American-French Genealogical Society: AFGS French Canadian Hall of Fame



The American-French Genealogical Society during its 25^th Silver Anniversary in 2003 introduced the AFGS French-Canadian Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame recognizes individuals of French-Canadian ancestry who have made significant contributions to their community, or who have achieved success in their life’s endeavors.


2007 Hall of Fame Induction Dinner October 19, 2007
The AFGS French-Canadian Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be held on Friday, October 19, 2007 at Kirkbrae Country Club, 197 Old River Road, Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Class of 2007
Richard and Roger Bouchard - Co-owners WNRI Radion, Woonsocket, Rhode island
Rene L. Dugas, Sr. - Author, Genealogist, Photographer, Taftville, Connecticut
Emile Dubuc - Founder and First President LeFoyer, Pawtucket, Rhode island
Josée Vachon - French-Canadian Singer and Songwriter

Class of 2006
Richard Beaupre President and CEO ChemArt
Dr. J. Gerald Lamoureux, M.D. Retired Physician Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Roger Laliberte French Radio Program Host Retired Coventry Police Chief
Col. Steven M. Pare Superintendent Rhode Island State Police

Class of 2005
Paul J. Choquette, Jr. President and CEO of Gilbane Building Company Clem Labine Former Major League Pitcher Hon. Francis Lanctot Former Mayor Woonsocket, Rhode Island Hon. James R. Langevin Member of Congress Second District, Rhode Island

Class of 2004
Alphonse Auclair, former Rhode Island State Senator, World War II veteran who served in the Marine Corps on Iwo Jima, 25-year veteran of the Woonsocket Police Department, and former Woonsocket business owner. Bill Belisle, coach of the Mt. St. Charles Academy hockey team. The only high school hockey team in the nation to win 26 consecutive state championships. Dr. Ulysse Forget, M.D., physician from Warren, R.I. who compiled birth and marriage records for the early French-Canadian parishes in Rhode Island. He will be inducted posthumously. Sister Eugena Poulin, RSM, former chair of the French Department at Salve Regina University and author of numerous articles on French-Canadian history and genealogy.

The first group recognized was in 2003

Class of 2003
Marie Louise Bonier, who researched the early French-Canadian settlers in Woonsocket. Her book, Debuts de la colonie Franco-Americaine de Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was published in 1920. The English translation was released in 1997. Alphonse Desjardins, who in 1900, created the first credit union in North America, the Caisse populaire, which provided French Canadians in Quebec with loans at fair interest rates. His system was later brought to United States, with the first credit union being formed in Manchester, New Hampshire. René Jetté, historian, genealogist, and demographer, has written more than 20 repertoires on French-Canadians, including the popular Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Quebec des origins a 1730. Ben Mondor, Chairman and owner of the Pawtucket Red Sox, is a former Woonsocket mill owner who successfully renovated and operated textile mills in the area for many years. Mr. Mondor purchased the bankrupt baseball team in 1977 and has made it one of the most successful operations in professional baseball. He created the Pawtucket Red Sox Charitable Foundation to assist numerous charitable organizations around New England.


The American-French Genealogical Society, founded in 1978, is a non-profit organization devoted to assisting people of French-Canadian ancestry in the research of their family history.