2015 CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR FOOTBALL AWARD

ANTHONY “TONY” RAINONE

Anthony Rainone is honored tonight as the recipient of the Emo Dinitto Rhode Island Chapter’s Contribution to Amateur Football Award. Tony is a native of Cranston, RI where he attended Cranston High School East and he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Upon his graduation in 1969, Tony attended Rhode Island College where he received his B.S. degree in Education in 1973. While at RI College, Tony lettered in baseball. He continued to pursue his graduate work at Rhode Island College, The University of Rhode Island, and Salve Regina University.

Tony worked in the Central Falls School Department as a Special Education teacher, for thirty years until his retirement in 2003. In addition to his work as a teacher, Tony served as the school’s Athletic Director from 1997-2003.

Tony not only had an impact on his students as a teacher but as a coach. Tony was an assistant baseball coach from 1974-1985 and 1988 and 1989. Before he was the school’s Head Football Coach from 1979-1997, he was an assistant football coach from 1974-1978. Tony’s football teams were extremely successful during his tenure. In fact, they appeared in the 1987 and 1997 Division IV Super Bowls. He was named as the Division IV Coach Of The Year twice and received the “Jack Cronin Award” as the RI High School Coach Of The Year in 1997.

Tony has been elected to several Hall of Fames including the RI High School Football Coaches Association, The Providence Gridiron Club and RI College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2006, he received the Sister Charlene Tedeschi Contribution to Athletics Award from the RI Association of Athletics Directors.

Beyond all his accomplishments, Tony has volunteered his time to several youth organizations and high schools including CLCF Football and Gals Softball, Cranston Babe Ruth, American Legion Baseball, Cranston High School West Football and the RI Football Coaches All-Star team. He has also served as a CCD instructor and was a member of Volunteers In Cranston schools group.

Tony has served on several committees including the Executive Boards of the RI High School Football Coaches Association (from 1980-2010), RI Football Foundation, RI Interscholastic Injury Fund, and the Providence Gridiron Club. To this day, he presently still serves on the latter three committees.

Tony and his late wife Kathleen O’Conner Rainone proudly raised their daughter Sarah (husband Markus Hoffman) and son Matthew (wife Amy).

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 FOOTBALL OFFICIAL AWARD

EDWARD HANLEY

The 2015 recipient of the Emo DiNitto Rhode Island Football Foundation Official’s Award is being presented this evening to Ed Hanley.

Ed is a 1963 graduate of LaSalle Academy where he was a two year letterman in football. In 1967, Ed graduated from Bryant University where he was a two year letterman in baseball. Upon his graduation from Bryant, Ed served in the United States Army for two years until 1969.

For forty-two years Ed has worked as a high school Football Official. Ed was one of the most outstanding officials throughout his forty-two years. For his efforts he was assigned to numerous play-off games as well as several Super Bowls. In addition to his efforts as a football official, Ed has been a Lacrosse Official for ten years.

Ed has worked for in numerous sales management positions in the food industry. He has worked for Kraft Foods for 18 years.

Ed and his wife Ann have been married forty-five years. They are the proud parents of Edward (wife Maclin) and Sean (wife Dawn). Ed and Ann are the cherished grandparents of William, Ana and Mia.

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