1996 BELLEVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

  • Sherry Akey-Bowler

    ATHLETE, SWIMMING

  • Allen Joseph "Al" Kelleher

    ATHLETE, BASEBALL

  • Malcom Eugene “Mal” Trenholm

    BUILDER, BOXING

SHERRY AKEY-BOWLER

ATHLETE, SWIMMING

Sherry Akey-Bowler has represented Belleville provincially, nationally and internationally with distinction. Her accomplishments in the pool as a left leg amputee have been an inspiration to countless youngsters, not just here but across the country. Akey-Bowler's accomplishments came in the backstroke, breastroke and freestyle. In 1981 she won a silver medal in the relay at the International Games for the Physically Disabled in London, England. Later that year, at the Orange Bowl Ability Games in Miami she won one gold and three silvers. In 1982 she captured three gold medals at the Hawkesbury Regional Handicapped Games and in 1984 won three gold medals at the Provincial Games for the Physically Disabled. Akey-Bowler's success continued in 1988 with a gold award at the Provincial Amputee Games in the 100 metre backstroke, 100 metre breastroke and a silver in the 100 metre freestyle. At the Canadian Amputee National Championships that year she won two gold medals. She was also a member of the Dolphins Swim Club in Trenton. Akey-Bowler's accomplishments led to her acting as a representative for handicapped kids for the Belleville Rotary Club. Away from the pool, Akey-Bowler has taught blind people to type, worked with physically and developmentally challenged youngsters and extensively with her mother Barbara as a volunteer for the Kidney Foundation.

ALLEN JOSEPH “Al” KELLEHER

ATHLETE, BASEBALL

Like many he joins in the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame, the contributions of Allen Joseph (Al) Kelleher are almost too numerous to mention. Although elected to the Hall for his contributions to baseball and softball as a volunteer and official and his work with the mentally challenged, no tale about Al can fail to mention his contributions as Belleville's Town Crier, a trustee with the separate school board, on various volunteer committees and as an overall goodwill ambassador for Belleville. For decades Al's voice rang out on baseball and softball diamonds in the Quinte area and he was a founding member of the original Belleville and District Umpires Association, a group that still exists today. Before turning to umpiring, and later officiating football as well, Al was a fine baseball player who was talented enough to earn tryouts with several big league ball teams, including the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a valued member of several amateur teams in Belleville and when he hung up his glove he turned to organizing, helping to bring minor baseball here and later acting as president of the Belleville Amateur Baseball Association. Al coached the Belleville Haggis Juniors in 1955 and was president of the Quinte Hockey League in the 1970's as well as a convener for the Belleville Minor Hockey Association. Later, he would form a committee through Special Olympics that led to the development of softball for the mentally challenged and eventually the highly successful Bombers II team that has won numerous championships. Al was also involved in bowling for the mentally challenged. Among the numerous awards presented to him were Belleville's Citizen of the Year designation in 1985, a gold medal for contributions to the province during Ontario's bicentennial in 1984 and other acknowledgements. It is fitting that since Al's sudden death in August 1995, the old Centennial III ball diamond has been renamed "Al Kelleher Park". Today, his wife Shirley and large family have continued Al's work, especially with the mentally challenged. And, even today his memory is evoked with his favourite saying, "Have a care”. 

MALCOM EUGENE “Mal” TRENHOLM

BUILDER, BOXING

If the Quinte area has a Mr. Boxing, it's Malcolm Eugene (Mal) Trenholm. Thanks largely to his efforts there is a Belleville Boxing Club today and a legacy of champions in the sport from this area. Born in Upper Cape, N.B., he got an early start in boxing at Bob Edgett's Boxing Club in his native province. He joined the club in 1955 and a year later was a coach and amateur boxer. From there would come a lifetime involvement in the sport that has directly benefited Belleville and area and numerous youngsters. Working in the federal Solicitor General's ministry, Trenholm was transferred to Ontario in 1969 and that would be a happy development for this area. Working with youth in amateur boxing, he opened the Belleville Boxing Club on Front Street in Belleville in 1981. Despite continuous problems finding a permanent home for the club and the money to keep it running, Trenholm has kept the club running for more than 15 years. He now lives in the Plainfield area. The result has been 35 provincial gold medals, 26 silver medals, one national gold medal, three silvers at the national level and four bronze. Trenholm has been recognized with several medals for his contribution to amateur boxing in Ontario. He was one of six coaches selected from this area to participate at the Winter Olympics. In 1988 Premier David Peterson recognized his achievements with an award. More important than the recognition, though, has been Trenholm's work with hundreds of Quinte youngsters through amateur boxing. It is certain the area has better citizens today because of his work in the past.