A new football field at North Quincy High School in Quincy, Massachusetts, was officially dedicated on Saturday, despite a lot of criticism from residents.
The field was named for the Creedon family who is known for their decades of public service to the community. Many served as firefighters, played prominent roles in education and served in the military.
But despite the service, some residents are remembering an incident one family member, Lawrence Creedon, was allegedly involved in.
Lawrence Creedon served as school superintendent in Quincy for more than 15 years. He left in 1984 after two students accused him of inappropriately touching them. He was never charged in those cases.
Court records showed he was arrested in 1986 in a case of indecent assault and battery.
Resident Stephanie Mullaney is one of a handful of people who protested the decision in naming the field for the family.
"There are so many other great people in this city that a field could be named after and Lawrence Creedon and the whole family I don't think it's deserved after them," Mullaney said. "This is a horrible problem we have to do everything we can to denounce it, condemn it as strongly as you can and naming a field after the whole family is just shameful."
U.S. & World
Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch says he had no regrets about the naming of the field.
“Was he not without sin, did he have an issue? Obviously he did and that happened after he left the system,” Koch asked.
Lawrence Creedon died in 2012 but family members support the decision of the naming of the field.
"The people in my family have served with dedication and love for this community there are probably misunderstandings, but I have grown up and known them to be wonderful and caring people," said Cara Creedan McCarthy.
The naming of the field was unanimously approved by the city's parks department.
