Pawtucket Hall of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees
GoLocalProv News Team
Pawtucket Hall of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees
This year’s 2019 Pawtucket Hall of Fame Inductees are: (humanitarian/mentor) Dr. Joseph J.Box, D.D.S, (political strategist/veteran teacher) Joseph T. Fleming, (coach & mentor) Larry Holloway, (veteran educator/community volunteer) (the late) Thomas A. Holleran, (mentor/athletic director) Raymond McGee, (community organizer/volunteer) Arthur M. Plitt, (city librarian/community volunteer) Susan L. Reed, and (President and CEO of RI Foundation) Neil D. Steinberg.
Also, being recognized as “historical inductees” are Darius Goff and sons, Lyman B. Goff and Darius Goff, Jr.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn addition to these inductions, this year’s recipient of the traditional “Person of the Year Award” which is given to recognize the person the committee believes has made an outstanding contribution over this past year will be presented to (developer) Leslie Moore.
The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, November 1 at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $65 per person and can be purchased at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, which is opened 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
See the Inductees in the Slideshow Below
2019 Pawtucket Hall of Fame Inductees
Dr. Joseph Box
Known as 'the Mayor of Fairlawn', Dr. Box is the oldest practicing dentist in Rhode Island.
Responding to a newspaper ad 'looking for volunteer dentists' many years ago, it changed his life forever.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/ Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Joseph T. Fleming
Fleming was an educator, then Assistant Principal in the Pawtucket schools for many years, where he taught and influenced hundreds of students.
Today he educates a larger audience that extends beyond Rhode Island borders, analyzing local, state and national politics.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Larry Holloway
Nine years ago "Coach Larry" began Pawtucket Summer Basketball at the Smithfield Avenue courts with 60 young people - last year the program served close to 200.
Other great activities to create opportunities for the youth in the City of Pawtucket followed.
Holloway is a nominee whose lasting and meaningful impact in the City of Pawtucket has made it a better place for young and old alike.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Raymond McGee
Since 1968, this Pawtucket resident, teacher, coach, and an administrator has helped mold young teens into mature adults who have become contributing members of society and contributing citizens of Pawtucket.
McGee's efforts have made Jenks, Tolman, Shea & St. Ray's better schools, which in turn have made Pawtucket a better community.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Arthur M. Plitt
Arthur Plitt is a man whose name is synonymous with civic involvement and engagement.
Not a native of Pawtucket, he originally hailed from upstate New York, in Rockland County. Upon graduating from St. Lawrence University, he went on to receive an MBA from Columbia University.
A quiet, yet unassuming gentleman, he has been an advocate for many invisible populations, where his influence has been felt not only in Pawtucket, but throughout the state
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Susan Reed
People that want to research the past of Greater Pawtucket have easy access to information thanks to Susan Reed, the longtime director of the Pawtucket Public Library.
Reed, who began her career at the library in 1971 as an assistant homebound librarian, has co-authored two books.
The books are volumes one and two of Images of America Pawtucket, written in conjunction with local historians James Wheaton and Elizabeth “Betty” J. Johnson and published in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
In 2013 three years after Betty passed away, Susan decided to have Johnson’s extensive collection at her Pawtucket History Research Center moved to the library.
In December of 2018, Reed followed up moving those records by securing the photo archives of The Times newspaper. Then in May 2019, Susan and her staff allowed the public access to searchable digitized files of The Times published from 1902 to 1947.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Neil Steinberg
Steinberg serves as the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.
In 2018, with assets of approximately $970 million, the organization raised $114 million and distributed $52 million in grants.
Steinberg came to the Rhode Island Foundation in 2008 from Brown University, his alma mater, after serving as vice president of development.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Posthumous Award: Thomas A.. Holleran
Many people fail to meet the challenge on a consistent basis, but one person who had a much better record of helping his fellow man than most is Thomas Holleran.
After working as reporter for the Pawtucket Times, Thomas was a teacher for 35 years at the Lyman B. Goff Middle School and the Fallon Memorial Elementary and Nathanael Greene Elementary schools.
There’s a great void in the Pawtucket community where Tommy Holleran served.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
Person of the Year: Leslie Moore
Leslie Moore is the Pawtucket Hall of Fame’s Person of the Year.
Moore is a downtown developer who recently purchased the WT Grant building.
The building was purchased to create an environment to give small businesses an opportunity to succeed.
PHOTO: Terace Greene/Pawtucket Hall of Fame
