Fort Fairfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame Inaugural Class
Fort Fairfield Journal, June 11, 2014
The inaugural class of Fort Fairfield High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame was announced two weeks ago. A distinguished class of 13 was selected for induction from over a 100-year history of athletics at Fort Fairfield High School. The induction ceremony will be held at Fort Fairfield High School on Thursday evening, July 17th, coinciding with the Maine Potato Blossom Festival week. More information on tickets for the event and event details will be forthcoming.
Listed below is an alphabetical listing of those being inducted and a short summary of their accomplishments. The Hall of Fame has 3 categories for selection that include athletes, coaches and contributors.
Delmar “Chappy” Clark, Athlete.
“Chappy” Clark is a 1962 graduate of FFHS and a 4-sport star athlete who excelled in basketball, baseball, track, and cross country. During his senior basketball season, he distinguished himself as an exceptional athlete as he averaged 20.5 points per game, was named Aroostook County MVP, was selected as a member of the All-State third team, and was honored as the recipient of the Lockhart Award. In the last basketball game of his high school career, he scored an impressive 36 points against the opposing Presque Isle team. “Chappy” proved to be quite versatile on the baseball diamond playing several different positions. His talent was recognized as he was named Waldron-Boulier Award winner in his senior year. Clark lettered three years in track running both the one and two-mile, and four years in cross country to round out his exemplary career as a high school athlete. “The hardest working player in Aroostook County,” was a distinction associated with Chappy Clark by several of the local and statewide media including Dewey Dewitt and John McKernan. His “hard work, determination, attitude and sportsmanship” were lauded as fine examples for all to follow.
Kenneth Clark, Coach.
Ken Clark maintains the title as the “winningest” boys basketball coach in FFHS history. He coached the boys varsity teams for ten years from 1944 to 1954 during which time he compiled a record of 135-70, a .659 winning percentage. This record included four Aroostook League Championships, three Co-Champion titles, and eight Eastern Maine tournament appearances in his ten years competing against Class LL and Class L schools -- Class A and B by today’s standards. Clark also coached varsity baseball at FFHS for nine years from 1945-1954 and amassed a record of 104-21 with four Aroostook League Championships and one Eastern Maine Runner-Up title in 1951. Among his many notable accomplishments, he wrote a column featured in the Fort Fairfield Review titled “Ken Clark Says.” Clark’s column was highly acclaimed for its informative content and for the depth of his knowledge of sports. Ken was honored with induction into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors in 2001.
Richard Cormier, Athlete.
A 1949 graduate of FFHS, Richard Cormier was a prominent athlete who excelled in both baseball and basketball. As a result of his performance on the baseball diamond, Cormier was honored with induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. He pitched, played center field, and batted cleanup on the 1946 and 1948 Aroostook League Championship teams, and had an unheard of streak of ten consecutive hits in a three game stretch. Cormier was named to the All-Aroostook team in 1946-47-48 & 49 and was MVP in 1949. He was offered two opportunities to play pro ball, one with the Boston Braves and the other with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both offers were turned down as he chose to focus on completing his education. Cormier played basketball for four years and was selected as the Aroostook League’s MVP in 1947-48. He was the league’s leading scorer in the 1948-49 season. Cormier was a member of the Aroostook League Championship teams in 1946-47 and 1948-1949.
Larry Gardner, Coach.
Larry Gardner is a 1972 graduate of FFHS and is the winningest coach in school history having guided both boys and girls varsity basketball teams to a combined record of over 325 wins, one Eastern Maine Runner-up, three Eastern Maine Championships and a State Championship. Gardner coached boys varsity basketball for nine years and led them to their first and only Eastern Maine Basketball Championships in school history in both the 1983-84 and 1987-88 seasons. In 1998, he began his career as girls varsity basketball coach. During his sixteen years as girls varsity coach, Gardner’s teams have compiled a record of 225-96, a .701 winning percentage. Most memorable was the 2010 season when his team captured the girls’ first ever Eastern Maine Championship and went on to win the school’s first State Basketball Championship. He was named Coach of the Year in 2008-09 and again in 2009-10 and has been a McDonald’s All-Star coach three times in his career. Gardner has coached varsity baseball and varsity golf; his golf teams have captured five consecutive Aroostook League titles since 2009. He is also the director of the Tiger Basketball Camp which has served over 4000 young boys and girls over its 25 years of operation.
