March 28, 2024

William "Beansie" & Sheila Stringfellow Honored by Council:

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By Bob Rodericks

Football Legend "Beansie" Honored by Council

William Stringfellow, the Rhode Island and East Providence football icon, was honored by the city council in August by having the football press box named for him and his wife, Sheila. Unknown to legions of younger Townie sports fans, Bill Stringfellow was regularly known by his nickname, "Beansie". Stringfellow taught in East Providence for 36 years and became a legendary football coach and athletic director. He has received numerous awards throughout the state and is a member of the East Providence High School Hall of Fame, the R.I. Football coaches Hall of Fame, the GridIron Hall of Fame and the Hendricken Hall of Fame. He graduated from EPHS in 1945, playing football and wrestling as well as a Townie band member. Stringfellow is an Army veteran and began teaching at Central Junior High (now Martin). Known as an old-school tough guy coach, he was beloved by his students and players. He was East Providence's first city recreation director, in a part time post for some 14 years. When he retired from EPHS, he was hired by Hendricken to coach freshmen football for 10 years. However, whenever EP is playing football, one will always find him, along with the Stringfellow clan, sitting in the EP home stands in the same seats every year. To this day the tradition continues of former football players stopping by the Stringfellow home for some of Sheila's apple pie on Thanksgiving Day before the big game. Bill and Sheila Stringfellow have 7 children and 23 grandchildren. The press box will be officially dedicated to the Stringfellows during an upcoming October football game.

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