Bradford Cook, legal counsel for Colby-Sawyer College and a seasonal resident of New London, was presented the prestigious William Marbury Beall Award on Aug. 18, 2019, during the annual meeting of the Boys Club of New London.

The award, named for the founder of the club — an all-male organization dedicated to supporting fellowship between permanent and seasonal residents — is bestowed each year to a member who’s exemplified robust support for the community-at-large or the state as a whole. Cook is a senior partner and former president at Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green, one of New Hampshire’s largest law firms, and an avid supporter of both Colby-Sawyer College and other local institutions.

“Colby-Sawyer is such a special part of the town of New London,” said Cook, who directed that the award’s $1,000 stipend be donated to the college. “All small liberal arts colleges, especially here in New England, face their share of challenges and need to be supported by their communities. New London would be a very different place without two strong institutions in the college and (New London Hospital) on both sides of town, and they need to be cherished.”

Cook was presented the award by Dr. James Squires, former president of the Endowment for Health and a former New Hampshire state senator, and given a plaque recognizing “a life of service to others and good fellowship among the people of the New London area.” Squires is the son of J. Duane Squires, a former state historian and history professor at Colby Junior College, and the son-in-law of Eugene Austin, the college’s second president.

In accepting the award, Cook urged members of the organization to learn about the challenges facing Colby-Sawyer and to do all they can to support the college.

“What was really heartwarming was the number of people afterward who asked me to tell them more about the college and its path going forward. It really started a conversation,” said Cook, who was recognized in 2016 for his commitment to Colby-Sawyer as a recipient of the New London Town Award. “The more forums in which the story of the college and its importance can be told, the better off everyone is going to be.”

Cook said he first visited New London with his family as a young boy in 1954, learning to ride horses on King Hill Road. He became a part-time resident of the town nearly three decades later after purchasing property on Checkerberry Lane. Cook joined the Boys Club of New London — which dates back more than 80 years and consists of about 100 full-time and part-time community members — about 20 years ago.