Lawrence A. Gardner, Contributor.
As a much-respected and longtime educator in Fort Fairfield and Principal of the Grammar School, Jr. High and High School for 37 years, Lawrence A. Gardner made an ever-lasting impact on all those he came in contact with during his lifetime. Gardner coached Grammar School (8th Grade) basketball for sixteen years when his teams captured several Aroostook League Championships, as well as the 1950 State Grammar School Championship. He was a long-time basketball official and baseball umpire. He coached Little League Baseball for eight years and was honored to be nominated as State Little League Coach of the Year. Gardner acted as Recreation Director for the town of Fort Fairfield for eight years, a position no doubt inspired by the fact that, “He cared about the kids and loved to see them have fun and compete.” Gardner was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors in 2008. Upon retirement from education in 1977, he was deeply honored by the renaming of the high school gymnasium as the Lawrence A. Gardner Gymnasium.
Charles Lockhart, Contributor.
A 1938 graduate of FFHS, Charles Lockhart was the consummate contributor, volunteer, supporter and one who could always be counted on to provide a helping hand with any event. For thirty-seven years, Charlie could be seen sitting at the scorer’s table acting as the official scorekeeper for basketball games. He kept the books at baseball games, and kept time at ski meets, track events and cross country running meets. He is known to have attended almost every school athletic event held in Fort Fairfield and to have provided assistance by transporting high school athletes to and from away games when needed. “Charlie was always willing to do his part, and more; whether it was working on athletic fields, keeping score, selling tickets, or just being there and rooting for the kids.” He was a member of the Fort Fairfield Recreation Commission which for many years helped establish and ensure recreation programs and activities for youth of all ages. Charlie was recognized for his lifetime of contributions in support of Fort Fairfield when the multi-purpose field was named in his honor in 2001. He was also inducted into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors in 2012.
Keith Mahaney, Athlete.
Keith Mahaney graduated from FFHS in 1951. He was a multi-sport athlete who excelled in basketball, baseball, and track. Keith led his basketball team to two Aroostook League titles, and garnered numerous individual awards for his performance on the court. He was considered the playmaker on the team and was way ahead of his time in his ball-handling skills, prompting coaches to remark, “He could do things with a basketball that even Houdini couldn’t do.” On the baseball field, he was a clutch hitter and second baseman contributing to his team’s successful achievement of two Aroostook League titles. Mahaney also set school and county records in the sport of track and field as he specialized in the pole vault, high jump, and hurdles. As a senior, he held three records in track and in that year his team went on to win the Aroostook County Track Championship. Mahaney’s athletic accomplishments continued after graduation from FFHS as he went on to set thirteen records at the University of Maine in basketball, eleven of which still stood when he graduated. He has been inducted into six Halls of Fame, most notably the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame, and the Maine Golf Hall of Fame.
Dallas McCrea, Coach.
Dallas McCrea has earned the distinction of having the longest coaching career in FFHS history, a career which spanned 44 years. As a ski coach, he has mentored three State Championship boys teams and four State Championship girls teams. His coaching covered all disciplines of skiing: giant slalom, slalom, jumping, classical, and freestyle cross country. McCrea shared in the success of several individualState Champions during his coaching career, and employed his extensive knowledge of waxing techniques to gain the competitive edge over opponents. Through his work with local development planners and officials of the International Biathlon Union and U.S. Biathlon Association, he was instrumental in bringing the Nordic Heritage Biathlon Ski trails to Presque Isle. For many years, Dallas served as a ski equipment tester and evaluator for Rossignol Ski Company. As a testament to his dedication and devotion to the sport of skiing at FFHS, the ski trails and building are named in his honor.
Hilary McNamee, Athlete.
Hilary is a 2008 graduate of FFHS and a State Champion skier. Before turning her focus to skiing, she competed in track and field, soccer and cross country running in her first year of high school. During her high school years, Hilary earned four letters and captured the title of County Champion in classical and freestyle racing a total of seven times. Among her many accomplishments, she holds the titles as the 2005 Maine State Class C Freestyle Champion and the 2007 Maine State Classical and Freestyle Champion. A gifted athlete with a passion for the sport of skiing and devoted to the pursuit of excellence, McNamee indeed excelled as a biathlete with the Maine Winter Sports Center. She qualified for the World Biathlon Championship and performed exceptionally, earning a bronze medal at the cross-country Junior National Sprint Championships in 2006. Hilary is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College where she competed as a member of one of the most prestigious collegiate skiing programs in the United States.
