Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 20

A LU M N I S P O T L I G H T
Ken Pike '65 · The historic first basket in Linnell Gymnasium
Ken Pike '65 was an active
participant during his reign at
Th ornton Academy; he played
basketball, baseball, and was the
Vice President of Student Council
in addition to other clubs he was
involved in. He also served on the
Th ornton Academy Alumni Board
following graduation.
During his sophomore year when
he was participating on the varsity
basketball and baseball teams, Ken
recalls their games being held at
the Armory on Franklin Street in
Saco.
"We had to have some of our
practices at the Armory. We
had a bulk of them at the Emery
building, but the bus would also
take us to the Armory but we
were on our own to fi nd a way
home," Pike said. "I was one of a
few sophomores on the team; on
occassion we had to walk home."
In the fall of 1963, when Linnell
Gymnasium opened, the basketball
team began their practices there.
"It was like the Boston Garden;
the facilities, a nice locker room,
the court was incredible. Back in
those days, the custodian, Henry,
guarded that facility like it was his
own," Pike recalls. "It was a great
facility. Th e only teams that had a
comparable court were Cheverus
and Portland when they played at
“
I think a new fi eld
house is a great asset
for the teams."
Ken Pike '65
the Expo."
Pike was on the fi rst team to play
in the new gym. It was a round
robin game against Sanford. During
that game, Pike made Th ornton
Academy history without initially
knowing it.
"One of my teammates stopped
me aft er the game and said 'do you
understand you just made history?'
and I said 'what's that?' and he said
'you scored the fi rst basket by a
Top: A vintage photo
of Ernie Huot '48
and Eddie Boutet
'48 in their football
uniforms.
Bottom: Ernie and
Eddie meet up for a
photo in letterman
sweaters.
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Stories by Brittany Brown · Photos Courtsey of Ken Pike '65, Ernie Huot '48 & Brittany Brown