BIDDEFORD — One of the most beloved figures in the history of the University of New England’s athletic program has been saluted by a local legislator for his decades of service at the college and has joined the elite group of athletes and coaches enshrined in the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame.

To commemorate longtime UNE coach and athletic director Jim Beaudry’s Hall of Fame induction, State Sen. Susan Deschambault of Biddeford presented him with a legislative sentiment recognizing his dedication to positively shaping the future of student-athletes in Biddeford at a special gathering at the school last weekend.

“I’m so glad we could all come together, former basketball players, the University of New England and the communities of Biddeford, Biddeford Pool and Kennebunkport, to celebrate the achievements of an exceptional coach and an even better person,” Deschambault said.

Beaudry spent 21 years as director of athletics and a coach at St. Francis College, before it merged with the New England Foundation for Osteopathic Medicine in 1978 to become the University of New England. In 1996, the University of New England merged again with Westbrook College and solidified its entry as a National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III program for both mens’ and womens’ sports.

Throughout his tenure at UNE, he coached baseball, mens’ basketball, mens’ soccer, cross country and mens’ golf teams for the Nor’Easters.

As a result of his success and willingness to assist UNE student-athletes achieve their full potential, Beaudry previously was inducted as a charter member of the UNE Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Legends’ Hall of Honor.

On Aug. 19, Beaudry was enshrined into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in the “Legends of the Game” category during the 2018 Induction Ceremony at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

Located on the second floor of the Cross Insurance Center, the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame was created in 2014 as a way to honor players and contributors to the game of basketball in Maine. It includes a historic mural with a timeline of the sport in the state, numerous artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, and a growing list of Hall of Fame Inductees.

Because of his health, Beaudry was unable to travel to Bangor for the formal induction ceremony, but members of the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame selection committee joined him the day before on Saturday Aug. 18 at a special induction event for him at UNE  to personally him for his contributions to basketball in Maine and to help him celebrate his 95th birthday along with many of the players that he coached during his career.

Beaudry told those gathered at UNE that he was humbled by the legislative sentiment and was touched that dozens of his former players were on hand for the occasion.

Deschambault said all of the accolades for Beaudry are well-deserved.

“Throughout his lifetime, Coach Beaudry has set an extraordinary example for his student athletes and peers through his love for the game and his unparalleled commitment to his players,” she said.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at [email protected]