Year Inducted: 2024
Barnet Fain - Barnet Fain -- known to many as "Bunny" -- was a prominent businessman, artist, philanthropist, and community leader in Rhode Island. Barnet was born in Providence on March 31, 1932 to Irving I. and Miriam (nee Grossman). A resident of Providence in his youth, Barnet graduated from Classical High School and went on to Colby…
Brigadier General Michael T. Byrnes - Brigadier General Michael T. Byrnes, U.S. Army Ret, born on February 10, 1940, passed away after a long illness on January 9, 2023. A native of Bristol, he was a son of the late Thomas H. and Constance G. (Campanella) Byrnes, Jr. Michael’s father was a state representative, Bristol town administrator and a founder of…
Edmund D. “Ted” Fuller III - Ted Fuller was born in Pawtucket on June 4, 1935. He began his career working for his father who ran a small Rhode Island chain, “Donut Kettle.” He parlayed this after-school job into a successful career in the food service industry. After graduating from St. Raphael Academy in 1952 and a stint at Bryant College, he…
Everett Gardner Weeden, Jr. - Everett Gardner Weeden, Jr. (“Tall Oak”), a documented descendant of the Mashanticut Pequot, Narragansett, and Wampanoag tribes, was an artist, an activist, survivalist, and historian, He was born in Providence on September 4, 1936 to the late Everett G. Weeden, Sr, and Bertha (Ramos) Weeden Summers. At age nine Everett moved with his family to…
George Greeley - Born on July 23, 1917 as Georgio Guariglia, he was an Italian-American pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, recording artist and record producer who is known for his extensive work across the spectrum of the entertainment industry. George was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, soon after his family emigrated from Italy. Most of the family's members were musically gifted and could play…
John Francis Egan - Johnny Egan along with teammate Lenny Wilkens (RIHHoF 1967) were the first two superstars of Providence College basketball in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Together, under the tutelage of legendary coach Joe Mullaney (RIHHoF 1970), they brought the college's basketball program into national basketball prominence. John Francis Egan was born in Hartford, Connecticut on…
Leonard Bacon - Leonard Bacon, a poet, translator, critic, and professor, was born on May 26, 1887, in Solvay, New York, the son of Nathaniel Bacon and Helen Hazard. He grew up at his mother's familial estate in Peace Dale, Rhode Island. He came from a family of Congregationalist ministers, including the clergymen relatives for which he was…
Lincoln Carter Almond - Lincoln C. (“Linc”) was elected governor of the State of Rhode Island in 1994, making him the first Rhode Island governor to serve a four-year term. As a former U.S. Attorney, he was elected based on his pledge to govern with honesty and integrity, to restore Rhode Islanders’ faith in their elected leaders, and to…
Mary Ann Lippitt - Mary Ann Lippitt devoted her life to many civic and charitable causes and for 26 years was an aviator and owner of Lippitt Aviation. Born on June 29, 1918 at Pride’s Crossing, Massachusetts, she died on Sunday, June 18, 2006 at age 87 at her Providence home where she had lived with her late brother,…
Morris Nathanson - Artist, designer, advocate for preservation and civil rights, Morris Nathanson, was born on September 9, 1927 and raised in Pawtucket. His immigrant family, living in the Pleasant View neighborhood, witnessed the effects of eminent domain, which took and demolished their home and community to make way for Interstate 95. This experience inspired his dedication to…
Norman E. McCulloch, Jr. - Norman “Sandy” McCulloch was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1926 to Norman and Mary McCulloch. Many of his early summers were spent on Adams Point in Barrington until 1935 when his family moved to Barrington permanently. His education continued at Nayatt School, Providence Country Day School, Barrington High School ’43, and Phillips Academy, Andover…
Peter C. Fontaine - If you read the Sports section of West Bay newspapers, you most likely saw Pete Fontaine’s byline. Pete was synonymous with sports. Honored by his peers on numerous occasions, including the 6th State Group of Writing Excellence and Words Unlimited, (an organization for sports writers and announcers), Pete also had his own local radio program featuring his…
Raymond T. Dwyer - Ray Dwyer was an outstanding athlete, teacher, coach and nationally recognized sports official throughout his long, accomplished life in Rhode Island. Born in the Rumford section of East Providence on July 21, 1923, Ray was the son of Edward M. and Mary F. (nee Mather) Dwyer. His track prowess began as a student at LaSalle…
Reverend Adin Ballou - Adin Ballou was an American proponent of Christian nonresistance, Christian anarchism, and Christian socialism. He was also an abolitionist. During his long career as a Universalist and Unitarian minister, he tirelessly advocated for the immediate abolition of slavery and the principles of Christianity. His prolific writings promoted the nonviolent theory of praxis (or moral suasion). Adin Ballou was born in Cumberland on April 23, 1803,…
U.S. Marshal John J. Leyden - The Rhode Island Law Enforcement community lost a true champion, when North Kingstown’s John J. “Jack” Leyden passed away on March 3, 2021, at the age of 89. Born in the Smith Hill section of Providence on July 3, 1931, Jack was the son of Thomas and Katherine (McGovern) Leyden, along with brothers Thomas and…
