The Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl is proud to announce Tom Haley as the 2024 Grand Marshal!
Tom Haley grew up in Proctor, Vermont and is a veteran of the US Air Force stationed in Texas. He saw a lot of Texas football! He is a graduate of Vermont State University Castleton, a member of the Castleton Sports Hall of Fame and the Vermont Principal's Association Hall of Fame.
Tom won the Vermont Sportswriter of the Year Award 11 times from the National Sports Media Association, and won the award for best sports-writing in New England for a small daily in 1996.
He began his sports-writing career part-time at the Claremont, NH Eagle Times newspaper in 1973 and went full-time in 1981. Prior to that, he was a Social Studies teacher and Athletic Director at Fall Mountain Regional High School in New Hampshire. Tom has been at the Rutland Herald since 1987. He was also a columnist for D3Football.com from 2007-2017.
Tom has always been a huge fan of the Shrine Game, and before he saw his first game, he would announce the score periodically while announcing the batters at a little league tournament each August in Proctor.
He covered his first Shrine Game in 1975, a Vermont victory, and has covered every game since. That 1975 Vermont team was led by legendary Fair Haven coach Tom LaPlaca, and featured Fair Haven stars Kevin Pereau and Mike Poalino, as well as Rutland's Chip Forte and Robin Crossman, among others.
Tom is extremely honored to be the 2024 Grand Marshal, and is especially proud that his granddaughter, Brookelyn Kimball, is one of the Shrine Cheerleaders!
Tom won the Vermont Sportswriter of the Year Award 11 times from the National Sports Media Association, and won the award for best sports-writing in New England for a small daily in 1996.
He began his sports-writing career part-time at the Claremont, NH Eagle Times newspaper in 1973 and went full-time in 1981. Prior to that, he was a Social Studies teacher and Athletic Director at Fall Mountain Regional High School in New Hampshire. Tom has been at the Rutland Herald since 1987. He was also a columnist for D3Football.com from 2007-2017.
Tom has always been a huge fan of the Shrine Game, and before he saw his first game, he would announce the score periodically while announcing the batters at a little league tournament each August in Proctor.
He covered his first Shrine Game in 1975, a Vermont victory, and has covered every game since. That 1975 Vermont team was led by legendary Fair Haven coach Tom LaPlaca, and featured Fair Haven stars Kevin Pereau and Mike Poalino, as well as Rutland's Chip Forte and Robin Crossman, among others.
Tom is extremely honored to be the 2024 Grand Marshal, and is especially proud that his granddaughter, Brookelyn Kimball, is one of the Shrine Cheerleaders!
The Twin State's Finest Meet at Dave Wolk Stadium at
Castleton University
The Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Football Game is played between two all-star teams of graduated high school seniors from Vermont & New Hampshire. The game is preceded by a spectacular parade of Shrine Units from throughout the Northeast Region. It is one of 30 Shrine Football Games played every year across the country.
"Strong Legs Run That Weak Legs May Walk" is the motto of every Shrine Football Game and it can be seen every summer as 76 young men from New Hampshire and Vermont play their hearts out for the benefit of the children in the Shrine facilities. And, when they step off the field at game's end, they become alumni and as such never forget the children they played for.
"Strong Legs Run That Weak Legs May Walk" is the motto of every Shrine Football Game and it can be seen every summer as 76 young men from New Hampshire and Vermont play their hearts out for the benefit of the children in the Shrine facilities. And, when they step off the field at game's end, they become alumni and as such never forget the children they played for.
The Real Winners are the Children in the Shrine Hospitals
The Shriner's Hospitals provide care for children up to the age of 18 with special health care needs, and conduct research to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of the children and their families.
Eighty of the top graduated high school seniors from New Hampshire and Vermont are selected to square off each year in a football game where the real winners are the Children in the Shrine Hospitals. More than 4,000 players have participated in the event, of which about two-thirds still live in the Twin States.
Eighty of the top graduated high school seniors from New Hampshire and Vermont are selected to square off each year in a football game where the real winners are the Children in the Shrine Hospitals. More than 4,000 players have participated in the event, of which about two-thirds still live in the Twin States.
Heroes: A Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Documentary
“The Shriner’s Bowl has always been an inspiration to us. Every year we have customers and employees whose kids are playing in it, and we love seeing all the excitement it brings. This year we wanted to show our appreciation for what the event is truly about.”
~ Jason Quenneville, General Manager, White River Toyota
The Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl has raised over $5 Million dollars and countless spirits in their 70 years of providing unprecedented care to families and children in need. But its story has never been told like this.
White River Toyota is proud to present “HEROES” the latest Studio Community Film which salutes the players and patients who are transformed as a result of their “Maple Sugar Bowl” experience and the incredible work of the Shriners Hospitals.
Learn more or donate at ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org.
White River Toyota is proud to present “HEROES” the latest Studio Community Film which salutes the players and patients who are transformed as a result of their “Maple Sugar Bowl” experience and the incredible work of the Shriners Hospitals.
Learn more or donate at ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org.
Photos courtesy of Marilou Childs & Doug Austin