News & Events

Contact: John Kane
(413) 536-0926
3 October 2007
pr@volleyhall.org
For Immediate Release

The Dowd Group and William “Ron” Collamore to be honored by Volleyball Hall of Fame at Induction Dinner Ceremony, Thursday, October 11.

HOLYOKE, Mass. --- As a part of its Induction Celebration Week, The Volleyball Hall of Fame will present honors to two longtime Holyoke mainstays. The Dowd Group will receive the Hall’s William G. Morgan Award, and William “Ron” Collamore will be awarded the Mintonette Medallion of Merit.

The ceremony will take place at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House on October 11. The night will feature a reception at 6 p.m., with the dinner and ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Hall of Fame at (413) 536-0926.

Earlier that day, six international greats of volleyball will be honored here in the birthplace of the sport. Bob Ctvrtlik of the United States, Kerri Pottharst of Australia, Andrea Gardini of Italy, Dimitar Zlatanov of Bulgaria, Carlos Nuzman of Brazil and Yuan Weimin of China will be inducted to the Volleyball Hall of Fame in an afternoon ceremony.

The 22nd enshrinement event will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Fame at 444 Dwight St. in Heritage State Park. Admission to the ceremony is free of charge, however it is advised to call ahead to reserve seating.

The Dowd Group, a local insurance firm, has been a part of the Volleyball Hall of Fame since 1977 when Dowd’s President and CEO, Robert W. Gilbert, Jr., became the Hall of Fame’s first treasurer. He later was honored with a Mintonette Medallion of Merit for his part as an original corporator. The Dowd Group has also been a contributor since inductions began in 1985. More recently, Gilbert and his partner’s John Dowd, Jr. and David Griffin have increased their involvement with the induction as the Mayor’s Reception Sponsor.

Founded in 1898, The Dowd Group is the oldest insurance agency under continuous family ownership in Massachusetts. They offer all forms of personal, commercial, surety insurance and financial services to clients throughout New England.

The William G. Morgan Award, named in honor of the founder of volleyball, recognizes continuous support and promotion of the national and international growth of the sport of volleyball and the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Collamore, a retired Holyoke Fire Fighter and Vice-Chairman of the Holyoke School Committee is being honored for his outstanding dedication to the hall. As its longest serving board member, he has been a part of the Hall of Fame family since its inception. He received his first Mintonette Medallion of Merit in 1999 as a member of the original corporators of the Hall and has had many titles at the Hall, including vice-president. Collamore currently serves as a member of the executive committee but, it is in his position as exhibit hall committee chairman that he truly shines - coordinating all displays and Hall maintenance.

Founded in 1996, the Mintonette Medallion of Merit is awarded in recognition of significant individual achievement. Mintonette was the original name of volleyball.

The Induction Celebration continues with the Volleyball Hall of Fame Girls’ High School Showcase of Champions at Holyoke Community College, Oct. 12-14 and the 16-team Women’s Collegiate Volleyball Hall of Fame Induction Tournament at Smith, Mount Holyoke, Holyoke Community and Amherst Colleges on Friday night, Oct. 19 and Saturday Oct. 20.

For more information on how to obtain tickets or to sponsor Induction Celebration events, contact the Volleyball Hall of Fame at (413) 536-0926, by e-mail at info@volleyhall.org or by visiting the website at www.volleyhall.org.

The Volleyball Hall of Fame, incorporated in 1978, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the great men and women of the sport, and the promotion of volleyball worldwide.