June 9, 2011
Siena College awarded the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards on June 4 during Reunion Weekend Activities. Of the five award recipients, three of the 2011 honorees were from the Siena Athletics' family as lacrosse greats Tom Pillsworth '61, Thomas Baldwin, Jr. '81 and William Redmond, Jr. '81 all received recognition.
Pillworth, who played at Siena in the late 1950's and early 60's also served two stints as Siena's Lacrosse coach from 1985-89 and 1994-97. Pillsworth received the Professor Egon Plager Award for Humanitarian Efforts Advancing the Welfare of Others.
To be considered for the award, a nominee must show unusual self-sacrifice and effort by an alumnus in dealing with problems of disadvantaged and/or handicapped, must play a significant role in the development of public support for particular humanitarian efforts and by continuing noteworthy achievements on a person-to-person basis while shaping or rehabilitating the skills, social adaptability and/or moral perspective of a client group served directly by an alumnus.
After retiring, Pillsworth joined the American Red Cross National Disaster Action Team. When the events of September 11th took place, Pillworth immediately headed to New York City to assist in the relief effort. After several trips to the city, Pillsworth volunteered his services and was deployed in uniform for a sixth-month stint in Baghdad.
Pillsworth worked 12-hour night shifts at one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces and while there met a group of 3rd Infantry Division soldiers who had received lacrosse balls, sticks and gloves. They asked Pillsworth to be their coach and he obliged and as a result became the coach of the first-ever Baghdad Lacrosse team.
Baldwin and Redmond meanwhile both received the Prof. Joseph Buff Award for Career Achievement. The duo was members of the Siena Lacrosse team during the late 70's and early 80's including the undefeated 1979 team. Baldwin is second all-time in program history with 238 career points.
The Professor Joseph A. Buff Award is presented to deserving alumni who have advanced to the highest-level executive positions in either the public or private sector, have made notable creative achievements in the arts field, played a significant or decisive role in particular administrative or research breakthroughs, such an alum who is credited for a new scientific development or the reshaping of public policy and unusual accomplishments in fields such as medicine, law, teaching, and politics.
Baldwin is a Managing Director and a Member of Investment Committee of Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. L.L.C. He joined the firm in 2000 and has led five investments for the firm.
Redmond has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gentek Inc., an affiliate of GT Technologies, Inc., since May 24, 2005. Redmond also serves as a Special Advisor of Doubloon Corp.
