Joseph J. Riley, Jr., a.k.a., “Sarge,” worked for Associated Spring for 30-plus years and for 21 of them, was loaned out to serve as Bristol’s Superintendent of Parks & Recreation.  He would be the last to serve while not on the city payroll.

He became close friends with the widow of DeWitt Page, who, with her husband donated the city property known as Page Park.  She would value his judgement and because of this made great contributions to Bristol’s park system.

He became one of Bristol’s most distinguished and admired individuals while well-known in state and national parks and recreation circles, serving as president of the National Recreation Association.

Following his retirement in 1975, the athletic field on Shrub Road was named in his honor as “Sarge Riley Field.”

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