Class of 1995
Dobie Dennis
Dennis was part of the era that many call the Willie, Billy, and Dobie show.
A 5’10” guard that would steal the ball and then make an emphatic dunk at the other end before the other team could even react. He is considered to be one of the best defensive and unselfish players in the history of CCRI Basketball.
His leaping ability would have the crowds in awe and astounded them. In both seasons, he was All-Region Second Team and made the All-Tourney Team at Fulton Montgomery. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
Ralph "Swede" Erickson
Erickson directed CCRI’s Hockey program and brought it to national attention during his ten years of service, compiling a record of 130-75-11.
He was an outstanding hockey player at Warwick High School and became one of the top amateur players in the state for the Rhode Island Scarlets that won the National Amateur Championship in Toledo, Ohio.
He continued to play for several seasons with the Boston Olympics in the Eastern League. After playing, Erickson went on to coach and assisted in organizing the State Bantam Hockey League, the Warwick Junior Hockey Association and coached all levels, including freshman at Providence College. Under Erickson, CCRI’s Hockey program had 2 National appearances, 3 New England titles, and 7 Regional Playoffs.
He was also responsible for developing All-Americans such as Art Johnston and Cliff Rice and for that he was awarded the New England Coach of the Year honors in 1978.
Donnie Marie (Damian) Harrow
Damian came into CCRI in 1976 and graduated with honors in 1979 and was recognized for “Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges” in 1979-1980.
In 1976, she was one of the founding members of the Women’s Volleyball team and with her success, they officially became a team in 1977, becoming a New England powerhouse. She was captain of the 1977 and 1978 teams; she led the teams to consecutive New England Titles and appeared in the National Junior College Athletics Association Championship at Catonsville, Maryland.
She earned many accolades such as All-New England First Team in both 1977 and 1978, she earned New England Tournament MVP in both 1977 and 1978 as well, and she was team MVP in 1978. She also earned the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American Honorable Mention in 1978, which was a first time that a Rhode Island female athlete from a Junior College received the All-American honor.
William "Bill" Perry
Perry was the point guard that ran the Willie, Billy and Dobie show at CCRI. He averaged about 9 assists per game for both seasons and held a former record of 20 assists in one game. Finishing his career with 650 points, he is 18th on the all-time scoring leaders list.
In the 1975-1976 season, he was voted into the All-Tourney Team, won MVP at the Fulton-Montgomery Invitational Tournament and won Regional Tournament MVP. He was also inducted into the New England Hall of Fame.
Robert Silvestre
Dr. Silvestre came into CCRI in 1964 as one of the college’s 13 founding faculty members, being an instructor of science, mathematics, and pre-technical education and Chairman of the Biology Department. He retired from the college in 2002.
His philosophy of sports and athletics having a positive impact on students to help them prepare for life led to him introducing two new sports to the athletic program. In 1965, Dr. Silvestre created the first baseball team with Ray Newbold; they practiced at an abandoned area in the CIC building for practice and the uniforms were a sweatshirt and a hat.
He went on to be an assistant coach under Whitey Fell for 8 years, being very successful together. Dr. Silvestre’s next accomplishment started because of having a soccer background, being a world class soccer player in the military and being active in the community soccer programs; he started a soccer program in the fall of 1972 at CCRI.
In his 7-year tenure, he tallied a record of 48-25-9 and in their second year, the team was a finalist in the New England Regionals. For 4 consecutive years they qualified for the playoffs and in 1974, Dr. Silvestre won the New England Coach of the Year award. He developed amazing players such as All-American Herman Mello and All-New England Joao Silva.
Willie Washington
The last piece to the Willie, Billy and Dobie show was Willie Washington. In both practices and games, he was always known for giving 110%.
His work ethic was most certainly recognized with being 5th on the all-time scoring leaders list, finishing with 1,138 points, also leading the team with 440 rebounds, being a two-time All-American, receiving All-New England honors First-Team consecutively, All-Tourney Team at Fulton-Montgomery, team MVP in 1976 and 1977, he had also won outstanding Rhode Island Junior College Player of the Year in 1976.
Washington was later inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.