Local Town Pages sports writer Ken Hamwey will be inducted into Millis High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame on March 19, 2022 at the Medway VFW.

The 78-year-old Hamwey, a Bellingham resident who’s worked for Local Town Pages for 10 years, was a unanimous choice of the selection committee. The veteran sports journalist continues to cover feature stories in semi-retirement for Local Town Pages, focusing on seven communities — Medway, Millis, Norfolk, Wrentham, Holliston, Natick and Franklin.

Hamwey, who previously lived in Millis after earning a bachelor’s degree from Babson College, started his newspaper career in 1967 with the Framingham News, now known as the Metrowest Daily News. His first story, which was published 54 years ago, focused on Millis’ varsity football team. Early on, his reporting ranged from high school and college sports to the professional beat where he covered the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots.

“I’m honored and humbled to be selected for induction into Millis’ Hall of Fame,’’ Hamwey said. “It’s heart-warming to have a wonderful community like Millis recognize me for my reporting. Some of my fondest memories during a 54-year career involve Millis. Gordon Browne, a three-sport athlete at Millis High, will be presenting me at the ceremony in March and for those unaware of his stature, he was the first Tri-Valley League football player to be drafted (second round by the Jets) into the National Football League. He was an offensive tackle who blocked for quarterback Joe Namath for two years before suffering a career-ending injury.’’

Hamwey will be inducted as a contributor and he’ll be honored along with star athletes Molly Breen, Dennis Breen (posthumously) and Rich Monaghan; coach and athletic director Peter Vigue; the 2008-09 girls state championship basketball team and the 1980 boys track team.

After six years in Framingham, Hamwey was hired at the Providence Journal where he spent the next 35 years working for the four-time Pulitzer-prize-winning newspaper. He finished his career there as the paper’s Night Sports Editor, retiring in 2008. On Hamwey’s last day in Providence, the Rhode Island State Senate read aloud a citation for his efforts and contributions to R.I. athletics. Two years later, in 2010, he was honored by the Mass. Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), which presented him with its Distinguished Friend Award.

At the Metrowest News, which included the Milford News and the Country Gazette, Hamwey wrote a popular weekly column — “Yesterday’s Heroes’’ — that focused on athletes’ and coaches’ past achievements.

In 2007, Hamwey began covering sports for the Bellingham Bulletin. As Sports Editor at the Bulletin, he launched a column similar to Yesterday’s Heroes called “Where Are They Now,” reporting on former Bellingham athletes. For the next 11 years, Hamwey extensively covered Bellingham sports while also filing stories for Local Town Pages. 

Hamwey’s upcoming induction in Millis will be his first Hall of Fame honor. However, he has been nominated for induction into Bellingham’s Hall of Fame but that committee has yet to select him. 

Hamwey moved to Bellingham in 1972. He’s married to Pauline Allard, a school teacher who taught in Bellingham at the Macy Elementary School. His son, Travis, graduated from Bellingham High in 1989. 

Tickets for the ceremony cost $50 and can be ordered until March 12, 2022. They can be obtained by writing a check to the Millis Athletics Hall of Fame and mailed to 155 Plain St., Millis, MA 02054. Tickets can also be obtained via Venmo (money amount to @Millis-AthleticsHOF). A cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m. and dinner will be at 7 p.m. followed by the ceremony.