Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 7

From top: Th e current Linnell
Gymnasium, construction of
Linnell Gymnasium, Kyle Bolduc '96
home contests at this venerable site. All-State hoop-
sters such as Bob Warner '72, Dick Martin '70, James
Morse '09, Andrew Shaw '11, Cheryl Cote '89, Lisa
DeFrancesco '85, Catie Curtis '83, and Mari Warner '77
learned their skills on the Linnell Gymnasium surface,
and the 2009 Class A boys' basketball champions called
the facility home.
Bolduc shares, "When I walk into Linnell Gymnasi-
um I can feel my grandfather’s watchful presence. My
head fi lls with all the great memories of games won,
the heartache of games lost, the school assemblies,
freshman orientation, the high school musicals on the
old stage, gym class, school dances, homecoming and
winter carnival. It’s a very special place, rich in history,
emotion and memories for generations of students.
My grandfather would be very proud that Th ornton
Academy is working so hard to preserve, update and
expand Linnell Gymnasium for the future, continuing
the work that he started when they broke ground on
Linnell more than a half century ago."
Given the importance of Linnell Gymnasium to both
the school and the communities it serves, it is fi tting
that the 2013 Great Moments Award was given by the
Th ornton Academy Athletic Hall of Fame Commit-
tee to commemorate the golden anniversary of the
opening of this venerable venue and to recognize the
outstanding legacy of its esteemed namesake, William
Shepherd Linnell. Linnell Gymnasium plays a signifi -
cant recreational, educational, and social role at Th orn-
ton Academy and has served the school well over that
time span.
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