Paul LaFleur inducted into the CT American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame

There are three men from Bristol who have been inducted in the Connecticut American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fran Mullins and James “Doc” Gilhuly, both deceased, were the first two to be enshrined. Mullins for his work with the Bristol team and at both the Zone One and state level and Gilhuly as the longtime manager of he Bristol team with 40-plus years in the position.

Two weeks ago, Paul LaFleur, the longtime assistant-manager to Gilhuly, who took over his job when he died, was inducted also.

“They were two of my mentors so what I;ve done since their passing has been to sustain what they had created all through the years,” LaFleur said. “It was special, no doubt about it. I’m humbled. It was tremendous to be honored by the state.”

LaFleur burst onto the scene 49 years ago in becoming Gilhuly’s assistant. Gilhuly died in 2005 and LaFleur took over his job as manager. Mullins became the Bristol teams business manager in 1950 and went on to serve American Legion baseball at both the Zone One and state levels in totaling 63 years of service.

For the record all three men mentioned above are Bristol Sports Hall of Fame inductees.