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 annually recognizes individuals of French-Canadian ancestry who have made significant contributions to their community, or who have achieved success in their life’s endeavors.

10th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held Friday October 19, 2012

The 10th Annual AFGS French Canadian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was be held held Friday, October 19th, 2012. Each year the American-French Genealogical Society 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.

AFGS Hall of Fame Photo Albums

Class of 2012

Roger N. Begin - Romeo G. Berthiaume - Claire H. Quintal, Ph.D - Stephen A. White

2010 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held Friday October 14, 2011

The 9th Annual AFGS French Canadian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held Friday, October 14th, 2011. Each year the American-French Genealogical Society 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.

This year the induction ceremony will be held at the American-French Genealogical Society - Franco-American Heritage Center 78 Earle Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Class of 2011

Armand B. Chartier, Ph.D Professor Chartier has devoted most of his working life to education.

Brother Lawrence Goyette, F.S.C. Established the San Miguel School in Providence in 1993, Brother Lawrence started an inner-city educational model that has led to a national network of more than a dozen San Miguel schools.

Richard L. Lafrance Ttransformed a family-owned, family style restaurant in Westport, Mass. (White's of Westport)

Adelard L. Soucy (1886-1931) was said to be the most beloved figure in Woonsocket during the period of immigrant transformation in the early 20th Century.

Class of 2010

Raymond H. Bacon Co-Director, Museum of Work and Culture Historian, Retired Woonsocket Educator

Napoleon Lajoie* Hall of Fame Baseball Player

Hon. Aram J. Pothier* Governor, State of Rhode Island 1909-1915 and 1925-1928

Rev. Msgr. Gerard O. Sabourin Administrator Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Community Exeter, Rhode Island

*Posthumous

Class of 2009

Laurent Gousie, Ph.D. Professor/Lecturer in French - Providence College

Eugene A. Peloquin Retired Educator

Moise Potvin* Renown Woodcarver and Violin Maker

L’Union St. Jean Baptiste d’Amerique French-Canadian Benefit Society

*Posthumous

Class of 2008

William E. Aubuchon Sr.*- Founder 130 store Aubuchon Hardware chain

Brothers of the Sacred Heart - Religious order involved in American education since 1847

Edward Wright - Owner Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery North Smithfield, Rhode Island

Rhea Bouchard Powers - Columinst, Valley Breeze Newspapers

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.

*Posthumou

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.

Other AFGS Hall of Fame Photo Albums

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.