Football Team, Hackley Alum Pay Tribute to Former Player

This year’s helmets will include a decal with the number 65 in memory of and paying tribute to Don's friend and former teammate, Jim Holden ’66, longtime Hackley Alumni Association Director and Treasurer, who passed away earlier this year.

 

Jim was an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention member of Hackley’s fall of 1965 undefeated team. In a year in which the team wasn’t sure how it would do and needed players, Jim selflessly switched from soccer to football in what was his only year playing the sport.

 

A three-sport varsity athlete and co-captain of the basketball and baseball teams, Don (pictured with new Head Coach Joe McDermott ’14) was an All-Ivy Honoree in football and baseball. He noted, “On the playing fields, I learned about how the new guys who hadn’t yet made a name for themselves could be difference-makers. With their help, our football team was undefeated and untied in my senior year, and beat Riverdale for the first time in something like 11 years. It always comes back to the team.”