Don came to Stivers from Emerson Elementary School. His mother refused to let Don play sports his freshman year because she wanted him to make better grades. Don played three years of varsity football and two years of varsity baseball. He was a two year starter as an offensive tackle on the Stivers football team. Don also played defensive end during his senior year. Don was elected
first team All-City offensive tackle as a senior. The highlight of his sports career at Stivers was the victory over Chaminade in his junior year. Don was the starting tackle between Stivers Hall of Famers John Lord and Danny Wheeler on that outstanding team that won the City Championship. Don played two years of varsity baseball as a first baseman and an outfielder.
Don attended the University of Chattanooga in Tennessee but did not play due to injuries. He withdrew and began working at DP&L and joined the US Marine Reserves. He married Joanna Bantz , a ‘57 Trotwood graduate in 1958. Joanna was an outstanding basketball and volleyball player. He enrolled at Bowling Green University in 1959 and played freshman football. He left BGSU after his wife gave birth to their son in 1960. Don joined the Kettering Police Department
where he served until retirement in 1990. Don played several years of industrial league fast pitch and slow pitch softball in the Dayton area.
Don and Joanna have four children; Randall, Vickie, Sheila and Joni and four grandchildren. The two oldest daughters ran track for the Kettering Striders. The youngest daughter played volleyball at Fairmont West High School.
