Former Avon coach, administrator Barbara Startup to be inducted into Hall of Honor

Barbara Startup, former Avon High coach and administrator

CHESHIRE, Conn., March 29 – The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS)/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Hall of Honor will add 10 distinguished honorees to its ranks at a ceremony on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at the AquaTurf Club in Southington.

Former Avon High coach and administrator Barbara Startup is among the 10 honorees. Jerry Auclair, Bill Baron, Alan Bookman, John Daly, Jean Kenney Daly, Bob Ford, George Ford, Paul Hoey and Pat Llodra, and Startup were selected for their exceptional service to CAS and/or the CIAC.

This marks the fourth induction class for the CAS-CIAC Hall of Honor which was established to honor individuals who have made significant long-term contributions to CAS-CIAC. Tickets to the event honoring the inductees are available to the public and can be purchased online. Additional information about the Hall of Honor is available from the Hall of Honor website.

Startup was a fixture as an athletic administrator and CAS-CIAC contributor. She spent 20 years as the CIAC tournament director for the girls volleyball and was the director for the softball tournament for seven years. She also represented the athletics directors on numerous sport committees as well as the CIAC Board of Control during her career as an administrator at Enfield, Avon, and Glastonbury.

Startup coached at Avon High for many years, leading the volleyball, girls basketball and softball teams. She also coached soccer and tennis.

Her varsity teams at Avon combined to win 368 games, including eight Northwest Conference titles in softball. Her volleyball teams at Avon qualified for the CIAC tournament 12 times in 15 years and posted undefeated regular seasons in 1984 and 1985. Her basketball teams won two Northwest Conference Division II titles in 1979 and 1980 and qualified for the state tournament 12 times in 14 years.

In 1988, she was hired as an assistant principal at Vernon Center Middle School. After a short stay in Vernon, she spent six years as the coordinator of physical education, intramurals and athletics in Enfield. In 1995, she returned to Avon as director of Student Activities.

In 1998, she was hired as the director of athletics in Glastonbury, a position she held until her retirement in 2007. In addition to her outstanding career as a teacher, administrator, athletic director and coach, Startup was also recognized as an exceptional volleyball official at the high school and collegiate level and was a member of the NFHS National Volleyball Rules Committee.

Startup was inducted in the Connecticut Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Auclair has been a highly-decorated educator and administrator for decades and served CAS-CIAC in numerous capacities. He was principal of Somers, Southington, and Darien High Schools during his career where he was recognized as Connecticut High School Principal of the Year. He served in nearly every leadership position within CAS and CIAC including president of CAS, and also received a CAS Citation.

A Connecticut coaching legend, Baron has been a fixture in the cross country and track & field communities for decades. Along with his stellar coaching career, he has served CAS-CIAC as a longtime committee member and meet director for the CIAC cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field championships, with his leadership helping provide excellent championship experiences for athletes.

Bookman has been an exemplary educational leader in a variety of roles at CAS-CIAC and as both principal and superintendent in Glastonbury. He has served as both high school principal and superintendent in Glastonbury, while also providing valuable leadership on many committees and boards for CAS-CIAC, including a tenure as CAS President, and vice-President of the CIAC Board of Control.

Daly (will be honored posthumously) served as the second Executive Director in CAS-CIAC history, leading the organization for nearly 20 years. After serving as principal at Masuk High School he assumed leadership of CAS-CIAC in 1969 helping lead through a pivotal era in its history, including playing a key role in the merging of CIAC and CAS into one organization, before retiring in 1989.

Jean Kenney Daly was a pioneer as a female administrator and was also instrumental in promoting girls athletics. She was a coach, teacher, and then principal at Stonington High School where she helped launch the girls sports programs. She was named Connecticut High School Principal of the year, and was the first woman to serve as chair of the CIAC Board of Control and also had a term as CAS Board President.

Bob Ford (will be honored posthumously) was a highly valuable contributor to CAS-CIAC in numerous capacities. He was a basketball official, an Assistant Principal at Glastonbury and then Principal at Ellington High School where he served as member and leader of numerous CAS-CIAC committees. He later joined CAS-CIAC as Director of Development, establishing the CAS Foundation which still supports many CAS-CIAC initiatives.

George Ford (will be honored posthumously) was the father of Connecticut High School swimming officials. He founded the Connecticut Swimming & Diving Officials Association and refereed many CIAC Championships. He also served as the state swimming rules interpreter and officials consultant for the CIAC Board of Control. He is one of few Connecticut representatives chosen for the NFHS Hall of Fame.

Hoey has been part of CAS-CIAC history for nearly four decades. He served as a volunteer for many boards and committees while Principal at East Granby, Rocky Hill, and Newington High Schools. He joined CAS-CIAC as Associate Executive Director in 2004 helping lead the organization and move it forward, and has continued serving as a mentor for leadership transitions within the organization since retirement.

There is virtually no position or achievement in education Llodra has not earned during her distinguished career. During a 12-year tenure as principal of Northwestern Regional School she served on multiple CAS-CIAC committees including a time as chair of the Board of Control and was voted High School Principal of the Year in 2002. She twice was honored with a CAS Citation and spent three years as CAS Assistant Executive Director.