Blue and Gold Award
The Forest Glen neighborhood was called "Sweeneyville" for a reason. Red Sweeney and his siblings were born and raised in West Acton. As were his seven children who all passed through the halls of Acton-Boxboro. Red was a contractor who literally built the homes of many people in this room currently reside. Red's children were blessed with athletic prowess and particularly took to those sports where H20 provided frozen surfaces, playing hockey and figure skating. During the era of the early seventies with the Big Bad Bruins and Orr mania, Red saw a glaring need for ice time to hone the skills of Acton's youth in both practices and games.
Although Red could turn a phrase, he was also a doer. He put his building skills to work and constructed the Assabet Valley Arenas, now Valley Sports, on the Acton/Concord border. Red was instrumental in the development of multi-town leagues for all ages, and developing those athletes who had the desire and talent to compete against more than just local competition.
When Red did something, he did it big: he purchased a motor coach. With this bus, he exposed these young athletes to a high level of competition, playing in tournaments throughout the Northeast and Canada. This exposure led to the many years of great success and dominance that the legendary AB Hockey program experienced. Red played a large role in the Hockey programs and the National Hockey League.
Red was very active behind the scenes in community charities, his church, and particularly the Alpha-Omega House for area teens. Despite all his accomplishments and successes Red most enjoyed the time he spent with the love of his life, his wife Marilyn, his seven children and grandchildren. Red joins his son Bob Sweeney in the AB Hall of Fame.
Red passed away in 2009, but his larger than life personality will be long remembered by members of the AB community.
