Hall of Fame Inductees 2007

Francis James Accousti
Frank graduated from Plainville high School in 1965. Frank was the classic popular, good natured and athletic student that everyone enjoyed being around. He was a multisport star in football (4 years), basketball (3 years) and baseball (4 years). In his senior season, Frank was an ALL STATE captain of the football team, Frank was a “terror for all opponents” according to the New Haven Register. During his senior year, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored 54 points. He was a top receiver and punter and lead the team in tackles. As leader of the defense at linebacker, the team allowed a measly 61 points over 8 games with 5 shutouts. Frank was also an outstanding member of the basketball team as a guard and power hitting 3rd baseman in baseball. Frank was his class vice president and won the William Cassidy award as the Outstanding Athlete of 1965. He was also a Deputy Chief Squire of the Columbian Squires. Later Frank was known for play on the East Street Package Store/Vito’s AC softball teams. Frank will be honored posthumously.

Anthony “Tony” Badolato
Tony Badolato is the recipient of the 2007 Sports Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award. Tony has been a special supporter of Plainville youth sports for more than forty years. A father of 3 girls, Tony never lost his passion for sports and about 45 years ago, he decided to balance his family life with a few local sports programs to help others. Those few programs included coaching midget football, coaching Little League (Cubs), Alumni League baseball, Plainville Park & Recreation Board, Civil Air Patrol, Plainville Fire Department and organizing and running the basketball leagues at Norton Park. In his spare time, Tony refereed football and basketball and was the President of the Central Connecticut Board of Football Officials. Believe it or not, Tony and his wife Catherine would also take special education children on field trips fishing (prior to the insurance requirements) Somehow, he also managed to be a loving husband and father to his family who is here tonight to honor the man who has always found time to be everyone’s Distinguished Service Honoree.

George Earl Bartley
George graduated from Plainville High School in 1964. George was a multi-sport star in cross country (4 years) basketball (4 years) and track (4 years). George was a two sport captain who would lead by example. In cross country as a senior captain, he won 6 of the 8 meets he competed in, establishing course record at two competitor’s courses. He captained the Class B Indoor Track State Champions personally earning 2nd place in the 1,000 yard run. On the hardwood, George would provide offense in bunches and solid defense as a small forward. As co captain of the track team, he tied the school record in 880 yd. run and set the school record for the triple jump and CVC meet record in the triple jump. George anchored the undefeated 4X880 relay team and also won every conference race that he competed in as a senior trackman. George also won the conference titles in Triple Jump, 880 yard run and 4X880 relay. He was a past President of the PHS Athletic Backers Club.

James Clark
Jim graduated from Plainville High School in 1967. Jim was a two sport star in cross country (3 years) and track (3 years). Jim epitomizes everything good about hard work and positive results in cross country and track. Jim was cross country captain for two of his three year leading the team always finishing in the top three runners for PHS. In track as a senior, he established STATE records in the 60 yard dash and 100 yard dash and as a long jumper, finished 2nd at the State Open Championships and at the New England Track Championships where he established a PHS school record of 22′ 6 ¾ ”in the long jump that remains today, 40 years later. Jim was also an honor student and member of the National Honor Society.

Donald Peter Dalena
“Red” graduated from Plainville High School in 1946. He was a multi-talented star in two sports, football (3 years) and baseball (3 years) who earned the respect of his team mates and coaches for his commitment to the team. Red was the consummate role player in football where he started as a lineman and finished as the wing back in the single wing backfield with Hall of Famers Tony D’Amico, Roger St. Pierre and Bill DeLorenze helping the team to a 7-1 record. Coach Knureck’s once said “He didn’t run fast but no one could catch him” Red’s natural talents in baseball made his most notable successes as a three year varsity centerfielder for the blue devils. His speed coupled with his hitting and game knowledge made him the natural team leader and team Captain. Red was never one to look for personal awards, rather sacrificing himself for the good of the team. Dependability, dedication and leadership and ability are the qualities that make “RED” a true Hall of Famer.

Robert Glines
Bob graduated from Plainville High School in 1971. Bob was the silent teammate who’s efforts in competition spoke volumes to his teammates and the opposition. Bob was a multi-sport star in cross country (4 years), basketball (4 years) and baseball (2 years). As co-captain, he lead the cross country team setting the local course record, finishing 7th in the conference meet, 19th out of 123 runners in the sectionals and 19th in the State meet. Bob really opened eyes on the hardwood where, as co-captain in 1971, he established a school record of 43 points scored in a single game, a record that stands today. He was considered to be a “pure shooter” who could dominate games by his very presence. All of this was before the advent of the three point line. He finished his senior year with 417 points. Bob was also a key contributor on the baseball field as a sure handed 3rd baseman with a steady bat.

Robert “SWEETS” Zdunczyk
Bob graduated from Plainville High School in 1958. Sweets was a three sport athlete who earned ALL STATE honors as captain of the Blue Devil Basketball team. Bob was a forward/center on the hardwood and, was the center point of the beginning of the dominance of Plainville mens basketball during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Sweets scored over 860 points and had over 425 rebounds during his PHS career helping his teams to win conference championships and to go deep into the CIAC tournaments. One local paper dubbed Bob “Mr. Basketball” during his years at PHS and he is ranked as one of the greatest basketball players in PHS history. On the baseball diamond Bob was the prototypical power hitting first baseman batting .347 as a senior and leading the Blue Devils in home runs. Bob also was a key member of the track team running middle distance events in between baseball games.