May 12, 2004

Dear Editor:

I just received the latest edition of the Assumption Magazine which covered
Assumption sports history.

I would like to share with you an important omission in the history of
Assumption basketball.

Rev. Joseph Pelletier, a.a., "Father Joe", (1912-1986) was a Greyhound
tennis star and coach in addition to being a professor of Sociology, Dean of
Men, and Athletic Director, etc.

As Athletic Director he hired Andy Laska right after Andy's graduation from
Holy Cross. Before Andy, coaches were faculty members who doubled as
coaches.

Early in the development of the then new Basketball Hall of Fame (the one
that Joe O'Brien directed), questionnaires were sent to all College
basketball coaches asking them to nominate the individual whom they felt
most influenced their college's basketball history. Andy Laska, then coach
of the Greyhounds, nominated Father Joe.

A plaque on the "Founder's Wall" indicates that Father Joe represented
Assumption College.

I have attached two photos that I took of the wall and the plaque honoring
Father Joe. You will notice that the Boston College nominee at that time was
Robert J. Cousy, better known to us as Bob Cousy, Andy's teammate at the
Cross.

Assumption College has instituted the Rev. Joseph Pelletier, a.a. Memorial
Award which is presented in memory of its former Director of Athletics. It
is presented to a person outside of the Athletic Department for service
above and beyond to the Department.

I have a web-page on my Pelletier Genealogy web-site dedicated to Father
Joe... the URL is:
http://pelletier-genealogy.org/frjoe.htm
Note: his given name was Charles Albert... he was my half-brother...

George A. Pelletier, M.D. AP'49 AC'53