CURRENT & PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
Distinguished
American
Contribution to
Amateur Football
Football Official
Award
Golden Dozen
Silver Scholar
Athletes
2018 DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN AWARD
DANTE SCARNECCHIA
Dante Scarnecchia was born Feb. 15, 1948, in Los Angeles, Calif. He earned his master’s degree in physical education from U.S. International. Dante played offensive guard and center at California Western University from 1968-70. He began his collegiate career at Taft Junior College in 1966 before transferring to California Western.
Dante’s coaching career began in 1970 as the offensive line coach at California Western University. He moved to Iowa State in 1973, where he served as the assistant offensive line and assistant defensive backfield coach. He spent the 1975 and 1976 campaigns at Southern Methodist University, before becoming the University of Pacific’s offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 1977 through 1978. In 1979, Dante coached at Northern Arizona and then accepted an opportunity to return to Ron Meyer’s staff at SMU as the offensive line coach in 1980 and 1981. In 1982, Meyer was hired as the head coach of the New England Patriots and Dante was among a number of the SMU assistants who joined Meyer’s staff in New England.
During that tenure, Dante coached the tight ends and special teams for the Patriots for seven seasons (1982-88) before moving on to Indianapolis with Meyer in 1989. He rejoined the Patriots in 1991 after spending two seasons (1989-90) as the Colts offensive line coach. From 1991 to 1992, he coached the tight ends and special teams on Dick MacPherson’s staff. On Nov. 4, 1992, MacPherson fell ill and appointed Dante to serve as the team’s spokesman in his absence as well as serving as the Patriots Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
In 2007, Dante was named SI.com’s NFL Assistant Coach of the Year. Anchored by an offensive line that sent three players to the Pro Bowl (C Dan Koppen, T Matt Light and G Logan Mankins). After a brief two year retirement from 2013-2015, Dante returned to coaching the New England Patriots offensive line in 2016 and just finished his 47th coaching season and his 35th year as an NFL assistant.. Dante owns the longest coaching tenure in Patriots history and is the longest current tenured NFL coach. Dante has been on the Patriots coaching staff during 20 of the franchise’s 25 playoff seasons and has coached in 45 of the 54 playoff games in team history.
Dante and his wife, Susan, have a daughter, Lisa, and a son, Steve. They also have two grandchildren, Brayden and Cameron Simmer.
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 - Lou Marciano
2017 - Dr. Arnold Scheller
2018 CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR FOOTBALL AWARD
DOMENIC MARCONE
Domenic N. Marcone is a graduate of La Salle Academy class of 1967. Domenic had the pleasure of playing two sports and lettering in both football and serving as a captain his senior year as a member of the La Salle baseball team. It was there that learning from coaching legends Jack Cronin, Lou Cimini and Carl Toti that his passion for teaching and coaching began. Upon graduating from La Salle, Dom received a baseball scholarship from Kentucky Wesleyan College. At Kentucky Wesleyan, Domenic lettered all four years in college and in his senior year had the honor of being named captain of the baseball team.
After graduating college, Domenic began his teaching and coaching career in 1972 at Winman Junior High School teaching health education and physical education. During his tenure at Winman, he served as the freshman wrestling coach - winning Freshman State Titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978 while also serving as the freshman baseball coach. During the fall he served as offensive line coach for 10 seasons at Toll Gate High School. A big year for Dom was in 1982 when he was appointed Head Wrestling Coach at Toll Gate High School and Head Football Coach at Pilgrim HS. In 1985 he became Head Wrestling Coach at Pilgrim High School. During his tenure as wrestling coach-- Pilgrim won multiple divisional titles and in 1993 his team went undefeated in dual matches. Domenic coached multiple state champions in his time as a wrestling coach both at Toll Gate and Pilgrim. In football Domenic’s teams were always competitive and well prepared. Pilgrim competed in two Super Bowls in 1992 and 1995. Dom retired from both football and wrestling in the year 2000 and became the athletic director of Pilgrim HS, but his coaching career continued. In 1993 Dom was appointed Head Golf Coach of North Kingstown HS --a position he still holds today. While he has been head golf coach at NK, his teams have always been in the running for State Titles. In 1998-1999 his golf team won back to back State Championships. What is truly amazing is that Dom is still coaching football as an assistant at La Salle Academy where he has served as the Defensive Coordinator. It is at LaSalle that his coaching profession came full circle. Not only did Dom get to coach his son, have his son coach with him and now coaching for his son at La Salle Academy --something he truly enjoys. Even more amazing is that Domenic has coached over 100 seasons with the various sports and he is still coaching at the young age of 68. In 2012 Domenic decided to retire from teaching after 40 years in the Warwick School System.
Through his career as a coach, he has served on numerous committees and has been President of both Football and Wrestling through the Rhode Island Coaches Association. He along with Bruce Mastracchio started the Rhode Island High School Football College Fair which began in 1992 and is still going on today. He has been inducted in Sons of Italy Hall of Fame, Rhode Island Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and The Providence Gridiron Hall of Fame.
