Bobby Serra?

Hal Kopp · Unread post by **Hal Kopp** » 11 years ago

http://www.thewesterlysun.com/sports/se ... 963f4.html

Anyone remember him?
Who are some great born and bred Rhody HS to Ram players?
Not many?

Tom Garrick
Roland Fiore
Jeff Kent

Who am I overlooking?
Stenhouses?
Percy Davis?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

ERNIE CALVERLEY, the greatest Ram of all, Earl Shannon, Don Kaull, Stan Moody, to name a few.

alfabetsoop · Unread post by **alfabetsoop** » 11 years ago

Not to sound like an old bastard, but Rod is 100% correct. Though I am a bit biased.

rhodyram81 · Unread post by **rhodyram81** » 11 years ago

How about Dennis McGovern? Was he a native Rhode Islander?

rhodyram81 · Unread post by **rhodyram81** » 11 years ago

After some quick research, Dennis McGovern was indeed a Rhody native. He finished his career in '65 with 1,696 points.

Hal Kopp · Unread post by **Hal Kopp** » 11 years ago

I thought Dennis McGovern played with Hurley Sr. in NJ?
Where did Earl Shannon and Stan Moody play HS ball @?
Ernie Calverly was Pawtucket West and Don Kaull Rogers-correct?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

Um, Dennis McGovern is our ORIGINAL Jersey City guy.
He stayed in RI, after he left URI. He was my first favorite player.
53% shooter who was a shooter!
Nice guy, too.

Hal Kopp · Unread post by **Hal Kopp** » 11 years ago

Rod,right on Dennis,but big difference b/w RI and NJ HS BB -then where did Earl Shannon and Stan Moody play ball?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

Stan Moody was from Newport, so I assume he played for Rogers.
We also had a guy from Newport, who briefly played here, named Joe Van Oudenhove.

Rammgr · Unread post by **Rammgr** » 11 years ago

Vic Soares out of East Providence & Percy's cousin Willie Midlebrooks out of WArwick Vets. I believe Nelson Lopes was from EP also. Vic Bertuglio didn't play long but he was from NP via Hendricken. Brian Jenkins was from Newport. Maybe not stars but all played pretty well for Rhody.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 11 years ago

For what its worth, alot of this history is captured in the book "Runnin' Rams" a sports image history (William Woodward author) of URI hoops up thru the beginning of play at the RC and transition from Keaney. I think the authors son has been and is still HC at Maine. My late Dad played for Coach Keaney ('38-'39) and Mom cheered them on in Rodman Hall.....Think about how many points Dennis Mcgovern would have scored if there was a three point shot back then.....the book can be purchased in the Bookstore.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 11 years ago

Yes, Nellie Lopes was EP.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 11 years ago

Dick Hole, Newport, part of the MSG all Garden Team, '45-'46, along with Ernie, amd among the five was Joe Mullaney of HC.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

Great book, 105. A must read for all Ram fans.
McGovern, Larry Johnson, John Fultz and Steve Rowell, would have had a boatload more
points with the 3 point line.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

My dad started taking me to Keaney in 1964. Those were the days. Many a Ram blowout against the likes of UNH and Maine. Ah, the old Yankee Conference.

Seems like it always came down to us or UConn every year. We would regularly score 100 [without the 3 point line], but against UConn it was almost always a low scoring affair. We won some, lost some.

Always had a great time though.

Hal Kopp · Unread post by **Hal Kopp** » 11 years ago

OK-so we have about fifteen RI born players (not many in the grand scheme):
Bobby Serra
Stenhouse (1 or 2)
Tom Garrick
Jeff Kent
Earl Shannon
Don Kaull
Roland Fiore
Percy Davis
Nelson Lopes
Vic Soares
Willie Middlebrooks
Vic Bertuglio
Brian Jenkins
Ernie Calvelry
Vic Soares

Shinze88 · Unread post by **Shinze88** » 11 years ago

Steve Mello !!!!!

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

Is this limited to basketball? If not, Steve Furness might be the most successful with 4 Super Bowl rings.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Great book, 105. A must read for all Ram fans.
McGovern, Larry Johnson, John Fultz and Steve Rowell, would have had a boatload more
points with the 3 point line.

Thanks for reminding me to buy that book!! Just did on Amazon for $17.

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 11 years ago

Bob Marr, the author of that article in The Westerly Sun, also has a great book about the Westerly and URI basketball scene back in the day. I highly recommend it - If you e-mail him, he still has copies of it.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

No reason why Stevie Mello shouldn't be on this list. He was a GREAT high school player.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

Mello from Bristol ???

seanmc94 · Unread post by **seanmc94** » 11 years ago

Jimmy Baron?

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 11 years ago

Hal Kopp wrote:I thought Dennis McGovern played with Hurley Sr. in NJ?
Where did Earl Shannon and Stan Moody play HS ball @?
Ernie Calverly was Pawtucket West and Don Kaull Rogers-correct?

Calverly and Shannon attended the same high school in Pawtucket and would have played together in both high school and college as they were just a year apart.

