Hall of Fame Inductees 2009

Byron J. Treado, III, Founder of the Plainville Sports Hall of Fame
Byron graduated from Plainville High School in 1974 and was a consummate sports enthusiast. He maintains his enthusiasm today as demonstrated with his efforts to support youth sports and as founder and chairman of our Plainville Sports Hall of Fame.

His volunteer efforts for local sports includes12 years in Plainville Little League as a member of the Board of Directors, Manager in minor league and major league (also All Star team manager),1st T-Ball director for Plainville Little League when program was started in 1997, Softball team manager ( also All Star team Manager),volunteer to assist fund raising for the A Bartlett Giamatti Regional complex and volunteer to assist fund raising for the new fields at Trumbull Park. He also coached Plainville PAL Basketball for 10 years, Plainville Youth Soccer for 8 years and Plainville Travel Soccer for 3 years.

His involvement with Plainville High School sports and the Plainville High School Athletic Backers Club started in 1996 where he was President for 6 years. His efforts and initiatives include founding the Plainville Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 with the support of club members Bill Mirante, Tom Susco, Ron Osborne and Bob O’Dea, moving the annual student athlete awards dinner to Aqua Turf Club which was incorporated with the Hall of Fame inductions until 2004, re-instituted seasonal sports banquets at the school, recruited volunteer contractors to build the school sports activity board on East Street, and organized the “Blue Angels” basketball team reunion in 2003 and creating the Plainville Sports Hall of Fame website.

He continues to be an outspoken source of support for many sports programs and today, can be seen at many PHS events and at all PHS softball games watching his daughter

Melvin Buchanan
Mel graduated from Plainville High School in 1954. Mel was a three sport standout in football, basketball and baseball who battled through double sessions in school at that time, making Mel’s accomplishments even more impressive. He was also a member of the National Honor Society. Mel was a hard nosed back for the football team, but his record breaking efforts were on the hardwood where as a forward, he set the single game scoring record of 40 points in a game, previously held by Hall of Famer Mike Zinkiewicz that held up for more that 20 years until broken by another Hall of Famer Bob Glines in the 70’s. Mel was also a fireball throwing pitcher and 3rd baseman in baseball. Mel graduated from Trinity College and later coached football, basketball, track and golf. 

John Masalski
John graduated from Plainville High School in 1950. John was a multi sport star for the Blue Devils. He was a member of the 1947 undefeated State Championship football team. He played end on both offense and defense. John was an outstanding all around player excelling as a receiver, blocker and tackler. He was also a talented place kicker, kicking five field goals in a single game. John earned ALL STATE honors in 1949. On the hardwood, John was a dominant center and power forward for the devils leading the team in scoring and rebounding. He was also a stalwart on the track team earning a 5th place finish at the State Indoor Track Meet. John received a football scholarship to attend Loyola University in California. 

Bruce McClellan
Bruce graduated from Plainville High School in 1971 where he was class salutatorian and member of the National Honor society. Bruce was a multi-sport star in cross country, basketball and baseball. Bruce was the silent teammate whose leadership and efforts in competition spoke volumes to his teammates and the opposition. He helped elevate the success of the PHS teams that he played on. While Bruce’s statistics were impressive, more importantly, his teams were more successful because of his play.

Bruce was a key runner in cross country contributing to the team’s 3 year record of 29-4. He was the point guard for Joe Dehm’s Blue Devils as a reliable playmaker and scorer who assisted teammate Bob Glines to break the single game scoring record in 1971. On the diamond, Bruce enjoyed some of his greatest personal success batting over .450 and not striking out in both his junior and senior years. He went on to Wesleyan University where he continued his baseball career. 

Robert Tompkins
Bob graduated from Plainville High School in 1965. Bob was a multi sport scholar athlete who was a member of the 1964 ALL STATE football team with fellow hall of famer Frank Accousti. He was an imposing tackle for the Blue Devils Class B State Championship team and was considered by coach Charlie Palmer to be “the best tackle we’ve had at Plainville”. Ironically, Bob did not play football as a junior while he concentrated on studies to make the National Honor Society. Bob’s first love was basketball where he was also a standout center and leading rebounder for the Class B finalist team. He also excelled in shot put and javelin for the track team. Bob went on to play football at Tufts University.

Eugene White
Gene graduated from Plainville High School in 1987. Gene was a 3 sport athlete and considered the epitome of a student athlete. As a student, he excelled in the classroom as the schools Valedictorian with National Honor Society. As an athlete, Gene earned recognition as an ALL STATE athlete in both Football and Swimming and as an All-Conference athlete in Football, Swimming, and Track and Field. Gene was captain of both the Football team, where he played as a linebacker and offensive lineman, and the Track team, where he threw the discus, javelin, and shot put. He was awarded the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Award presented to only 14 athletes throughout the State of Connecticut. 

At the University of New Hampshire, Gene captained the indoor and outdoor Track and Field teams and dove for the swimming team. While in college, Gene was selected to the All Eastern Intercollegiate Track and Field Team for the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw. 

Gregory Ziogas is in his own class as an educator, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and now principal of PHS. Greg has set a standard for commitment to education and athletics in Plainville that will be the benchmark for others. Greg was a standout athlete in Bristol schools and later playing basketball at Springfield College. Greg came to Plainville as a teacher at Linden Street School in 1970 and became a PHS basketball assistant coach under Pat Riera in 1974. He moved to Plainville Jr. High School and coached soccer and basketball until 1987, stepping down from coaching to support his children’s sports activities. He remained involved with PHS sports as Athletic Director from 1987 to 1998. He made a brief interim coaching appearance in 2004 and served as an assistant principal of PHS from 1993 to 2004 when he became principal of PHS. Greg has been and continues to be a tremendous supporter of PHS sports and is a role model for educators, coaches and student athletes and fans of PHS