Inductees

Athlete Bio


Football

Basketball

Baseball

Track (In)

Track (Out)

Donald P. Cullinane

Class of 1954

Known as "Donnie" this CHS four sportathlete is regarded as one of the best athletes in CHS history. Having won 12 Varsity letters, this West Concord native has played among the most elite teams in Concord's great athletic tradition.

During the 53' football season, coached by Bernie Megin, Walter Carew and John O'Connell, Co-Captain Cullinane along with fellow Captain Dave DeRuzzo (CCHS Hall of Famer) won the Class "C" State Championship en route to a Piedmont Bowl victory. With the help of their teammates and CCHS Hall of Famers, Paul McLaughlin, Charlie Napoli, Dave Bouchard, Al Dougherty and Jack Hutchinson, this heralded team demolished the competition 234-39 resulting in a majestic 9-0-0 season. As a recognition for magnificent play, Cullinane was selected to the '53 Lowell Sun All-Star team.

On the hard-court Cullinane was coached by Ken Creighton for four solid years. In '54 his team placed in the upperhalf of the Middlesex League and gained entry into the Bay State Basketball Tournament. Beating St. Clements and Our Lady's in the quarter and semi-finals their season came to an end when losing to Athol 53-49 in the Finals of the Class-B Tourney.

Among the highlight teams in his sporting career the indoor track team of '54 rises above all the rest. Winning the State title for the fourth consecutive time, the fleetfooters placed first in the Class-D Championships. They went on to win the Metropolitan League Division III championships by defeating their opposition in every meet and completed the season undefeated. Working together as a team CHS sent its relay and shotput men to the captivating Madison Square Garden in New York City. Leading the track team was the foremost of track coaches, Hall of Famer Skip O'Connor.

Perhaps the most significant part of Cullinane's career was playing at Fenway Park on the 1953 baseball team. This starting junior centerfielder hit .278 in the leadoff slot with eleven stolen bases and nineteen runs scored to his credit on the 19-3 team. In the quarterfinals against Newton, Cullinane started the electrifying 8-6-5 play that secured Concord's birth in the semis. On the play, Cullinane precisely played the carom of the wall, fired the ball to the CCHS Hall of Famer Kenneth Olsen who then threw to Dave Waite, who applied the tag on the runner trying for third. The team then beat Somerville in the semis but the dream season ended when they lost to Milford in the finals. Dave DeRuzzo and Dave Bouchard were battery mates that helped the team to earn their successes.

This West Concord born star is currently a salesman for the John Palmer Moving & Storage. He and his wife Beverly have eight children between them. Today they have seven grandchildren. Tonight Donnie and his family can be proud as he takes place as one of the most outstanding athletes in CCHS history.