Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Summer 2009 | Page 9

Bishop Nelson ’43 also graduated from Thornton Academy. While Nelson will continue to sit on the board, he has stepped down as its president. At a meeting on July 16, the Board of Trustees voted for Eric A. Purvis ’81 to fill this role (see story on page 9). Nelson and Purvis have been working together to ensure a smooth transition. Purvis says that Nelson has “served the school tirelessly” over the past 30 years. TROJANS GET THE GOLD BALL Residence Hall Named in Honor of Nelson To recognize his many years of dedicated service to Thornton Academy, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously in July to name the new residence hall on campus in honor of James E. Nelson ’67. The vote was taken in his absence to keep the news a surprise, so Nelson heard about the development along with a select group invited to an open house for the residence hall on July 16. The announcement left him “totally shocked,” Nelson said, adding that it is a huge honor to be recognized in this way by his peers. “I am so gratified to know that my hard work and dedication to Thornton has not gone unnoticed,” he said. “This means that I have made a positive difference in the lives of those who have passed through the school, and for that I am proud.” Eric Purvis ’81 is the board’s new president (see story on page 9). That night, he told the audience, “Jim has spent countless hours working with trustees, Carl and his staff, and faculty members. Through his leadership, Thornton Academy has grown and flourished, becoming the kind of school that students, teachers, parents and alumni are proud to call their own.” Help us Celebrate TA’s History Thornton Academy’s bicentennial year is 2011, and we need your help to prepare for this momentous occasion. We are seeking materials and information about the school, its students and faculty. Perhaps you, a family member or a friend have pictures, film reels, scrapbooks or other memorabilia to share. To learn more, call Cathy Coffman at 207282-3361, ext. 235 or e-mail cathy. [email protected]. Photo courtesy of Bruce Haskell Photography It was a historic day on Feb. 28 when the boys basketball team won the state championship and captured the gold ball trophy. For the first time, the Thornton Academy boys basketball team won the Class A state championship tournament. The 54-52 game against Edward Little High School on Feb. 28 was played before 4,600 fans at the Augusta Civic Center. It was tense as TA trailed for much of the game but a 3-pointer with 1:53 remaining on the clock made by Ian Barwise ’09, the Portland Press Herald wrote, started a landslide that Thornton rode the last two minutes. The team’s success required a lot of hard work, Head Coach Bob Davies said. “Nothing in the game of basketball has ever come easy. We knew we wanted to compete in the playoffs. The kids bought into being a team and did what the coaches asked. They realized it was about more than going after those individual statistics in order to bring home the gold ball.” Members of the basketball team were greeted with great enthusiasm by students, faculty and staff at a TA rally in March. The City of Saco bestowed them with a key to the city. The team also traveled to the capitol in Augusta to receive a Legislative Sentiment. State Legislators Rep. Linda Valentino ’74, Sen. Barry Hobbins ’69, Rep. Donald Pilon, Rep. Gary Connor and Sen. Nancy Bowie Sullivan ’67 presented the honor to the team members. Gov. John Baldacci was also present. He and state leaders congratulated the TA students and Davies; Assistant Coaches Craig Agreste, Braden Clement and Ron Cote; and Athletics Director Gary Stevens. The basketball team members on the championship team are, in alphabetical order: Luke Barkhuff ’11, Ian Barwise ’09, Michael Guerin (co-captain) ’09, Tomas Littlefield ’10, James Morse (co-captain) ’09, Colb