AUBURN – Three seems to be a magic number for the Sloat family.

Three years after elder son Andy received a Presidential Award at the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony for prowess in high school athletics, his father Brad and brother Jeff were honored on Saturday night.

Brad Sloat was one of four inductees this season into the local hall. His son Jeff followed in his brother’s shoes by receiving a President’s Award of his own.

“You always hope for equal achievment for all of your kids,” said Brad. “It’s rare that on a stage like this you are able to see that happen. I’m happy that Jeff was picked this year.”

Brad was honored for his accomplishments in football in the early 1970’s. After graduating from Edward Little, he went on to Hebron Academy for a year, and then played four years at the University of New Hampshire.

“My coach at Hebron sent a tape to New Hampshire because they were scouting a teammate of mine, actually,” said Brad. “The coach called back and asked about me.”

Joining Brad Sloat as a 2003 inductee were Art Blanchard, a former Bates College standout, Ray Sirois, a basketball star at Lewiston High School in the early 1950’s, and the late Dick Gibson, known for many things in the local sports community, among them an incredible football career at Lewiston High School in the 1940’s and a dedication to the local sporting community unmatched by many contemporaries.

“The four people being inducted tonight join a long list of distinguished local athletes and coaches,” said master of ceremonies Thomas Delahanty II.

Perhaps the most notable journey into the hall is Gibson’s. Although he was eligible and deserving of induction prior to this year, Gibson adamantly refused to be nominated. As a longtime member of the A-L Hall of Fame and director for two years, the committee always respected his wishes.

Last year, Gibson passed away at the age of 82. It didn’t take long for the committee to posthumously reward Gibson for his lifelong dedication to the community.

“He was a gentleman, an amazing colleague, a friend, and someone everyone was privileged to know,” said Fern Masse, the current chairman of the A-L Hall of Fame and the person introducing Gibson for induction.

Blanchard’s story was one similar to many young World War II veterans. In 1946, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill that alloed former soldiers to attend college. At 24, Blanchard enrolled as a freshman at Bates. That year, he led the Bobcats to the teams only undefeated football season, earning the team a berth in the Glass Bowl. Although his team lost the game, Blanchard garnered the MVP trophy, gaining nearly 200 total yards on the ground and through the air.

“There wasn’t much in football that you can do that he didn’t,” said Robert Flynn while introducing Blanchard. “He will always be remembered as the catalyst of that team that went undefeated and went to a bowl game.”

Sirois was honored as a fierce competitor who excelled at nearly everything he tried, but especially basketball. He won several awards as a basketball player at Lewiston High in the early 1950’s and continued his success at the University of Toledo while studying to become a dentist.

“Beating him at anything was a difficult task,” said presenter Ed White. “He was best known for his basketball prowess, but let’s not forget bowling, table tennis and tennis, as well as baseball.”

Sirois has won the state seniors tennis title three times, bowled a 300-game once, and was the city table tennis champion several times in the 1970’s.

Also awarded on Saturday night were several President’s Awards, goven to local coaches who led their teams to state titles and to local athletes who performed above and beyond expectations at the high school and college level. This year’s coaches honored included Edward Little hockey coach Jamie Belleau, Lewiston tennis coach Anita Murphy, Lewiston cheering coach Deneka Fortier and St. Dom’s cheering coach Amy Cronkhite.

Student-athletes honored at the college level included football standout Sean Atkins, basketball star Carla Flaherty and All-American athlete and Jay native Justin Easter of Bates, along with Bowdoin basketball star Kristi Royer of Lewiston.

High school athletes honored were Sarah Kay of St. Dom’s; Mickey Begin, Erica Bonenfant, Kirk Bolduc, Meagan Lever and Rob Laverdiere of Lewiston; and Matt Capone, Sarah Crispin, Brian Taylor, Jeff Sloat, Randy Morin, Denise Minigell, Nick Lawler and Krista Wotherspoon of Edward Little.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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