PAUL ADEY
Paul Adey is the official poster boy for LIFE IS GOOD...
“I have lived a blessed life and am amazingly grateful. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face
and a song in my heart. I love my life, my family, my job and my memories.”
Paul says he “Grew up during Rome's golden age of sports,” and one memory in particular helped shape
his life. “Ron Rakowski and I used to ride our bikes around town checking things out. We noticed two of
Rome's most outstanding athletes, Tommy Myslinski and Frank Peraino, lifting weights. 'Hey,' we
thought, 'if it's good for them, we should be doing that too.' That's when we started paying attention to
serious physical conditioning.”
That story reminded Paul of another thing he learned early. “Coaches kept telling us, 'If you shut your
mouth and pay attention, you'll learn something.’”
They were right.
By “Golden Age of Rome Sports” Paul was referring to the Charlie Dain, George Flood, Don Bruce, Bob
Ryan, Paul Gigliotti, Bill Coughlin, Jim Rafferty, Ed Weed era. “Great men, great teachers, great
coaches.”
Paul and his two year older Hall of Fame brother, Mike, grew up near Franklyn’s Field, and like most
Rome youngsters of that time, spent hours and hours there, playing whatever game was in season.
Brother Mike concentrated on basketball while Paul set the picks and fed him the ball. When he wasn't
helping Mike with hoops, Paul honed his own baseball, track and football skills, dreaming of the day he
could play football at RFA, and enjoy the greatest thrill of his life, running onto the field under the lights
with thousands of fans cheering. The first time that happened, Paul says, “My heart stopped. I was so
excited and exhilarated.”
Paul was a three sport athlete at RFA and graduated in 1967, having never lost a football game during his
RFA years.. “As the center,” Paul says jokingly, “I helped make Mike Davis--by snapping him the ball on
every play.”
A knee injury cut short his active participation, but did not in any way affect his athletic future. “If I can't
play, I willcoach. I knew that I wanted to be around sports for the rest of my life.”
After graduating from Utica College, Paul began teaching and coaching as RFA's assistant jayvee and
then head jayvee coach, moved up to the varsity with Tom Hoke, and was then recruited by his former
teammate, Mike Davis, who had become the offensive coordinator at Hamilton College.
That was 31 years ago. Paul is now the head strength and conditioning coach for all 17 Hamilton sports
teams. His reputation and expertise in physical conditioning, making athletes healthier, faster, quicker and
better, is widely known and admired throughout the world of college athletics. A great part of his success
at Hamilton is due to his being an excellent role model. He may be 65 now, but the students at Hamilton
tell him he looks and acts more like 35. A very healthy, friendly, highly motivated, goal oriented,
knowledgeable 35-year-old.
An article in a Hamilton College publication referred to a recent celebration on campus when students,
faculty, alumni and staff gathered for a PAUL ADEY APPRECIATION DAY. The article also
described watching Paul “cajoling, encouraging, challenging and energizing his loyal subjects to be
absolutely the best they can be.”
“My parents and all the good people of Rome taught me that if you work hard, you will succeed. Rome
was a wonderful place to grow up, and Hamilton has been a great place to work.”
For Paul, it mostly begins and ends with family. “I'm really sorry that my parents won't be able to share
this honor with me. They were amazing. Always encouraging me, teaching me how to be successful. My
dad coached us, my mom worked the concession stand. My wife, two sons, and our grandson have
inspired and supported me”
And now Paul, the good people of Rome have voted you into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame.
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