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Inductee |
Description |
 EBENEZER D. BASSETT U.S. MINISTER TO HAITI FIRST NATIVE BORN AFRICAN AMERICAN DIPLOMAT |
Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett was the first African American to be appointed an ambassador to a foreign country when President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him as Ambassador to Haiti in 1877. He was born in Litchfield, but was educated in Derby. He was also a nephew of Eben Tobias one of several Black Governors of Connecticut from Derby. |
 LOU DEFILIPPO "COACH" & TEACHER DHS FOOTBALL 1968 - 1982 W116 - L30 - T8 DERBY PRIDE |
"Coach" Lou DeFillipo was Derby High School football coach from 1968 -1982. Though coaching one of the smallest schools in the state, he led his teams to a record of 116-30-8 including two state championships and five undefeated seasons. |
FRANK GATES |
Frank Gates was one of the leading philanthropists in Derby history. A talented businessman active in a wide variety of civic activities, he left his fortunes in trust for the continual benefit of the City of Derby and surrounding communities. |
DR. JOHN IRELAND |
John Ireland Howe was an inventor and businessman famous for his work in automating the production of the common pin. His "rotary machine" is still on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. |
COMMODORE |
Commodore Isaac Hull was one of the greatest naval heroes in U.S. history. As commander of the U.S.S. Constitution during the War of 1812, he defeated the British frigate Guerriere marking the first time in history that an English frigate had struck its flag to an American ship of war. |
 DAVID HUMPHREYS SOLDIER & POET DIPLOMAT EARLY INDUSTRIALIST 1752 - 1818 |
David Humphreys served as
side-de-camp to George Washington during the Revolutionary War
and had the honor of carrying the surrendered British colors
from Yorktown to the Congress in Philadelphia. He was the first U.S. Minister to Portugal and served as Minster to Spain. He introduced merino sheep to the U.S. and established Humphreysville which is today’s town of Seymour. |
FRANCES OSBORNE |
Frances Eliza Osborne Kellogg was a woman ahead of her time. She was a success in business, leader in conservation and generous in philanthropy. Included in her lasting legacy is Osbornedale State Park, the largest tract of open space in Derby which she gifted to the State Of Connecticut. |
REV. RICHARD |
Reverend Richard Mansfield was the first resident Church of England clergyman in Derby. He served for 72 years, a period marking what may be the longest rectorship recorded in the United States |
EDMUND D. STRANG |
Edmund Strang was simply "Mr. Scout" in Derby. Though active in a variety of civic activities, he is best known for his incredible work in Scouting. In 1927, he formed Cub Pack 3 in Derby and was assistant cubmaster and cubmaster for 68 years – the longest tenured cubmaster in U.S. History |
JOSEPH WHEELER |
General Joseph "Fightin’ Joe"
Wheeler grew up in Derby before graduating from West Point and
serving in the U.S. Army in the Mexican War. He resigned from
the U.S. Army and served in the Confederate Army as a Junior
Cavalry General during the Civil War. After the war, he served nine terms in the U.S. House of representatives from the state of Alabama. He later served as a major general during the Spanish American War. He was appointed a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army by President McKinley. His statue is on display in the U.S. Capitol in Washington as a representative of the state of Alabama. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. |
PFC FRANK P WITEK |
PFC Frank Witek is the only Valley native to have earned this country’s highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was awarded the medal for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Finegayan at Guam on August 3, 1944. Witek Park is named in his honor. |
