The guest speaker at our meeting was Buster Clegg, President of the R.I. Reds Heritage Society, a non-profit,
tax-exempt organization whose mission is to preserve the history of the Rhode Island Reds from 1926-1977.
The guest speaker at our meeting was Buster Clegg, President of the R.I. Reds Heritage Society, a non-profit,
tax-exempt organization whose mission is to preserve the history of the Rhode Island Reds from 1926-1977.
During its 51 year history the club was generally called Rhode Island Red but around the rest of the American Hockey League cities it was the Providence Reds.
Mr. Clegg's enthusiasm for the sport was evident as he related the victories, defeats and misadventures of the team. His own love of hockey began as a student at Burriville High School where he was one of the starting defensemen for the Broncos. He was a member of the 1955 state championship Bronco team and was named to the second All-State team. He went on to play for the University of New Hampshire varsity for three years where he served as the Wildcats captain in his senior year. In 1959 he was voted most valuable player on the squad. Following graduation he was hired by Lou Pieri of the Rhode ISland Reds as the first director of public relations, then later as the general manager. (Mr. Clegg reminisced about Mr. Pieri's habit of throwing his hat out on the ice every time someone scored three consecutive goals. The players joined in the fun-by skating over the hat until it was torn to shreds. At times Mr. Pieri would throw in someone else's hat but after the game he always took the individual back to the office and presented him or her with a new one.)
During his career, Mr. Clegg found the time to coach junior hockey, and to serve on the Board of Directors of the East Providence Youth Hockey Association, and the Barrington Youth Hockey Association. Even today he is serving as coach of the Greater Providence Youth Hockey Association program.
Although the RIRHS is less than four years old it already has an enrollment of more than 500 members. For those who enjoyed going to the games at the old Rhode Island Auditorium - the Society needs your help. Membership costs $20 per hockey season. Members received three full-color newsletters, a personalized membership card featuring the Reds' most famous image, "The Raging Rooster", invitations to special events ans access to the "Box Seats Section" of the Heritage Society Website.
For more information write to: RI Reds Heritage Society, P.O. Box 167, Barrington, RI 02806.
E-mail:the rooster@rireds.org or webmaster@rireds.org
Taken from The Pawtuxet Valley Historian, Volume 18, Issue 3
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On Frozen Pond - R.I. Reds' Companion Site
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The Lady Reds