EAST PROVIDENCE — Friends, peers and associates will say it's much overdue, but East Providence High School's Tom Galligan will finally be inducted into the Rhode Island Wrestling Hall of Fame later this month during a ceremony at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln.

After 30 years as head coach of the Townies, 32 years total with the program dating back to the 1991-92 season, and spending just as long as a construction/carpentry teacher at the East Providence Career and Tech Center, Galligan will be formally recognized for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport both in city and around the state.

"It's pretty cool. It's neat for sure," Galligan said late this past winter during one of East Providence's final Division I home matches of the 2022-23 season. "But it's as much about the kids as it is me. It's the kids, being with the kids, that's the most important thing.

"I feel very lucky to be where I am. I feel very lucky to have the family I have and for the people I'm associated with. And I'm really lucky to be around the kids. I think every coach would say that, but I feel very fortunate to be around the kids here at East Providence. It's what makes this job so special."

For those who may not know, Galligan is a true "Townie." He was raised in Riverside by his parents, dad Tom Sr., who will be at the ceremony, and mom Linda, who has passed away. There was no junior high/middle school wrestling program at the time, so he didn't take up the sport until entering EPHS in the mid-1970s. He competed during all three of his years as a Townie (remember, EPHS did not become a four-year school until the end of the 1990s) before graduating in the Class of 1978. He then continued his career at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Coaching, however, wasn't necessarily in the cards until a chance meeting with his former high school coach who would become one of his professional mentors, Jim McMahon, about a dozen years later.

"I did construction after college, was in the carpenter's union for a while, but I always felt like I wanted to do something else, so I went back to school to get my degree in teaching construction. And then one day I ran into Mr. McMahon and it just kind of worked together, it all just kind of happened," Galligan explained.

What happened was McMahon needed an assistant wrestling coach at EPHS. It was around that time that Galligan was back in college getting his instructor's degree to teach construction/carpentry at the CTC level. From there, both McMahon and Manny Vinhateiro, by then an assistant principal at EPHS as well as a former wrestling aide and standout performer, himself, on the mat, helped guide Galligan to the jobs he still holds to this day.

"I was an assistant coach for two years and I subbed (teacher) at EP for those two years, too," Galligan explained. "Mr. McMahon and Mr. Vinhateiro helped me a lot. They helped get me acclimated to the role, get into the position. It was just a blessing to have them and people like that behind me."

Vinhateiro was equally effusive in reciprocating his praise for his former pupil, turned colleague and mate.

"I am fortunate to have witnessed the growth of Tom Galligan from a young student to a very accomplished professional. He is a dedicated educator, coach, friend, husband and father," Vinhateiro said of Galligan on a personal level.

Of Galligan's craftsmanship, Vinhateiro continued, "He immediately became one of the most popular vocational instructors due to his work ethic, dedication to his students and his desire to help anyone anytime. When he commenced his coaching career these same at tributes carried over and he began the evolution of the then three-year wrestling program (grades 10-12) into the seven-year program (grades 6-12) of today.

"As one of Tom's coaches, assistant principals, principals and superintendents, I am proud to say that he exemplifies all that is 'Townie Pride.' Tom has given so much to the school community by his unyielding dedication to his students and wrestlers. He has mentored so many young men and women to strive to better themselves and their community. He leads by example and holds himself and those around him to a high standard of excellence. It is fitting that this hard working, dedicated professional is being recognized for his decades of superlative service to his community, students and wrestlers."

Another extremely important person Galligan recognized for their support throughout the entirety of his career is his wife Lynn, a native of Warwick where they reside. The couple have raised two children, a son Tom III who is in the United States Navy and a daughter Lexi who is a college student.

"I couldn't have done this without Lynn and the kids," said Galligan. "She's put up with me for all these years. She's taken care of the family, done everything really. I love her dearly. She's done so much for me."

Galligan's coaching circle has remained as tight knit as his family. City native Glen Salgueiro, a teacher turned administrator and also a former EPHS wrestler, was his assistant coach for some two decades before he left to become an assistant principal at the middle school level.

The two, in fact, were side-by-side during most of Galligan's 350-plus dual meet/invitational tournament victories as well as some of his best seasons when the Townies came agonizingly close to winning an elusive state title, including 2006-07 when they finished a mere  half point behind champion Cranston West.

EPHS also finished a somewhat distant second to Hendricken at the state meet in 2015-16. Two other times the Townies were third: in 1997-98 behind winner Coventry and second-place Cranston East then the victors from Cranston East and Warwick Vets in 2001-02.

Said Salgueiro, "As his assistant coach for over 20 years, I saw Tom get the best out of his wrestlers. He always knew that you have to treat every kid as an individual. There is no single approach with Tom. He knows when to yell, when to be supportive, and when a kid just needs a break. Wrestling pushes you harder than any other high school sport, and Tom knows what it takes to turn his athletes into men, ready to take on life's challenges.

"He is the longest serving head coach in the history of East Providence High School, and in my opinion one of the best. This is a long overdue award. You cannot talk about wrestling in East Providence, or Rhode Island for that matter, without Tom Galligan's name in the conversation."

Of more recent vintage, three former Galligan wrestlers have returned as volunteer assistants with the Townies: Mario Peoples, Kyle Xavier and Chris Bianco. And EPHS wrestling legend Bob Good came back two winters ago to serve as his top aide. Also notable, two other wrestlers guided by Galligan — Bobby Rodericks Jr. and A.J. LaScola — are the head coaches at Martin and Riverside Middle Schools, respectively.

"Tommy is one of the best clinicians I've ever seen in my life," said Good, EPHS Class of 1977 and a three-time All-Stater who went onto wrestle at Louisiana State University and later with the U.S. Army for which he vied at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Good continued, "His focus and concentration is overwhelming. Not only that, his rapport with the student/athletes in the classroom and on the mat is amazing. And I've worked with a lot of coaches. Tommy is the real deal. He's been here for over 30 years. His dedication to the community, to the program, you can't buy that."

And you can't buy the memories and associations Galligan has made throughout his career as an East Providence High School instructor and coach, nor would he want to change much about his life as a Townie athlete and coach.

"I love this place," said Galligan. "Even my daughter always says, 'Dad, I wish we could be in East Providence because the people seem so friendly.' She's amazed at how close East Providence people are. It's why I've been here all this time. I've never thought about going anywhere else. Why would I?"

The 2023 Rhode Island Wrestling Hall of Game ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln. A cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7. Tickets are $50 person. Anyone interested in attending can contact Salgueiro via email at coachsal3@yahoo.com or by visiting the following link http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-ri-hall-of-fame-banquet-tickets-588477139967.

The 2023 Rhode Island Wrestling Hall of Game ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln. A cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7. Tickets are $50 person. Anyone interested in attending can contact Salgueiro via email at coachsal3@yahoo.com or by visiting the following link http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-ri-hall-of-fame-banquet-tickets-588477139967.