President Biden’s principal liaison to mayors and local elected officials. 

Whether it was his childhood obsession with pro-wrestling or his budding adolescent interest in politics, Gabe Amo always stood out from the pack, and Amo’s parents embraced his passions. Perhaps in some ways, his career choice was not so different from theirs: helping people. 

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For more information, and last minute ticket availability, contact: 401-273-5367 or email [email protected] or go to: https://www.pawtuckethalloffame.org. Tickets are $105 per person.