NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Hall of Fame will usher in its 47th class at its annual induction ceremony this month.
This year’s inductees are James McKee, Jeanie Cyr, Stephen Hiscock, Rich Rydzik, Ron Plasky and Thomas Doran. They will be honored on Oct. 20 during a banquet at the Naugatuck Portuguese Club, 110 Rubber Ave.
The banquet is limited to 300 guests, and tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased from the inductees, Hall of Fame committee members, or by calling Ray Rossi Jr. at 203-525-7193.
The induction ceremony raises funds for the Hall of Fame’s scholarship fund. Sponsorship ads for the banquet and donations to the fund are also being accepted. For more information on sponsorships, call Kim Pruchnicki at 203-808-6776. For more information on donating to the scholarship fund, contact Rossi.
Jeanie Cyr
Cyr, a 2000 graduate of Naugatuck High School, was selected to the All-NVL girls swim team all four years of high school and was named Top Senior Swimmer in 1999. Her team’s won four consecutive NVL titles, which was never done before. In 1997, Cyr was a member of the NVL record-setting 400 free relay team and swam the leg of all three relays at the state open.
Thomas Doran
Doran got involved in Naugatuck youth baseball as a coach in 1988 and continued in other capacities until his death in 2002. Doran was a father figure and mentor to the young players he coached. He served as master of ceremonies for several Hall of Fame award dinners. He also began the Naugatuck adult baseball team that is now known as the Naugatuck Hackers.
Stephen Hiscock
Hiscock, a 2006 Naugatuck High graduate, was a three-year starter on the Naugatuck baseball team and was named to the All-NVL team twice. As a senior, he went 6-1 on the mound and batted .485. He earned Class LL All-State honors as a senior and helped the ‘Hounds to the NVL championship. He played two years at UConn Avery Point, going 11-1, and then two years at Rollins College, going 7-2. He signed a professional baseball contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent two years in the minors and another two years with the Bridgeport Bluefish.
James McKee
McKee coached the Naugatuck boys swim team for 42 years, retiring after last season, and is in his 33rd season coaching the girls team. During his coaching career, he has amassed 626 wins between both programs, going 386-188 with the boys and 240-119-1 with the girls. He coached a total of 24 NVL championship teams, 16 boys titles and eight girls championships. In 1991, the boys team finished Class L runner-up. The team won the Class L state championship in 1992.
Ron Plasky
Plasky, a 1985 Naugatuck High graduate, began coaching as a volunteer at Peter J. Foley Little League and went on to spend 30 years coaching at the youth, middle school and high school levels. His coaching career includes 22 years as the assistant baseball coach at Naugatuck High. He also coached boys tennis at Naugatuck High, baseball and basketball at Hillside School, basketball and girls soccer at City Hill Middle School, and girls basketball at Naugatuck High. Plasky is now the athletic director at Pomperaug High School in Southbury.
Richard Rydzik
Rydzik, a 1972 Naugatuck High graduate, spent two years on the football team in 1970-71. The team went 16-3-1 over those two years. In 1971, Rydzik intercepted two passes during the Thanksgiving game against Ansonia, a 46-13 win for the Greyhounds, and led a defense that allowed just 39 points all season. In baseball, he was a member of the Naugatuck High team that won 64 games straight.
