Henry "Hank" LaVallee served as Thornton Academy's alumni secretary from 1963 to 1987. As former TA trustee Charles Cote noted at LaVallee's death, "To serve as alumni secretary for Thornton was a labor of love for Hank LaVallee." In fact, LaVallee volunteered his time for the first nine years as alumni secretary. This giving of himself to Thornton was reflected in all aspects of his life. A three-sport TA athlete and a Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, LaVallee was a volunteer at many high school and collegiate track meets and for that was well respected throughout New England. He served for 20 years as a trustee of the Osteopathic Hospital of Maine and many years in the Lion's Club and Bates College Alumni Club. The late headmaster James Jortberg noted in 1987 that "Henry worked for all causes and I personally know that he was always a willing worker and contributor of any program which would help young people. I will never be able to inform the hundreds of recipients to whom this man made anonymous contributions." Former Portland native Bob Martin said upon LaVallee's resignation in 1963 as South Portland Athletic Director, "I join everyone in raising my heart in salute to a monument which will live forever. Hank LaVallee's dedication of his life to his fellow man."