Sports Wall of Fame
• Three-time Bears basketball team captain and top scorer (1956-58).
• Perennial Canada West All-Star and member of two-time Canada West championship team.
• Defensive back with the Bears football team and quarterback with the Edmonton Wildcats.
• Coached football and basketball in several Edmonton high schools in his 33-year teaching career.
Don was born in Edmonton and attended Victoria Composite high school. In addition to starring in basketball (he was chosen as top player in the Edmonton high school league), Don also quarterbacked the football team and played on the volleyball team. At the University of Alberta Don excelled as a two sport athlete; competing as a point guard in Golden Bears basketball (1956-1960) and defensive back with the Golden Bear football team in 1958-59. Don quarterbacked the Edmonton Wildcat junior football team from 1956-1957 and joined the Golden Bears in 1958 when the University of Alberta reintroduced the football program.
Don is one of the all-time best guards to wear a Golden Bear basketball jersey. A brilliant passer, prolific scorer and fiery team leader, Don was a three time basketball team captain. A starter the minute he joined the Bear’s basketball program and top scorer on the team in 1956-57 and 58. A perennial Canada West all-star, Don led the Bears to a Canada West championship in 1958 and 1959. During his university basketball participation, Don was a key player for the Edmonton Town Hallers senior team, which at the time was one of the top teams in the country and represented the highest level of basketball being played in Canada at the time.
Don graduated from the University of Alberta in 1959 with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree and in 1966 added a Bachelor of Education degree. He went on to a thirty three year career in teaching and administration with the Edmonton Public School Board. He taught at Eastglen, Victoria Composite, and M.E. Lazerte high schools specializing in physical education, science, and counselling. Don also coached high school junior and senior football and basketball. Don served in an administrative capacity as Vice Principal at M.E. Lazerte high school and for three years was principal of the Alberta Hospital School.
In addition to his coaching prowess, Don gave back to amateur athletics by working as a basketball referee at the high school and university levels. Don was selected to officiate in the Canadian University Men’s Championship tournament in 1977 and, for his service to the sport of basketball; Don received honorary life awards from both the Alberta and Canadian Basketball Referees Associations.
Don was an exceptional athlete, coach, teacher/administrator, and contributor to the community. Retired now and living in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, Don has a passion for growing flowers.