Ralph Michaud Jr., Athlete.
A 1979 graduate of FFHS, Ralph Michaud, Jr. achieved distinction in multiple sports including golf, basketball and baseball. He earned his letter all four years in golf as he led his team to three regional championships and finished the season with the lowest scoring average in the County for three consecutive years. Michaud earned a letter each of his three years in basketball and distinguished himself as the team’s leading scorer in 1978. He was named All-Aroostook in 1978-79 as one of only two Class B players to receive the top ten award, the others being Class A. Ralph earned his letter for four years in baseball as well. After graduating from FFHS, Michaud went on to compete at the University of Maine at Presque Isle where he excelled in both soccer and basketball. He was honored with induction into the UMPI Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. He is well known and widely respected today for his coaching success in soccer and basketball at Presque Isle High School, as well as for his personal success on the golf course amassing numerous championship titles throughout the years.
Tim Nightingale, Athlete.
Tim Nightingale graduated from FFHS in 1976 and distinguished himself as a star athlete in multiple sports throughout his high school career. He competed in basketball, track and field, soccer, cross country, and baseball earning a total of eleven varsity letters. On the basketball court, Nightingale set school records, the first of which held for ten years as he scored 37 points in a single game against Presque Isle. He also set the record for the most free throws made in a game with 19. He was honored with selection to the first team All-Aroostook in his senior year. As a track and field star athlete, Nightingale set school and County records his senior year in the triple jump, while finishing an impressive second place in the state competition. He was undefeated his senior year in the 440-yard race and won the County Championship while setting a school record. He anchored the 440-relay team that set a state record in that event. His track and cross country teams won an Aroostook League title his freshman year; his soccer team won the Aroostook League title during his senior year. Nightingale is Executive Vice President & Senior Lending Officer at Camden National Corporation in Camden, Maine, and has been a key financial contributor to Fort Fairfield High School.
Jeanette Peters, Coach.
A 1966 graduate of Aroostook State Teacher’s College (UMPI) with a bachelor's degree. At the time the college had no women’s varsity sports, but she received the Gold Key, the highest award at the time for intramural sports. After graduation she began teaching physical education at Caribou Middle School. Peters came to Fort Fairfield in 1971 and began a long and distinguished career as Health and Physical Education instructor and multi-sport coach. Among her many contributions to athletics at FFHS, Peters instituted a Lifetime Sports Program at the high school and served as an influential and well-respected advocate for female athletes at the high school level. She coached the girls varsity basketball team for fifteen years, accumulating 144 wins, six tournament appearances, and an Eastern Maine Runner-up title in 1983. Under her guidance, both her field hockey and softball teams won Eastern Maine Championships. In 2003, Peters was named SAD #20 Teacher of the Year, as well as the Maine Secondary Health and Physical Education Teacher of the Year, also in 2003. As a result of her numerous contributions to advancement in athletics she was honored with induction into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors in 2010.
Thomas Towle, Athlete.
Tom Towle is a 1977 graduate of FFHS and is considered one of the most prolific athletes in the history of the school. Towle was a multi-sport athlete competing and excelling in skiing, golf, soccer, and baseball. During his four years as a skier, he amassed numerous titles of distinction including State Champion Skimeister in 1977, and State Individual Cross Country Champion in 1976 and 1977. He was also named a High School All-American for skiing in 1976. Towle and his teammates captured State Cross Country Ski Championships in 1974, 1976 and 1977. As a golfer, he achieved recognition as Aroostook County Golf Champion in 1975 and 1976 and Individual Runner-Up in 1975 (All Classes). His teams won the Aroostook County Championships in both 1975 and 1976. As a soccer player, Towle captained the the 1976 Eastern Maine Championship team and was selected All-Eastern Maine and All-Aroostook. In 1977, his baseball team earned the title of Aroostook County Champions and Tom was selected to the All-Aroostook team. After graduating from FFHS, he went on to compete in golf and skiing at the University of Maine in Orono for four years.
