JOSEPH B. GOLAS SR.

Coaching came second nature and was a way of life to Joe Golas. Coaching in the
1930’s and during the Great Depression meant that there were no formal leagues to provide uniforms, bats, balls, and transportation was very limited. Joe recruited players from all over Enfield to play on his teams. Joe started coaching with the 10-12 age group in 1936 and finished with the 15-16 age group in 1942. In that time period, Joe’s teams won three championships 1939, 1940, and 1942. His Midget teams were the Thompsonville League Champions in 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942 and 1943.  His Junior age teams were Thompsonville League Champions in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946 and 1947. His Senior age teams were League Champions in 1942, 1943 and 1948.  Joe served in the U.S. Navy in 1944 and 1945, but coaching was always on his mind while defending his country. From 1946-48, he coached the Enfield American Legion Baseball team to a second place finish each year. Some of Joe’s teams included The “Merdocks”, The “Novak Nine”, “Nowak’s Pharmacy”, “John Maciolek Post 154 American Legion”, and the “St. Adalbert’s Nine”. Eight of the nine starters on the 1942 Enfield High School Baseball Team played for Joe’s teams over the years. In addition to coaching three practices a week, Joe was a planner, scheduler, supplier of goods, groundskeeper, and a moral leader to the youth of Enfield. Some of the young men influenced by Joe’s coaching include fellow Hall of Famer’s: Nick Gaetani, Bob Keller, Ray Legenza, Matt Pliszka, Joe Lamana, and Dick Vining. Joe was considered a hard, but fair taskmaster who molded a bunch of local kids into a group that believed that they could beat anyone.

JOHN URBON

John Urbon attended Enfield High School (EHS) and graduated with High Honors in 1935. John was one of the area’s outstanding and durable curve-ball pitchers/hitters in the 1930-1950 era. In his junior year at EHS, he alternated between pitching and playing outfield with fellow Hall of Famer, Ed Kukulka. They helped lead EHS to the Valley Wheel League Championship. John was team captain during his Senior year, batted cleanup, and led the Valley Wheel in strikeouts, with multiple games of 17 or more. Following High School, John was offered a baseball scholarship and a minor league tryout, which he had to turn down due to illness in the family during the Great Depression. John went to work for Bigelow-Sanford resuming his baseball career as a Pitcher/Outfielder. He was a member of the Bigelow teams that were Triple A Champions in 1940 and 1948. He was a consistent league leader in strikeouts and pitched a no hitter. John earned a place on the AAA all-star team with a .377 batting average in the early 1940’s. John played for various teams while in AAA, including Gilbert & Barker and Westinghouse. John once pitched to Babe Ruth in an exhibition all-star game, and was a teammate of Yogi Berra. John was an outstanding
duckpin bowler in the Bigelow Sanford Inter-department league.

DICK NELSON

Attended Enfield High School from 1950-54 and played baseball and football for three years. Dick entered the United States Air Force in 1954 through 1974, as an Air Traffic Controller. Dick played baseball, football, and basketball while in the
USAF. Dick spent 8 years officiating College and High School baseball, football,
and basketball games. He officiated the Utah High School All Star baseball and
football games. Attended Professional Umpire School in 1970 and was given the
Outstanding Student Award. Dick instructed from 1971 through 1979, and was Chief Instructor for 6 years. Umpired AAA & AA professional baseball games from 1975 through 1978, and worked the All Star game and playoffs each year. Dick was promoted to work in Major League Baseball’s American League in 1978 (spring training) and 1979. Dick was forced to retire in 1979 due to illness, but became a Senior instructor with the Major League Umpire Development program from 1979-1997.  He has taught in Professional Umpire Schools for 33 years. Trained and Supervised 58 of the 65 current Major League Umpires as well as 25 Japanese Umpires. Dick is a proud member of the Embry Riddle University Hall of Fame in Daytona Beach, Florida.

MARK BURNELL – George Daly Special Recognition Award

Mark graduated from Enrico Fermi High School in 1991. Mark has been competing in numerous Special Olympics sports since age 12. He excels at track and field, bowling, softball and soccer. Mark’s athletic talent has grown as he participated and practiced the many sports. The Enfield Special Olympics program decided to field a soccer team, and Mark was one of the first to sign up. Since then, Mark has concentrated more on soccer because “it’s the event that I like best”. Mark has been one of the major goal scorers in many of the soccer games he plays, while dominating at left wing, right wing, or center. Mark’s dedication to his team helped them win a medal each year at their summer games. His numerous years of competition and hard work culminated in a national honor. Mark was selected, after going through several tryouts, to the 1995 World Games Unified Soccer team in the Special Olympic Games held in New Haven, CT. Mark’s passion for excellence in soccer and teamwork led his Connecticut team to a second place in the World Games. Mark presently works at the Allied Rehabilitation Center in Enfield. In addition to soccer, Mark continues to compete in Softball, Bowling, Basketball, and Swimming.

DONNA KAY-NESS

Donna’s fierce athletic prowess is one that Enfield has rarely ever seen before.
Donna’s intense training and experience as a Triathlon competitor has placed her in World Class Championship rankings. She has competed in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship (2000 Overall Amateur World Champion; 1996 Overall Amateur World Champion; 1995 World Champion (30-34 age group); 1993 Overall Amateur World Champion (set course record 9:51:12); 1992 Overall Amateur World Champion; and 1991 World Champion (25-29 age group). Additional competition in the USAT National Amateur Championship provided the following rankings: 2001 Overall National Amateur Champion; 2000 Overall National Amateur Champion; 1999 Overall National Amateur Champion; 1997 Overall National Amateur Champion; and 1992 National Amateur Champion (25-29 age group). While competing in the ITU Triathlon Word Championship for Team USA, she won the 2001 World Champion (35-39 age group) 2:10:23; 1996 Long Course World Champion; 1992 Bronze Medallist (25-29 age group); and 1990 Silver Medallist (25-29 age group). Donna was named the Top USA Triathlon female athlete of the year in 2000 & 2001. Donna has raced professionally in many Triathlon competitions, including Ironman Canada Penticton, Canada; Ironman Florida Panama City Beach; Blackledge Eagleman ½ Ironman Cambridge Maryland; Westchester Rye; Wilkes Barre (PA); Capitol City; Griskus Sprint – Middlebury, CT.