Before he was a well-respected insurance broker, Chairman of the Board of education and father of four, C. Glenn Flanders Jr. collected hall of fame credentials for his athletic ability. 

Playing baseball and basketball in the 1940’s at Windsor Locks High School and then at Brown University, Glenn excelled at both winning championships and factoring large in big games throughout his athletic career.

In the 1940’s the high school seasons ran differently than they do now.  The basketball team played 2 seasons, one before the State tournament and one after. Excluding the State tournament basketball teams would play 30 games.  

Because of the extended basketball season the baseball team would play only 12 games. 

Glenn played under Hall of Fame Coach Al Shapiro who turned the basketball program around during his tenure. 

Glenn and Coach Al remained good friends until Glenn passed away in 1997. 

Glenn’s junior year the Raiders basketball team snapped South Windsor’s Ellsworth High’s winning streak of over 50 wins. His senior year they had an outstanding team and at one point won 11 games in a row.

They went on to win 2 games in the state tournament and no doubt would have won more but Glenn and the second leading scores had to sit out after contracting the mumps.

Glenn averaged double figures his senior year playing the forward position.

 In baseball Glenn was a 3-year starter. His junior year he hit over .400. Although primarily a shortstop, he pitched a no-hitter in high school. In the summer of 42, Glenn and his teammates won the state American Legion Tournament.

Glenn played 2 years of basketball and 3 years of baseball at Brown University; one season batting .320.

His sports career at Brown was interrupted by his military service but both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers showed interest in him before he graduated.

 After college, Glenn returned to Windsor Locks, married Dorothy Dowd and they raised their four children, John, James, C. Glenn, III and Catherine.  Glenn and Cathy are prior inductees in the Hall of Fame.

Glenn loved to spend time with his family on Martha’s Vineyard. He was an avid golfer and a long- time member of the Suffield Country Club.

He coached Senior League baseball with Hall of Fame Coach Bob O’Connor. Glenn ran a successful insurance agency in town for many years and served as chairman of the Board of Education.

He played in the Hamilton baseball league and legend has it, hit 3 home runs on the hill at the high school (the current middle school). This feat enabled him to 3 free fill ups at Rielly’s gas station.

Glenn was a Celtics and Red Sox fan. His sports hero was Ted Williams.

The Flanders family left a deep footprint in Windsor Locks. 

Glenn’s father helped found the Windsor Locks Public Library, Glenn’s wife and his brother were teachers in Windsor Locks and Glenn selflessly gave his time to various town boards and organizations.

If there was a citizen hall of fame Glenn would deserve induction. 

But for a period of time in the 40’s and 50’s Glenn put his athletic prowess on display at WLHS and Brown University earning him a place in the Athletic Hall of Fame.