The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-07
900 AT PARTY FOR NEW STATE BOXING MOCUL

DUANAhu~ bBHOOO
 Bridgeport, Sept. 2 - State Ath- letic Commissioner William J.. Billy Prince was presented with gold badge of office, studded with diamonds, at a testimonial dinner last night attended by more than 900 persons at the Ritz ballroom and sponsored by the Republican Town Committee.
 Notables of the fistic and politi- cal world were on hand to pay tribuet to MT. Prince who recently was named as commissioner by Governor Baldwin.
 Salvatore P. Genuarlo, Fairfield attorney, who made the presenta- tion on behalf of the Town Com mittee and MT. Princes friends, termed him "a prince at heart" and expressed gratification that Governor Baldwin had appointed him.
 Others who spoke included High Sheriff Edward A. Platt. state Fi- nance Commissioner James B. Lo- well, Representing the Governor; Col. Elmer s. Watson, state motor vehicles commissioner; Republican State Chairman Harold E. Mitchell; Republican National Committee man J. Kenneth Bradley, Willard B. Rogers, chairman of the State Development commission, William H. Brennan of Stamford, Fairfield county Republican chairman, Sam Taub, New York boxing announcer, Nat Fleischer of Ring Magazine, Attorney General William L. Had den, and Dan Parker, sports col- umnist of the New York Mirror. who acted as toaStmaster.
 Noted Boxers Attend
 Among f1stic notables present were Lieut.. Commander Benny Leonard of the U. s. Marine Serv- ice, former worlds lightweight champion; Kid Kaplan, Bat Batta- lino, Nathan Mann, Lou Bogash and Willie Pep of Hartford, who was presented with silver cham pionship belt by MT. Fleischer. Pap, who is still in Army service, appear ed in uniform. He is featherweight champion of the world.
 Sheriff Platt, asserting MT. Prince has reached the top of the ladder" ," said "his friends have been wait- ing 10 years for this party"
 Commissioner Lowell explained that Governor Baldwin was pre- vented from attending by duties concerned with the states peace time program and attested to the confidence" the Governor had in naming MT. Prince to office.
 Col. Watson, 8 wounded veteran of the Pacific war, appeared for the first time in five years in civil ian clothes, to extend greetings to Mir Prince.
 Mitchell Lauds Prince
 MT. Mitchell, asserting he had recommended MT. Prince for the appointment, said Billy is known for his dependability in the boxing game in giving the customers 100 csnts on the dollar," and remarked that MT. Princes ability at mak- ing friends should assure the Re- publican party of carrying Bridge port soon."
 MT. Rogers, who termed Commis- sioner Prince "a damn swell guy" was followed by MT. Brennan who said "when Willard Rogers praises anyone from Fairfield county the tribute must be well deserved"
 First Boxer Go Be Named
 MT. Taub pointed out that Mir Princes appointment marked the first time that former boxer had bsen named in any state. Attorney General Hadden said that the ap- pointment was "honor to fighting man who has been given a fighting post. We all know he will do a good job, and that his word is his bond" he added.
 In brief remarks following pres entation of the badge, MT. Prince expressed gratitude to his friends and paid tribute, to Mrs. Prince. who sat with him at the head table, referring to her as "the greatest second in the world" He said that because newspaper writers com- monly uWell on tne rAckeLeeTS ana chis:lers in the boxing game, the fact that there are many honest and able performers Is lost sight of, and in this respect cited instances in which topflight boxers have con- tributed their services to charity and to entertain men in the armed forces.
 He said he Is proud to have been associated with the game as a boxer, manager and promoter" and happy to be commissioner"
 MT. Parker. paying tribut to Com missioner Prince. remarked on his ability to make friends with many people and cautioned him not to be afraid to be tough If they try to impose on you"
 Among those introduced was Jack