Five slated for induction

TORRINGTON — A trio of monumental Torrington athletics supporters join a pair of outstanding athletes in Torrington High School’s 22nd Athletic Hall of Fame class, to be inducted April 29 at Chatterly’s Banquet Facility.

Bruce and Ellie Fox and Andy Pace long formed much of the backbone of Torrington’s rich athletic history. Raoul Rebillard and Tom Soya Sr. had important roles in the saga.

BRUCE AND ELLIE FOX

The Foxes gave much of their support from inside the school, Bruce as a sports-loving principal, Ellie as an equally avid chairperson of the family and consumer science department and cheerleader advisor.

Physically, that meant attendance at most Red Raider sporting events and Gold T Awards from the Torrington Varsity Club.

Financially, it meant service on a 1991 Board of Education committee leading to the formation of the THS Booster Club that same year.

If tradition holds for next Sunday’s induction banquet, all 22 faithfully attended by the Foxes, Bruce will give its invocation and benediction.

ANDY PACE

While the Foxes worked inside the school for Raider athletics, Andy Pace was a mega-force outside.

After playing baseball, basketball, football and track as a student, he joined a small group after graduation in forming the Varsity Alumni Club. His and fellow Hall-of-Famer Frankie Russo’s initial endeavor was wildly successful in creating and running Elks Club Basketball, since taken over by the Police Athletic Club.

For some 20 years, Elks Club Basketball, designed for young area boys and girls from all over the Northwest Corner, thrived. Prceeds, invested by Pace as Varsity Alumni Club treasurer, produced annual scholarships for Torrington athletes almost immediately as well as donations for high school athletic facilities and equipment.

While his efforts behind the scenes and as coach within the league were profound, his legend among hundreds of scholarship recipients came at the Varsity Alumni Club’s annual banquet, when Pace, in the featured part of the evening, quizzed the athletes on their views and opinions of local, national and international events.

RAOUL REBILLARD

Raoul Rebillard, graduating in 1961, was a swimmer’s swimmer. In his four years at Torrington, he posted or helped set records in three events — butterfly, individual medley and medley relay.

In his senior year, he and his relay team moved up to state champion in the butterfly and state record holders in the medley relay.

His legacy continued at the University of Maryland, an east coast and national swimming power, where he set school records in the butterfly, 500yard freestyle and with his medley relay and freestyle relay teams. As captain, he set Atlantic Coast Conference records in the 200yard butterfly and 500yard freestyle.

TOM SOJA SR.

Ten years before Rebillard’s Torrington swimming rampage, Tom Soja was equally productive in baseball.

Outstanding in basketball as well, he made his legacy as one of 20 players named to Torrington’s All-Century Baseball Team after leading his Red Raider team to the 1951 NVL championship.

He followed that with a two-year minor league career, playing for teams in Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia.

Sunday’s banquet begins with a social hour at 4 p.m., followed by dinner at 5. Today and tomorrow are the final days to make reservations, by calling banquet coordinator Pat Fairchild at 860-482-6830.