2016 Archive

CURRENT & PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

Distinguished

American

Contribution to

Amateur Football

Football Official

Award

Golden Dozen

Silver Scholar

Athletes

2016 DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN AWARD

LOUIS MARCIANO

Lou was born in Providence, Rhode Island and attended public schools. He was graduated from Mount Pleasant High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Arnold College division of Bridgeport University, Connecticut, in 1950. He earned a Master of Education degree in School Administration from Rhode Island College in 1960. He served in the United States Navy for three years during World War II and was a Petty Officer first class. He was on shipboard for more than two years in the Pacific theater. His ship had just left Okinawa when the Japanese surrendered.

He was a teacher; administrator and athletic coach in the Providence school system. At Mount Pleasant High School he was head of the Science Department, head wrestling coach and assistant varsity football coach for 12 years. His wrestling teams won five state championships, and compiled a record of 75% victories. He was the defensive coach and chief scout for the football team that won or tied for 8 class A championships in a ten year period in the 50’s and 60’s. In November 2012 Marciano was inducted into the RI Football Hall of Fame.

Lou served as a system wide Providence school Health Administrator from 1969 to 1978. He was then appointed by the Governor of RI to be Chief of Health Promotion at the RI Department of Health until his retirement in 1986. In June 1985 he became the first recipient of the annual award of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Horace Ogen Medal. His citation read in part;...”for extraordinary contribution to the health of the people of Rhode Island and the Nation”.

In 1972 he was inducted into the RI Rotary Club. He served as club president in 1981, and in 1991 was elected District 7950 Governor. His district included all of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. In 1997 he received the “Service Above Self” award which is recognized internationally. In 1998 he was selected to attend a conference in New Delhi, India. At that time he initiated steps to found the Rajendera K. Saboo Endowment Fund which began with a modest $1020 and today exceeds $550,000. This provides Rotary Peace Scholars with a 2 year scholarship.

Lou and his wife Gloria donated an annual scholarship award at Rhode Island College in 2004 which provides a student with funds for scholarship aide. In 2014 a classroom at the college was named in honor of Gloria and Lou Marciano as part of the new Art Center.

Marciano states that his greatest achievement is that he married Gloria, and fathered two daughters, Deborah and Joanne both of whom are college professors and have earned Doctorate Degrees in Education. They have given him three grandchildren: Steve, Lisa and Jenna.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

1988 – William Gilbane

1989 – U.S. Senator John O. Pastore

1990 – Henry A. “Hank” Soar

1991 – Matt Cavanagh (Friendship Award)

1991 – Mosi Tatupu (Friendship Award)

1992 – Paul Choquette, Jr.

1993 – Gov. Philip W. Noel

1994 – Steve Grogan

1995 – Hon. John E. Orton III

1996 – U.S. Senator Claiborne deBorda Pell

1997 – Bradford Boss

1998 – Harry Kizirian

1999 – U.S. Senator Jack Reed

2000 – Armand LaMontague 2001 – Ben Mondor

2002 – Gov. J.J. Garrahy

2003 – Mike Tranghese

2004 – A.J. Smith

2005 – Gov. Donald Carcieri

2006 – Hon. Ronald Machtley

2007 – Joseph MarcAurele

2008 – Rev. Brian Shanley

2009 – Dr. Robert Carothers

2010 – Brig. General James Dunn

2011 – William Gilbane, Jr.

2012 - Michael Goldberger

2013 - Terrance Murray

2014 - George Pyne

2015 - Mark Van Eeghen

2016 CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR FOOTBALL AWARD

EDWARD "TED" STEBBINS

Ted graduated from Cranston High School East in 1957. During his high school years he participated in football, basketball, and baseball and was named to the Providence Journal All State Football team his senior year. While at Cranston he played football and Basketball for his father, the legendary Ed Stebbins, who started the Rhode Island Interscholastic Injury Fund in 1945.

After graduating high school, he attended Wilbraham Academy where he continued to participate in football, basketball and baseball and was elected captain of the football team. He then attended the University of Rhode Island where he participated in football and baseball. While at the university he was a member of the Army R.O.T.C. program. He graduated from URI in 1962 as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in the Army from 1963-1965 with the second armored division at Fort Hood, Texas and overseas in Germany, achieving the rank of first lieutenant, before being discharged to the Army reserves. While serving for the next four years as a member of the Army reserves he achieved the rank of Captain. Ted furthered his education receiving a master’s degree in counseling from Ohio University, Athens, OH in 1969.

