FOXBOROUGH — William E. Sheehan  was born in Mansfield but had deep roots in neighboring Foxborough even before he became a teacher there in 1962.

His grandfather, George Jones, founded the local Grange organization, while his uncle, Ernest Jones, was the town’s first Eagle Scout. Sheehan’s father, Edward, operated the town’s first taxi. And William Sheehan established himself in Foxborough as a teacher, a Boy Scout leader, and a recreational swim program coordinator.