Joe Dippel

Raised in Enfield, CT & played Thompsonville Little League as a youth. In 1969, hit record 12 home runs in a season. Named to several Little League All-Star Tournament teams. Quarterback in the Enfield Midget Football Program. In 1969, led the Enfield Ramblers Football team to the State Finals (runner-up). Graduated from Enfield High School in 1975, after lettering all three years in both football and baseball. In his senior year in 1974, was quarterback and a Captain of football team. Accounted for a record 140 points, passing and rushing. Named All-League. Starting varsity pitcher all three seasons at EHS and was a Captain and All-League in 1975. In baseball, he also participated in All-State tournaments. Attended UCONN on a sports scholarship & played football and baseball. He quarterbacked in 1975 & 1976. Played baseball for 4 years at UCONN. He lettered in baseball in 1977, 1978, & 1979 (captain). In 1979, the team was the Yankee Conference Champion, the New England Champion, NCAA Division I Northeast Region Champion, resulting in participation in the NCAAChampionship College World Series at Omaha, Nebraska in June 1979. Graduated from UCONN in 1979, played baseball for Club Kinheim, the Dutch National Team, in the Netherlands/Holland in 1980 and 1981. Played a long career in the Hartford Twilight League (1975-1992) with the Vernon Orioles. Ran training programs and clinics for boys in Haarlem, Netherlands. Coached youth soccer, basketball and Little League baseball in Enfield. Member of East Granby Little League Board of Directors, and has served as its president since 2002. In 2004, established a summer baseball team and continues to coach in the Hartford Jaycee-Courant Baseball League, and in 2005 coached the Junior Division (13-15 year olds) team to the Championship game. A Founder of the East Granby Travel Basketball Association, and is on the Board of Directors. Served as its President in 2003 and 2004. Coached and ran soccer programs from 1995 to 2002 in Enfield & East Granby.

Erica H. Johnston

Erica grew up in Enfield, CT and started her athletic career early by winning a
runner’s medal at age 4. All-Star pitcher for Thompsonville Little League, and
Goalie for the Enfield Sweden Soccer tour in 1988. Attended Enfield High School
(EHS) from 1991-95 and lettered in Field Hockey, Basketball, & Softball. Played in CT Nutmeg games 1992-95 for Northern Connecticut and scored winning goal against the West in ‘94 & winning the Gold medal. At EHS, scored 78 career goals as a three time state champion in Field Hockey (scored the winning goal in ‘94 championship game & selected as MVP). EHS’s first high school All-American in Field Hockey. Selected to the Official Field Hockey Delegation to U.S. Olympic Festivals; St. Louis, ‘94, Colorado ‘95, and selected to USA Under-18 National Team returning a Silver Medal in ‘95. Earned a full scholarship at UMASS from 1995-98. Named Field Hockey All-American ‘97-’98, 2nd and 3rd team respectively; 3-time Northeast All-America 1st team, finished career 3rd in UMass history with 106 career points, & 3rd in UMass history with 48 career goals. Scored 24 goals in ‘97; 4th most single season goals in UMass history, 6th most single season points with 51 total points, scored 2 game-winning goals freshman year, Atlantic 10 All Conference ‘96-’98. 9-time student athlete of the week, 15-time A-10 player of the week, 3-time A-10 champion, 3-time A-10 all conference team, 3-time A-10 all ‘97. Graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and minor in Criminal Justice in 1999. Assistant Field Hockey Coach, Mt. Holyoke College, ‘99-current.

Ken (Lefty) King

Dubbed the premier left-handed baseball pitcher in preWorld War II era in Enfield.
Was one of several local ballplayers whose career was interrupted and ultimately
ended by the war and tough local economic times. Top starter for the EHS baseball team from 1939-41, and a starting guard/center for the basketball team. His shining baseball accomplishment came in back-to-back, complete-game shutouts (late in the ‘41 season). Threw a seveninning complete game shutout against Ware (Mass.) of the Valley Wheel, and 21 hours after the final pitch of that game he took the mound against the best team in the Northern Connecticut League, Windsor Locks. Threw a no-hitter, culminating his effort with 12 strikeouts. Enfield had a stunning 1-0 upset win with King’s no-hitter. King’s 24-hour totals for the two games: 2-0, 16 innings, three hits, no runs. In his senior year, he led all league pitchers with a 9-1 record with a 1.14 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 74 innings. He also paced the team with a .381 batting average. Facing South Hadley, he threw a four-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts in a 4-0 win. His ERA was below 1.50, and he averaged 1.3 strikeouts
per inning. He was named to the All-Conference teams in both basketball and baseball as a senior. Led his EHS basketball team in assists, and had 13 points to key a season-ending 37-35 Valley Wheel win over Monson (Mass.). EHS baseball success continued in winning his first 5 pitching starts of the season, striking out 56 in the process. In the next game against Stafford, he had three hits, but sprained both ankles stealing second base during the game. Two days later, he hurled a 6-3 complete-game win over Agawam. After high school, before enlisting in the service, King earned the number one starter’s job for the Springfield Atlantic Refining semi-pro team, the equivalent to a modern Rookie League club. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees in the Pacific during World War II, and pitched for numerous all-star teams while overseas. He faced several major-leaguers doing their duty during his hitch. After the war, King returned to Enfield to work and raise a family. He and his wife, the former Phyllis Crombie, raised four children, and he worked for 37 years as a union ironworker and business agent. King died in 1986.

