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Charlotte Waters Mapes ’34 at the Hall of Fame.
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Athletic Hall of Fame to be Housed in the Ryan Center Although there have been nearly 300 inductees in the Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame since 1959, the actual Hall of Fame has been little more than a couple of plaques hanging in the lobby of Keaney Gymnasium. That changed on October 11 at 4 p.m. when the 2003 honorees were enshrined in ceremonies at the Ryan Center. The ceremony was followed by a celebratory dinner. The 2003 inductees include Jennifer Easton Burkhardt ’91 (field hockey); Clayton Clatur ’65 (track); Tony DiMaggio ’86 (football); Steve Godin ’85 (baseball); Charlotte Waters Mapes ’34 (basketball, field hockey, and shooting); Tracie Yrigoyen Morenberg ’92 (soccer); Tom Mut ’83 (football); Robert E. Taylor ’55 (track and football); the late Les Nichols ’42 (cross country); the late Norman Wilcox ’42 (track and football). The University has installed an Athletic Hall of Fame display in the Ryan Center, finally giving the former Ram standouts their due. Plaques, with pictures and descriptions of each URI Hall of Fame inductee are displayed throughout the building. The Hall of Fame also incorporates memorabilia from the past. Trophy cases and tributes to former teams and athletes grace the halls of the Ryan Center. The new Hall of Fame has a price tag of nearly $70,000, so gifts are being sort from Hall of Famers, their families, and their friends and admirers. Louise Rosarbo, director of athletic development, has undertaken the challenge of reaching the goal. Rosarbo and Ron Petro, director of athletics, have raised nearly $45,000 of the necessary funds during the past year. The Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association, under the direction of Mike Mancuso, has committed $10,000 as a lead donor to the project. Those interested in participating in the new Hall of Fame display should contact either Rosarbo at 401-874-2389 or Mancuso at 401-874-5541. To go along with the new Hall of Fame displays, an 80-page book will be available at the RamZone with all of the information about each URI Athletic Hall of Fame member. A three-page map of the displays will be included in the book. This year’s list of inductees have plaques in the North Lobby. Class size and space availability determine the remainder of the locations. Each year, the new list of inductees will move into the North Lobby, with the previous class being moved to another section of the Ryan Center. If you are interested in nominating former Rhode Island student-athletes, coaches, administrators, or benefactors for induction into the Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame should contact Mike Ballweg at 401-874-2401. Top
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