Local entrepreneurs enshrined
Sunday, October 1, 2000
By WILLIAM FREEBAIRN
RECOGNIZING BUSINESS PIONEERS
A group of men and women who built the region's businesses, often from nothing, will be inducted into the new Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame this week.
"The whole purpose is to recognize the importance of entrepreneurial spirit in building this region," said John Gallup, chairman of the recognition dinner Thursday and a member of the selection committee. "We're hoping to inspire future generations to do even better."
Inductees include the founders of some of the region's most successful companies, from Friendly Ice Cream to Big Y supermarkets, Yankee Candle to Spalding Sports. "These are inspiring stories," Gallup said.
The first class inducted into the newly formed Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame will be honored Thursday with a dinner program at the Springfield Sheraton.
Those being honored are Frank S. Beveridge, the founder of Stanley Home Products, who according to legend came to the region with only $1.35 to his name; Curtis and S. Prestley Blake, who used a $300 loan to found Friendly Ice Cream; and Zenas Crane, founder of Crane and Co., the firm that makes the paper used in U.S. currency.
The hall will also induct Paul and Gerald D'Amour, who built the Big Y supermarket chain from a single store; Joseph J. Deliso Sr., who took over HBA Cast Products and built it into a major employer; and Michael Kittredge, founder of Yankee Candle Co., now a public company with more than 120 stores.
The inaugural hall of fame class will also include Albert G. Spalding, baseball pioneer and founder of Spalding Sports Worldwide; and Rita M. Tremble, who started Valley Communications Inc., an audio-visual company that has also been in the telephone business.
Four entrepreneurs, one in each of the state's four western counties, will be recognized with an achievement award.
In Berkshire County, the winner is William M. Hines Sr., president of Interprint Inc., a laminate printer with 120 employees in Pittsfield. The Franklin County winners were Michael Cohen and Chia Collins of Lightlife Foods Inc. in Montague.
The Hampden County winner is Harvey Clay, owner of Greater Springfield Lincoln Mercury. The Hampshire County winner is Victoria White, owner of eclecTechs™, a Northampton Web design and Internet access company.
MassMutual Financial Group is sponsoring two $500 Young Entrepreneurial Scholar awards, which will go to Elizabeth Botelho, a student of the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, and Kevin Hanks, a student at Minnechaug High School.
The Hall of Fame is housed in the Springfield Enterprise Center. For ticket information, contact William Kwolek at the STCC Foundation, 755-4477.
The Hall of Fame expects to induct several new members each year, officials said.
A long list of those nominated for the initial group will be considered in future years, Gallup said. "We won't have any trouble adding to the Hall of Fame rolls."
© 2000 UNION-NEWS. Used with permission.
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