Tom Vincent
Athlete/Community Contributor
Class of 1966 

As the soccer team’s goalie, the power forward on the basketball team, and the catcher on the baseball team Thomas “Tom” Vincent was a seven-time Varsity Letterman in three sports at Simsbury High School. After being recruited and playing basketball one year at the University of Hartford in 1966- 67, he went on to graduate from the New England Institute of Mortuary Science in 1970. He returned to Simsbury High School to be an Assistant Basketball Coach to SHS Hall of Fame Coach Ray Schwarz from 1974-1982. Tom started his baseball coaching career as a 21-year-old in the Simsbury Babe Ruth League and moved to the Simsbury Little League from 1973-1989. He was the Head Coach of Simsbury American Legion Baseball for 24 years with a record of 638-242 while winning four Zone 1 Titles, eight championship appearances and a State Championship in 2003. In 1973 Tom and brother Tim Vincent started Vincent Sports Shop, which will celebrate its 50th Anniversary this year. It was through his contacts and friendships that he made at the store that started his journey of community service. Starting with humble beginnings on the Boards of the Farmington Valley YMCA, Simsbury Little League, Simsbury Babe Ruth to the sports activist and Petitioner for the Iron Horse Community Athletic Center, which was defeated at a town referendum in October 1996. Tom was always looking to promote youth sports for the Simsbury Community. His successful promotions included the First Night of SHS Football under the portable lights that drew 3,000 fans in 1994, and in 1998 the First Night under the lights for SHS Baseball at the newly renovated Memorial Field, whose major renovations were the direct result of the groundswell of support which occurred from the defeated Community Athletic Center petition. Elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1998, Tom served as First Selectman 2001-2007. Under his administration the Town saw record enhancements:

- Spearheaded the Building of the Simsbury Performing Arts Center
· Renovation and Expansion of the Simsbury High School Complex
· Renovation of the Simsbury Public Library
· Negotiated the purchase of Open Space at The Ethel Walker School
· Promoted the first outdoor concert at SPAC- The Beach Boys

Tom has also earned many notable community service awards and accomplishments, including The 1994 Town of Simsbury Hometown Hero Award, the 1998 Rotary Club of Simsbury Citizen of the Year Award, the 2000 CT American Legion Baseball Contributors Service Award, the 2003 CT American Legion Baseball Coach of the Year, and in 2021 he was inducted into the CT American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. Tom has four children and five grandchildren and although Simsbury will always be his home, he is currently a permanent resident of Naples, FL.