The Holyoke High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced through a press release on Tuesday that three individuals and a “legendary team” will be commemorated during its annual enshrinement.
Those honored members are as followed:
The first is Martin J. Dunn, who served as the 39th Mayor of Holyoke and Massachusetts State Senator between 1987 and 1993. According to the release, Dunn attended local schools and was an outstanding athlete as he graduated from Holyoke High School in 1974.
Dunn continued his athletic career at Columbia University and enjoyed significant playing time as a safety and a part-time quarterback. Upon graduating from law school, he returned home and began his life as a public servant.
Despite the busy work schedule, Dunn remained “committed to doing all he could to provide for Holyoke athletes.”
Whether fighting for more funding, expanding the Parks and Recreation Department’s offerings, or maintaining all the athletic fields and courts. Those contributions helped the city’s sports programs continue to achieve a high level of success.
Next is Eileen Kane, a former teacher and track coach at Holyoke High School. Though Kane wasn’t born in the city, she was “a transplant from Hungry Hill, who gave her heart and soul to her adopted hometown.”
After marrying fellow Hall of Famer Bill Kane, Eileen Kane taught in the Holyoke public schools system. She was then hired by another Hall of Famer, Barbara Martino, to become an assistant track and field coach even though she didn’t participate in the sport.
Her support as Holyoke pursued a new track and field facility was most notable. The Board of Aldermen removed the antiquated cinder track bisecting Mackenzie field while promising to build a new facility.
As time passed, the city might have forgotten its promise. So Bill and Eileen Kane reminded them of it. Their continued lobbying built the state-of-the-art “Bill and Eileen Track” at the Arthur Roberts Sports Complex.
And third is the “Peanut Bowl” football team.
According to the press release, the 1950 Holyoke High “Panthers” finished their season as the AA Conference champions. Despite an impressive 7-0-1 record, their only non-win was a 7-7 tie on Thanksgiving Day against rival Chicopee.
As the conference champions, Holyoke was invited to play in the third annual contest against a representative from the “Peach State” on Jan. 1, 1951. The football team was the main topic of conversation throughout the holidays, and despite losing by a final score of 19-14 in the bowl game, the “Peanut Bowl Team” has remained legendary since.
And lastly is “one of the founding fathers of the Holyoke Youth Soccer League,” former coach Claude Morin. During his coaching prime, the Purple Knights won back-to-back Pioneer Valley League Division III titles in 1975 and 1976.
The 1976 team also recorded seven “Transcript-Telegram” All-League All-Stars.
Morin also received the Bruno Rumpal Sportsmanship Award from Pioneer Valley soccer officials in 1975. And in 1978, the Purple Knights earned another regional tournament bid. From there, Morin took home the Larry Briggs Award, the highest honor in Western Mass. soccer from PVSOA.
Morin also found success in the water.
Behind a career coaching record of 82-7, Morin is considered the most successful swimming coach at Holyoke High School. His teams also posted 52 consecutive wins between 1966 and 1972. Under his guidance, the Purple Knights won the PVIAC League championship eight times between 1962 and 1970.
That also included four state championships and the New England championship in 1969. In 1969, Morin was elected president of the Western Mass. Swimming Association.
The 2024 Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Wycoff Country Club. Tickets will be sold for $35 per person, and all proceeds will support Holyoke Athletics. Fans can also reserve their seats through “Eventbright.com.”
