All who knew 1997 Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee Bill Fortune recall a bright, young man with a magnetic smile and outgoing personality.\u00a0 However, on the athletic spectrum, in the classroom, and during his enlistment in the United State Navy, tonight\u2019s inductee was considered a serious, competitive, hard-working individual who brought consistency to a higher plateau in Branford history.<\/p>\n
As a three sport athlete at Branford High School from 1940 to 1942, Bill represented the town on the football, basketball and baseball teams.\u00a0 As the center for the 1940 basketball team and playing alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductees Stan Petela, James Barba and coached by John Knecht, Jr., Bill and the Hornets won seven of its last eight games to end the regular season with 10 wins and seven losses record and a spot in the Class B playdown Tournament, only to fall short with 10 wins and seven losses and a spot in the class B play down Tournament, only to fall short to Manchester Tech 37-36.\u00a0 The following season, Branford had one of its most successful season in several years, crowning itself the Housatonic<\/p>\n
League champions by winning 18 out of 22 games and winning the State Class B Tournament.\u00a0 During the season, Bill played with Stan Petela and 1997 fellow inductee Tony Hynovich.\u00a0 During his senior season, Bill led Branford to a second place standing in the Housatonic League, ending with nine victories and five defeats.\u00a0 However, more importantly, the Hornets claimed the Class B State Championship defeating Woodrow Wilson by a score of 41-35.\u00a0 That season, Bill was awarded All-State honors for his performance on the team as center.<\/p>\n
In addition to his talents on the hardwood floor, Bill showcased his athletic prowess on the football field as a halfback on the Hornets gridiron squad and as a pitcher on the baseball team.<\/p>\n
Following his graduation from Branford High School, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy, where he was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island.\u00a0 While there, he played on the U.S. Naval Armed Guard Team during the 1943-44 season.\u00a0 After the service, Bill continued his athletic contributions on the 1946 West Haven Red Devils and on the East Haven Townies basketball team.\u00a0 In 1950, he played on the Beachhead Restaurant City-Wide League basketball team, which won the title, and he also was a member of the 1952 Branford Softball Championship team of Page\u2019s Builders of Stony Creek, with 1989 Hall of Fame inductee Bernie Page as it manager.<\/p>\n
Bill worked as an Installer for the Western Electric Company from 1946 to 1970.\u00a0 He was married to his wife, Florence, and was the father to sons, Bob, Bill, Tom and daughters Jane and Nancy.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Bill passed away March 15, 1970.\u00a0 His son, Bob, knows his father would have been proud to receive the award if he were alive today.\u00a0 \u201cHe was a man who had very little to say but learning much about him through his friends, I am sure he would have been honored to receive this presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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