Jeffrey Buckett EPHS ’69 – Fifty years of Friendships

Jeff Buckett joins in the 'Walk down EP memory lane:"

The 2024 November issue of the REPORTER featured an article depicting a ‘walk down memory lane’ by some members of the East Providence High School Class of 1970. Graduates from that class staked a claim to being one of the more memorable Townie classes in the school’s 140-year history. They cited their classmates academic and athletic accomplishments during and beyond high school. The REPORTER invited other Townie graduates from different classes to extol their class memories. Not a contest, but the paper wanted to stoke the fires of Townie Pride past.

A few comments have started to trickle in and in this issue, we feature a class with overlapping memories of that 1970 group. Specifically, we heard from Jeffrey Bucket, a proud 1969 EPHS graduate. Buckett also touted his class’s blending of academics, athletics and overall success. “To this day, the friendships made over 50 years ago have endured and that remains the greatest legacy of my high school years,” Buckett said in a recent interview. Keeping with a football theme, Bucket said “I especially am very proud of my football days at EPHS. “The group from ’70 was great but the 1966 team, in my view, was the all-time greatest team and I am so proud to have been a part of that season,” he added. Bucket was part of a dynastic Townie football program in Rhode Island’s top division. He suited-up on Townie teams from 1966-1969. In his three years of Townie football (the high school was 10-12 grades then) East Providence won State Championships in 1966 (9-0), 1967 (9-0) and in 1969 (8-1). After Buckett’s graduation, the Townies would win the State Title again in 1970. “It was a rich tradition for the school,” he said with pride.

Bucket and his wife Maureen have been regular attendees at Townie football games through 2024. “We’re Townies and continue to support our alma mater,” both said. One of the more memorable Townie football games that locals still reminisce about today, is the 32-21 victory over Cranston East in 1966. The Cranston East Thunderbolts and the Townies had been two of the state’s premier football programs for years. Before a standing room only crowd estimated to be close to 10,000 that Saturday morning at Pierce, Cranston East raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead. However, Townie fans didn’t give up and local football hero, John Johnson ignited a frenzy when he returned the 2nd half opening kickoff for a touchdown making the score 21-7. Johnson is a 1967 graduate and still has people stopping him in the street to ask about “the big touchdown” in ’66. “That comeback win over Cranston East was an uplifting moment for many. Not only did we fight back and win that game, we also won the State Championship and beat La Salle on Thanksgiving 57-7,” recalls Johnson. “A lot of us would hang out at Kelly’s Burgers on Friday nights across from the high school and talk football,” said Johnson. Most high school football games were played on Saturday mornings years ago. “We liked to think that we hated LaSalle,” continued Johnson, “but actually I felt lots of respect on both sides of the line.” Since graduation, Johnson and many other Townie and Ram fans still try to meet up before THE game.

“That Cranston East game in ‘66 was surreal,” said Buckett. “During halftime I remember coach (Jim) Deffley telling Johnny Johnson that he could and would score on the kickoff coming out of the half. It had to be the greatest game in Townie history,” opined Buckett. Clearly, some 58 years later, Co-Captain Buckett makes a strong claim for the mark his EP class has made on local history. “We were 9-0 in 1966, including the comeback win over Cranston East and defeating Lasalle 57-7 on Thanksgiving Day. We won the class A championship. There were no super bowls then, but EP was far and away the best team in the state.”

Indeed, it was a dynastic era for East Providence football. Buckett is quick to point out how talented his teammates were. “Being a backup center in those ’66 and ’67 championship years was a personal highlight. In 1968 I became the starting center and Co-Captain with John Basler which was another personal highlight. I blocked a field goal attempt against Hope and John Basler scored a few plays later which is another great memory,” recalled Buckett with enthusiasm still strong in his voice over 50 years later. Buckett was impressed with the 2024 Townies who finished one game shy of a D2 championship berth and a win on Thanksgiving. Jeff Buckett wasn’t selected as an All-State player, but he is known by classmates and others as an important player on a powerful EP team and indicative of Townie Pride. “Jeff was a very good football player and a proud captain of an EP football team,” said Jeff’s wife Maureen. We agree. Former co-captain Jeff Buckett brings his sixties enthusiasm for EPHS and football to this day. Hopefully his fever is carried forward the next 50 years by today’s students.