HONOR ROLL
It is difficult if not impossible to pay proper honor to all the pioneering individuals who did so much to create and build our golf course. Many contributed hundreds, and even thousands, of hours and special skills with no compensation. However, special appreciation to the following must be acknowledged because their efforts, although not fully described, were exceptionally outstanding.
CLAUDE YOUNG
It might well be said that Claude was Mr. Foxborough Country Club. From the planning stage right throughout the construction, Claude was the major driving force. He was one of the signers of the Charter and was our first President. Without his supervision and dedication, the golf course might never have achieved the high standard we enjoy. He has been our President six times. One of his memorable efforts was the beautiful flower garden beside the walk on the first tee, the flower garden by the sixth tee, and many other beautification efforts. They were designed and planted by Claude with his money.
ALBERT R. BEACH
Al was one of the hardest workers from the very beginning, serving on committees to sell Certificates and Bonds when we were first organized and later helping in the course construction. He served on the Board of Governors and was Chairman of the Greens Committee. He worked on the Stratton Cemetery restoration project. His efforts with the brush cutting and rock picking crews were outstanding. He also was a member of the By-laws Revision Committee.
WILFRED E. BOOTH
Working with Curt Miller, Bill was responsible for the acquisition of the land for our course. His reputation for fairness and integrity instilled confidence in the original property owners that made the deal a likely event. It is a tribute to his high standards that the original landowners continue to be satisfied with the sale of their land. Bill spent many hours sitting in parlors discussing our plans for the development of a golf course for the town. There were times Bill put up his own money, temporarily, to consummate a purchase.
ALDO CARBONETTI
AIdo served twice as our president. He was very active from the time the Club was first proposed. In the early days when we were struggling with second hand and over-used equipment, AI managed to keep it rolling. The facilities of The Foxboro Company garage, where AI was the Service Manager, were often called upon to do the impossible. He was also successful in organizing volunteer parties to clear the woods beside the fairways, and many other projects. While serving on the Board of Governors, AI was Chairman at different times of the Greens Committee and House Committee. He also served on the By-laws Revision Committee.
REGINALD SWEED
Reggie was a one-man electrical committee for our club. When we first needed 'juice" for power purposes in the construction stages, and later for lights in our first clubhouse and the parking lot, Reggie did the job. Using his persuasive manner he was able to elicit an occasional concession from the power company. As the manager of the Electrical Department of The Foxboro Company, he was able to purchase many of our supplies at a reduction in cost. Reggie served on the Board of Governors and other committees.
IRVING HENDERSON
Hendy was among the few who participated in developing the idea of building a club of our own. Beginning with our earliest activities in selling Certificates and Bonds, organizing some of our first committees and showing a willingness to help in any job, he was always available. Here are few examples. He was one of the signers of the Charter, an original member of the Board of Governors, served for two other terms, and was Treasurer for eight years. He was also Clerk for five years, House Committee Chairman for three years, served on the first Golf Committee, and claims that he enjoyed it all.
DON CURRIVAN
Don was a nationally known sports figure when he first joined us in our effort to build a golf course. An outstanding football player at Boston College, he went on to play professional football with the Chicago (later St. Louis) Cards, The Boston Yanks, and The Los Angeles Rams. He made many appearances on radio broadcasts and elsewhere to publicize our club and sell Certificates and Bonds. His well-known name in the sports world was a great help to us in this endeavor. He was a member of our Board of Governors. It was a real tragedy that he did not live to see our course completed.
CARL E. SULLIVAN
Carl was one of the signers of the Charter and served on the first Board of Governors. He was the first Chairman of the Course Building Committee and was the Chairman of the first Greens Committee. He was influential in selling Bonds and raising money in the early stages.
CARL SWANSON
Carl was involved in many activities during the construction of the course. He put a tremendous amount of time in a variety of tasks during the course construction. If a job had to be done he could be relied upon to see that it was completed correctly and on time. Perhaps his most noted achievement was persuading Bill Carter to come to Foxborough. At that time we had only been open a short while and a huge amount of work had yet to be done.
CHANDLER H. WELLS
As a member of the Beautification Committee, Chan with his strong willingness to work the soil with his hands has contributed many hundreds of hours over many years to make our course beautiful. Over the years, he also served on the Golf Committees, Greens Committees, and Social Committees. When the additional nine holes were being built, he served as Secretary of the "New 9 Expansion Committee". His most noticeable contribution to our Club was 18 years of service as Clerk of the Board.
BUD DUDLEY
Every achievement, no matter how big or how small, has to begin with an idea initiated by one individual. The Foxborough Country Club is no exception. In this case the idea to build the club began with Bud. He recognized that The Foxboro Company 4-Bal) League was having trouble getting playing time from local golf courses. He proposed the idea that we build our own course. Although the Company Golf Committee was not at all sure we could do such an audacious project, they agreed that if The Foxboro Company would be willing to back them, they might as well establish a Feasibility Committee to look into it. As Chairman of the Committee, Bud went to get the blessing of Ben and Rex Bristol who were the management of the Company. He got a favorable response and the rest is history. Bud was one of the original signers of the Charter. He served on the first Board of Governors and on subsequent Boards of Governors, Grounds Committees, By-Laws Committees and Admission Committees. He also worked with AI Beach in restoring the Stratton Cemetery near the 15th green.
BEN and REX BRISTOL
Ben and Rex supported the idea of building a golf course; however, they wanted it to be a town project to include other than employees of The Foxboro Company. Once the course was under construction their help was even more supportive and enthusiastic. Most of it was unseen and to many, unknown. That was the way they wanted it. When we needed money in a hurry to close a land deal it was available, either through a bank or personal loan, (Ben just happened to be the President of the Foxboro National Bank). Actually no one knows just how some of the transactions were made and it is doubtful if Ben and Rex were ever completely repaid on their "personal loans."
Then there were the extra gratuities. For example, some of the Company employees were given "outside assignments" to help in anything from technical to manual labor during course construction. Some naive employees thought these were covert operations, but Ben and Rex knew if a leaf fell out of the tree on Company property and in our case they just looked the other way. One frustrated Department Manager was heard to mutter~ "I thought we were in the business to make industrial instruments, not to build golf courses."
There would be no Foxborough Country Club today without the important involvement and generous help of Ben and Rex Bristol. A bronze "Appreciation Plaque" on the 6th tee reads:
