Alumni News
EHSA Supports English High Students to Attend Ron Burton Training Village Retreat
On Friday June 16, 2023, students and staff of English High School participated in a one day Boston Red Sox-sponsored, retreat at the Ron Burton Training Village (RBTV) in Hubbardston, MA.
Ron Burton Sr. was the first draft pick of the original Boston Patriot football team in 1960. After his football career he went on to work and be a spokesman for the John Hancock Insurance Company. During that time, he created Ron Burton Training Village. RBTV was Ron’s way of giving back to the youth of America by using his platform to teach them the core values of: Love, Peace, Patience, and Humility.
Shortly before his passing in September of 2003, Ron was able to form an alliance with the Boston Red Sox to sponsor weekend retreats for youth groups and organizations. These 3-day retreats allowed kids to get a small taste of the 5-week RBTV experience. Today RBTV now runs 1-day as well as 3-day weekend retreats, 4-week STEM program for girls and the 4-week program for boys.
Ron Burton, Jr. is carrying on his father’s legacy through Ron Burton Training Village.
Greg Hayes ’67, Chair of EHSA, knew Mr. Burton, was able to have all three of his boys attend RBTV, was able to arrange to have the Framingham High School football team use RBTV for their training camp 3 years in a row, and to this day is a strong supporter of the RBTV mission. During the EHSA 200th Gala, Greg made sure that Head of School Caitlin Murphy and Ron Burton Jr. met and agreed to make sure that EHS could participate in one of the RBTV retreats. Marcell Howard, RBTV Retreat Director and Ms. Murphy, worked together to prepare the goals and objectives for the EHS/RBTV retreat.
At 7:30 AM a luxury bus picked up the 40 students and staff and drove them to Hubbardston. Upon arrival they were met by the RBTV staff and were broken into small groups and began various “team building” activities. They were all given RBTV/Red Sox T-Shirts and then went off to do activities in various locations on the RBTV campus. As can be seen in the photos all the students and staff were fully engaged in the day’s events.
The EHSA sponsored lunch was prepared by Greg Hayes and Bill Gallagher which included grass feed, free rage rib eye steaks, Mac & Cheese and Salad. Of course, as was always the case with Ron Sr., and only on Fridays and Saturdays, unlimited ice cream was served for dessert.
Prior to departure, everyone was given a full set of RBTV/Red Sox sweat suits and heard from Marcell Howard and Ron Burton Jr. Greg Hayes encouraged the kids to spread the word about RBTV at EHS and asked the to make sure the next time he is at RBTV that at least 10 kids attending the summer sessions are from English High School.