Domenic and his wife Donna are proud parents of Geoffrey Marcone and Stephanie Sinclair. They are grateful to have the privilege of enjoying their 4 grandchildren; Jacob, Brooklyn, Janelle and Haley.
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 - Edward "Ted" Stebbins
2017 - Robert Murray
2018 FOOTBALL OFFICIAL AWARD
BRUCE GUINDON
Bruce Guindon is a graduate of Tolman High School in Pawtucket, RI and also a graduate of the Career Academy School of Broadcasting. Bruce worked at Major Electric for nine years but has also spent the majority of his life as an account manager at WW Grainger (thirty years) and the Kaufman Company (ten years).
Bruce’s officiating resume is quite extensive. Although Bruce is being recognized for his contribution as a football official, his career as a hockey official is quite impressive. Bruce has been a member of USA Hockey since 1976, The National Federation of Ice Hockey Officials since 1983, the ECAC from 1985-1995 and an NCAA member from 1983-2002. Bruce has had many memorable moments throughout his hockey officiating career. He has officiated two USA Hockey National Championships, one Women’s College Final Four Championship, and several RIIL State Championship games.
From 1998-2003 Bruce has served as an official scorer for the Boston Red Sox and currently serves as the official scorer for the Pawtucket Red Sox which he started doing in 1995.
Bruce is well recognized for his work as a longtime football official throughout the State of RI. During his career as a football official, Bruce has officiated in five Super Bowl Games along with several Youth Football Super Bowls. Bruce was selected to officiate a Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Currently Bruce serves as the RIIL Football Commissioner.
Bruce and his wife Jo-Ann have been married for 49 years. They have two children, Bruce Jr. and Mark. Bruce and Jo-Ann have six grandchildren (Nicole, Kyle, Kyle, Dylan, Harrison and Madison) and one great grandchild (Janyel).
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
2008 – Charles Lehourites
2009 – Bob Flick
2010 – Edward “Bud” Conley
2011 – Philip “Bob” Caito
2012 - James Peluso
2013 - John Pagano
2014 - John A. Abbate
2015 - Edward Hanley
2016 - Joseph Schwab
2017 - William Phillips
2018 GOLDEN DOZEN
ANDREW BLESSING
East Greenwich
6’2”, 180 lbs., QB
ETHAN ENNIS
LaSalle
6’0”, 180 lbs., WR/DB
ELIJAH BURGESS
Johnston
5’7”, 165 lbs., RB/DB
JEHLANI GALLOWAY
Classical
6’2”, 185 lbs., WR/DB
BENJAMIN CORTES
Smithfield
5’7”, 160 lbs., RB/LB
DENNIS GASTEL
PCD/Wheeler/Juanita Sanchez
6’2”, 180 lbs., WR/DB
ERIK HERNANDEZ
Shea
5’8”, 150 lbs., RB/LB
JARED SHIBLEY
West Warwick
5’11”, 190 lbs., RB/LB
JUSTIN NEARY
Cranston East
5’10”, 160 lbs., QB
JORDAN SILVERSMITH
North Kingstown
5’10”, 165 lbs., RB/DB
TYLER RICHARDS
Burrillville
6’0”, 210 lbs., RB/LB
WILL SUCH
Cranston West
6’2”, 220 lbs., RB/LB
2018 SILVER SCHOLAR ATHLETES
NICHOLAS ALLEN
Coventry
6’4”, 185 lbs., OL/DE
AARON MYERS
Mt. Hope
5’10”, 200 lbs., OL/DL
MATT ARCHETTO
Scituate
6’0”, 160 lbs., TE/DE
JASON PISANO
North Smithfield/MSC
5’10”, 175 lbs., WR/DB
RYAN BRADY
Barrington
6’0”, 160 lbs., WR/DB
MICHAEL RINFRETTE
Chariho
5’7”, 165 lbs., RB/DB
ISAIAH BRANCH
Rogers
6’3”, 260 lbs., QB/DE
DAVID ROBINSON JR.
Middletown
6’4”, 170 lbs., WR/DB
JOSEPH COUTCHER
Exeter-West Greenwich
6’2’, 170 lbs., WR/DB
MATTHEW RYAN
Narragansett
6’3”, 195 lbs., OL/DE
JACOB GILMAN
Westerly
5’11”, 165 lbs., QB/DB
ROBERT SPRAGUE
South Kingstown
6’0”, 160 lbs., TE/DE
TRAYMONT HAYMAN
Central
5’11”, 225 lbs., OL/DL
LUKE SWIFT
Hendricken
5’11”, 145 lbs., WR/DB
COLIN MCKINNON
Portsmouth
6’0”, 175 lbs., WR/DB
Corporate Sponsors
Website © 2022 The Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
28 Cedar Ridge Lane, West Greenwich, RI 02817
All rights reserved.
Website Designed by: Aeon Productions