Ernie Calverly grew up right across from Slater Park by the Pawtucket Country Club and went to Pawtucket High (Class of 1940) which later became Pawtucket East and is currently now Tolman High School.
Link: http://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2956

Earl Shannon was a 1939 graduate of Pawtucket High (now Tolman).
Link: http://www.warwickonline.com/stories/Ob ... s&town_id=

The same high school gym where Ernie and Earl played is still in use today for RIIL basketball play.

neil · Unread post by **neil** » 11 years ago

Nice thread, although it's sort of scary that I've seen 12 of the 15 on Hal's list play.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 11 years ago

Add to the list, Vic Tkacs, a Keaney boy from EP, whom played '38-'39. Also coached EPHS to the '62 RI state championship over Don Kuall's lead Rogers team, after an upset over "favored" Westerly in the semis at then PC's alumni Hall......if I recall this correctly.....

URIGONZO · Unread post by **URIGONZO** » 11 years ago

Mello could have moved much higher on the list had he hit that shot against St. Joes......woulda coulda shoulda

kal-65 · Unread post by **kal-65** » 11 years ago

altho i cant recall any, there are probably many players before calverly in the 30s and 40s who could make the list

Essam · Unread post by **Essam** » 11 years ago

Jim "Whip" Fedirico is another one of Keaney's .Know for his two hand set shot and his coaching ability. Did Frank "Skanky " Pellgreno play for URI?

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

seanmc94 wrote:Jimmy Baron?

"born and bred"

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 11 years ago

URIGONZO wrote:Mello could have moved much higher on the list had he hit that shot against St. Joes......woulda coulda shoulda

That shot was so close.

alfabetsoop · Unread post by **alfabetsoop** » 11 years ago

RF1 wrote:
Hal Kopp wrote:I thought Dennis McGovern played with Hurley Sr. in NJ?
Where did Earl Shannon and Stan Moody play HS ball @?
Ernie Calverly was Pawtucket West and Don Kaull Rogers-correct?

Calverly and Shannon attended the same high school in Pawtucket and would have played together in both high school and college as they were just a year apart.

Ernie Calverly grew up right across from Slater Park by the Pawtucket Country Club and went to Pawtucket High (Class of 1940) which later became Pawtucket East and is currently now Tolman High School.
Link: http://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2956

Earl Shannon was a 1939 graduate of Pawtucket High (now Tolman).
Link: http://www.warwickonline.com/stories/Ob ... s&town_id=

The same high school gym where Ernie and Earl played is still in use today for RIIL basketball play.

RF1 is absolutely correct about Ernie and Earl. I knew them both intimately and had many conversations with them about Rams basketball and Rhode Island State College. It was a different game then and the Rams were near the top of it. Earl also had several brothers who played at URI with Billy being the most accomplished. Frank Lanning called the Shannons the First Family of Rhode Island Basketball .

phantom · Unread post by **phantom** » 11 years ago

Bud Hazard

URIGONZO · Unread post by **URIGONZO** » 11 years ago

Chris Wosencroft? Newport?

rhodyram81 · Unread post by **rhodyram81** » 11 years ago

Earl Shannon and Ernie Calverly did indeed play in a gym that still is in use. The Tolman High gym is named after "Gentleman Jim Donaldson", father of ProJo columnist Jim Donaldson. The gym is the oldest high school gym in use, tied with either Mt. Pleasant or Hope and it is probably the smallest court (along with the Shea High gym, also in Pawtucket). The court features a lane around the perimeter which is usually good for several lane violations and turnovers as players routinely step out of bounds as well due to its small dimensions.

Hal Kopp · Unread post by **Hal Kopp** » 11 years ago

I will put Mello and Jim Baron Jr. on the list.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 11 years ago

Jimmy was not born here Hal, Steve was born in Fall River

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 11 years ago

I think if you went to high school in RI you qualify as a RI'er......how many in the modern era?

I'm thinking from Jack Kraft's time on.....

Who will be the next one.....the youngest Murphy?......one of the Hurley children?....PMurph's sons? Bonzie Colson, Jr?

Hal Kopp · Unread post by **Hal Kopp** » 11 years ago

I mean just played RI HS ball.
That is where I see the challenge.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

well, then billy baron has to be added to the list too.

Brian · Unread post by **Brian** » 11 years ago

I can think of a few walk ons. Someone already mentioned Chris Wosencroft. Mike Harris, Jake Grimes and Wale (can't remember his last name) were all on the team four or 5 years ago. Jason Nickerson played in one of Baron's first years. Mike Jilling played for Jerry D.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

I would put Mello on the list but not Jimmy

Rhody Guy · Unread post by **Rhody Guy** » 11 years ago

wale alesh

Ramblinrose · Unread post by **Ramblinrose** » 11 years ago

I think born and bred is limiting. I'm not sure Tommy Garrick was born in RI, for instance, but grew up in West Warwick. I think Billy and Jimmy belong on the list, since they played at Hendricken. I'd forgotten Vic Bertuglio, touted as the new Ernie D.
Both Italian and from the North Providence area. The similarities faded from there.
Vic Soares starred at EP and split time at center with Randy Wilds. Vic was tall enough to dominate RI talent but didn't fare as well at URI. He was unenthusiastic about practice, too, and hard work. Ended up, I think, at Acadia in Canada, where he played about nine years (different rules up there, eh?). I think we can agree that no ex-player has been as dedicated to URI as Don Kaull.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 11 years ago

Jimmy and Billy wouldnt have lived in RI if CFL wasnt the coach here thats why I dont consider them true Rhode Islanders

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