Marcel Lessard

Marcel grew up in Enfield, CT and graduated from Enfield High School in 1982. Began bowling at the young age of 8 and was averaging over 200 by the age of 17. Rolled his first perfect game at age 18. On Dec. 8, 1988 he established the Central Connecticut Bowling Association (CCBA) record of an 848 series which held for 11 years. Bowled 20 perfect 300 point games; three 299’s; two 298’s and seven 800 series. Bowled over 300 seven hundred series games and has a high average of 237. Was CCBA bowler of the Year in 1988 and 1989. Marcel has bowled in professional events including the 1992 TUMS Classic where he finished 21st. Made the final eight in the High Roller Tournament in Las Vegas, which is the most prestigious amateur tournament in the world. This tournament drew approximately 1100 bowlers from across the country. Elected to the Central Connecticut Bowling Association (CCBA) All-Star team five times, and leads the CCBA with 18 titles, and State of CT with 14 titles. Earned two New England Bowlers Association (NEBA) championships. He is a past President and a past tournament director of the NEBA. Was elected to the CCBA Hall of Fame in 2004, and Connecticut State Hall of Fame in October 2005

Susan (Mercik) Davis

Born and raised in Enfield, CT, Sue played in the Enfield Softball League and was selected to the league All-star teams in multiple years. At John F. Kennedy Middle School, played on the field hockey, basketball and softball teams. In the 8th grade she was team captain on all three teams, and named MVP in basketball and softball. A 1987 graduate of Enrico Fermi High School; lettered in field hockey, basketball and softball. Captained field hockey in 9th and 12th grades. Named team MVP her senior year and earned All Conference and All State honors in her Junior and Senior years. Named Most Improved Player in her junior year for basketball. Served as team captain in grades 9 (JV team) and 12. Named Most Outstanding Female Athlete of her graduating class. Sue was awarded a 4-year athletic scholarship to Boston University (Division I) for field hockey. As a freshman she played in all 17 games as a reserve. She started all 17 games as a sophomore, and was named to the All-Region Team & Boston Four All-star team. As a sophomore, set the school record for most goals scored (11) in a season, and tied the school record for most goals scored in a game (3). Participated in the Class C and B Olympic Training Camps in 1988-1989. Due
to an ACL injury, Sue did not play her junior year and saw limited action her senior year. As a senior, Sue was awarded the Sergeant College Scholar Athlete Award and was named to the All Conference Academic team.

David (Dave) Morton

Raised in Enfield, CT where he played Little League Baseball, Midget Football for
the Ramblers and EPSA Basketball as a youth. Dave graduated from Enfield High School (EHS) in 1981 after playing 3 years of football. Was a three-year, two-way (offense/defense) starter and team captain his junior and senior years. In 1980-81, named Scholar Athlete at EHS. Played EHS Varsity Basketball for 2 years. After EHS he attended the University of New Hampshire & was a three-year starter at offensive tackle on the football team (1981-1984). Named All-Yankee Conference offensive tackle; All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) offensive tackle; University-Division College Sports Information Directors AllAmerican Academic offensive tackle; UNH Scholar Athlete Award (1984) and the UNH Alumni Scholar Athlete Award (1985). Today Dave enjoys coaching his 3 children, Elisabeth, Zachary, and Sarah in football, basketball, and volleyball.

Raymond F. Fisher – George Daly, Jr. Special Recognition Award

Grew up in Thompsonville, CT and attended Enfield High School. At EHS, played Varsity Basketball during the 1930’s. Played football for the Stafford Olympics Semi-Professional Team, Thompsonville Greys Semi-Professional Team, the Whiteley’s Aces Team, and the Rambler’s Football Team. As a young Welterweight boxer during the 1930’s, fought matches in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In addition to Enfield High School, played basketball in the YMCA League and in the Civilian Conservation Corps Basketball League. Played baseball in the prestigious Springfield Daily News Tournament, and softball for the Whiteley Aces and the Kaman Aircraft
Softball team in the Industrial League. Made significant contributions to the local sports scene during the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s by coaching Little League baseball, farm league teams for 4 years, and major league baseball teams for 9 years. Five of his little league teams were champions. Served as the little league All-Star coach for many years. Ray was one of the original organizers & coach of the Enfield Jets hockey team. Also, one of the original organizers/coaches of the Maciolek Post Junior football team. Assisted Hall of Famer Angelo Lamagna in creating and implementing the Thompsonville Youth Center Boxing program (active for 14 years). Worked with Hall of Famer Vito Tallarita in organizing post-World War II outdoor amateur boxing.