Peter Sarant coached many outstanding athletes during his tenure at Windsor Locks High School but none of them were as versatile and consistent as Rich Blevins.

Rich placed in more state track meets than all of Sarant’s charges, with the exception of fellow Hall of Famers Bob and Gary Morrell. Rich’s specialty was the hurdles. He placed first in the 120 yard hurdles and third in the 180 yard hurdles in the 1965 State final meet.

In his senior year in 1966 Rich placed third in the long jump and 4th in the 60 yard hurdles in the State finals.

At one point Rich held the school records for both the high and low hurdles.

Recognizing a great athlete when he saw one, Coach Dan Sullivan asked Rich to try playing goalie for the soccer team his senior season. Having no prior experience Rich anchored a team that lost only 2 games that season, one in the regular season and one in the state tournament.

Despite only one year of varsity soccer in high school, Rich went onto be a valued member of the Eastern Connecticut State University soccer team playing in goal and on the wing.

His college days were cut short when Rich joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After 40 weeks of training in El Paso, Texas, Rich served as an airborne voice processing specialist and interpreter learning multiple Vietnamese dialects. As a combat aircrew member, Rich flew missions over North Vietnam in hazardous conditions handling classified information. He was awarded the First Oak Leaf Cluster for his service in flight operations.

After being honorably discharged from the military, Rich went to work in the IT Department at The Hartford.

Rich and his wife Colleen have two daughters, Melissa Blevins Ruppert and Erica Schaub, and three grandchildren, Ryan Ruppert and Brianna and Olivia Schaub.

The Blevins vacation for two weeks every year in Maine where they enjoy boating, swimming and fishing during the days while spending the night time playing cards or board games. They also enjoy trips to Walt Disney World in Florida and visiting relatives in Colorado.

Rich continued to participate in sports throughout his life. He coached youth soccer. Basketball, bowling and golf sated the competitive drive that fueled his earlier athletic success.

Each year Rich and his buddies go to Cape Cod for a week of golf forming the group “AGCA”: ANother Great Cape Adventure.

Rich and Colleen are also avid Uconn Men’s and Women’s basketball teams fans.

The 1966 senior class from Windsor Locks High School had many fine athletes and state champions, none more versatile than Rich Blevins