He was a senior high school teacher in Foster Glocester, Warwick and Cranston for 35 years. During this time he coached football and baseball and refereed basketball. Ted’s coaching career began at Ponagansett High School where the football program was just getting started. He later served as an assistant coach at both Warwick Veterans and Toll Gate high schools. In 1976 he returned to his alma mater, Cranston High School East, as head football coach a position he held for the next 21 years. The highlight of his coaching career occurred in 1987 as Cranston East upset Rogers High School 13-0 in the Division 1 Championship game.

In addition to coaching football, Ted was the first head baseball coach at Toll Gate High School and he coached baseball for many years at Park View Jr. High School in Cranston. He was also a high school basketball official for many years. Ted’s coaching career earned him the honor of being elected into the Rhode Island Football Coaches Hall of Fame, the Ponagansett High School Hall of Fame and he was named High School Coach of the Year by Words Unlimited in 1987.

For 42 years Ted was a member of the Rhode Island Interscholastic Injury Fund, the only organization of its kind in the country assisting families with financial reimbursement when an athletic injury occurs. He served as President of the Injury Fund for many years and was also a former treasurer for the organization. Ted served as an investment advisor for the Cranston Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund, an organization which awards interest free loans to graduating Cranston students in order to help with the cost of a college education.

In the fall of 2015, Ted was presented a “Fan Award” by the University of Rhode Island Athletic Department “in appreciation for outstanding support and loyalty to the Rhody Rams, specifically to Rhode Island Rams Athletics”.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

1988 – Dr. Americo S. Savastano

1989 – Jack Cronin

1990 – Frank Maznicki

1991 – Dick Reynolds

1992 – Jack Zilly

1993 – Ambrose Smith

1994 – Steve Furness

1995 – John Huntington

1996 – Bernie Buonanno, Sr.

1997 – John Toppa

1998 – Domenic DiLuglio

1999 – Frank Navarro

2000 - Mark Whipple

2001 – Bob Griffin

2002 – Maurice Zarchen

2003 – Ron Petro

2004 – Chet O’Neill

2005 – Richard Lynch

2006 – Tony Centore

2007 – Bill Stringfellow

2008 – Mickey Kwiatkowski

2009 – Phil Estes

2010 – John Gillooly

2011 – Charlie Gibbons

2012 - Dick Downey

2013 - Robert "Bob" Wylie

2014 - Gregg Drew

2015 - Anthony "Tony" Rainone

2016 FOOTBALL OFFICIAL AWARD

JOSEPH SCHWAB

Joseph John Schwab was born in Providence on March 28, 1941, the third child (of eleven) to Dr. William and Catherine Schwab. He resided in the east side of Providence throughout his youth - attended Holy Name School and St. Raphael Academy, from which he graduated in 1959. Throughout his youth, as well at St. Ray’s, he played baseball and basketball.

Joe is married to Ellen Gilmartin (sister of Ted Gilmartin, a member of the RI Chapter Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame) since 1962. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

He began working at the former Blackstone Valley Electric Company in 1964 and spent his whole career with them - retiring in 2000.

Joe began officiating football in 1963 - starting with youth games and continuing to the prep league, high school advancing to Division III College. He became a member of the RI Football Official’s Association in 1979, serving as its president in 2004. Over the years he is proud to have been chosen to officiate several semi-final and final super bowl games. He also is a member of the Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame (2011).

In 1973, Joe began officiating CYO, Freshmen and JV basketball games, thus becoming a member of IABBO Board 84 in 1975. He served as President of this Board in 1999, during which time they hosted the National IABBO Convention in Newport. He also is proud to have worked a final game at the then Providence Civic Center. He retired from officiating boys basketball in 2010.

Joe joined the RI Girls Basketball Officiating Association in 1980 and has worked semi-final and final games. Currently, he is still officiating girls high school games.

He began officiating Boys Lacrosse in 1978, which at the time was mostly prep schools in RI. Eventually, he moved onto the high school and college level (officiating in all divisions). Also, he has officiated many lacrosse semi-final and final high school games. Presently, he is still actively officiating at the high school level.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

1997 – Irving Scott

1998 – Peter Capirchio

1999 – George Tracy

2000 – Lou Cimini

2001 – Bob Benz

2002 – Vin Sclama

2003 – Thomas Mulvey

2004 – Clint Robertson

2005 – Ted Gilmartin

2006 – Phil Kershaw

2007 – Raymond Beattie