Sanford High School inducted five new members into its Athletics Hall of Honor on Saturday, November 29, during a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center that recognized decades of athletic excellence and community impact.
Keynote speaker David Woodsome (Class of 1965) opened the afternoon ceremony with a message about the ripple effects of kindness in athletics. Woodsome reflected on the moments that shaped his own athletic journey. He recalled the coaches who encouraged him to try football, families who gave him rides home, and community members who helped him get contact lenses so he could fully participate. "Be grateful, pay it back and pass it on," he said. "Each one of you can reach out to someone who hasn't yet had that chance."
The Class of 2025 inductees represent decades of Sanford athletic excellence spanning from the 1950s through the 1990s. Andy Adams (Class of 1978) helped lead the Sanford baseball team to the 1978 Maine State Class A championship and finished with a career record of 17-5 as a pitcher. Adams signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1982. Theodore "Teddy" Gardner (Class of 1957) earned 14 varsity letters across four sports and later was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Keith Kalman (Class of 1964) helped Sanford's wrestling team win three straight state championships and later returned to coach the program to three more state titles.
Kelly Nobert LaFountain (Class of 1984) became the first female from Sanford to earn a Division 1 basketball scholarship. Kristy Parent Richards (Class of 1994) excelled as a three-sport athlete before coaching Sanford's girls basketball team to the 2006 state championship. Richards currently serves as the assistant principal at Carl J. Lamb Elementary.
Adams, LaFountain and Richards attended the ceremony in person. Loved ones accepted honors on behalf of Gardner and Kalman, who have passed away. Teddy Gardner's granddaughter Brenna spoke about what the recognition meant to her family, while Janet Kalman offered heartfelt reflections on her husband's lasting impact as a teacher, coach, and mentor.
Don Campbell's tribute to his lifelong friend Keith Kalman captured what the Hall of Honor ultimately celebrates. "His achievements in life and who he was as a person were all taught in a school of athletics," Campbell said. "His strength, his unselfishness, his loyalty—those were the qualities that made Keith an exceptional athlete and an even better person."
Adams, Richards and LaFountain each expressed gratitude for coaches, teammates, and families who made their success possible. LaFountain offered advice to today's student-athletes: "Never give up on your dreams, embrace the hard work, and cherish every moment. The memories you make with your teammates will last a lifetime."
The ceremony also recognized the Red & White Foundation, a nonprofit booster group that has been an integral part of Sanford High School athletics for over 25 years and serves as the Hall of Honor's primary financial partner.