[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 49 (Friday, April 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING DONALD ELLIOTT FLANAGAN
______
HON. JOHN B. LARSON
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 25, 2002
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of myself
and with my two colleagues from New Mexico, Tom Udall and Heather
Wilson, to honor and place on the record the outstanding achievement
and accomplishments of a native son of Mayberry Village in East
Hartford, Connecticut. It is with great pride that we introduce for
posterity the achievements of Donald Elliott Flanagan.
The Head Coach of the Women's Basketball team at the University of
New Mexico has excelled at his position. How fitting that he is being
inducted into the legendary Ray McKenna's ``Tap-Off Club'' Hall of
Fame.
While the Congressional Record embodies the nation's history and the
achievements of great Americans, we want to be clear that we remember
Donald Flanagan first as one of Jim and Barb's six children, or simply
as ``Donny''. While many will point to Don's athletic achievement, hard
work and dedication we would like to mention a few childhood
experiences that helped mold him. I have long maintained that Mayberry
Village is the cradle of coaches and to their credit we know that Jim
and Barbara Flanagan gave birth to four of them: Jay, Donny, David, and
Jon. (Sorry Kev, the C.Y.O. doesn't qualify).
Mayberry is unique. How many neighborhoods have produced coaches of
international talent like Harry Parker (Harvard Crew & The Olympics)?
Or nationally recognized coaches like Jay Flanagan (Track & Field) and
Donny (Basketball), and statewide coaches like Al Pelligrinelli
(Football), Bill Barron (Track), Dick Brimley (Track), Maureen Rodgers
(Basketball), and Craig Jordan to name a few.
Fundamentals are important, and so is competition, but few
neighborhoods offer the athletic amenities of Mayberry where Donny
honed his competitive skills. He started early with mastering the
monkey bars at the Little Red Schoolhouse.
The true competitor emerged when he beat out ``Bubby'' Balkus on the
gymnastically challenging Tarzan Swing. Manning the fastest washing
machine box ever to traverse the big hill, digging a series of tunnels
that would rival the Vietcong, and defeating Lester Wells regularly at
tunnel tag are further testimony of his skills. The daring dexterity
with which he led the labor field regulars along the Hockanum narrowly
escaping the pursuit of the Clancy brothers was a true cross country
experience that kept the likes of Ray Ramsey and Bill Mudano from the
long arm of the law.
Don Flanagan, arguably the greatest women's basketball coach at New
Mexico, may not seem like a man afraid of much, but he is, of flying.
The idea that Flanagan is still a white-knuckler when it comes to air
travel is rather paradoxical, however considering the heights to which
he has taken UNM women's basketball in his first five years as head
coach of the program.
Flanagan is entering his seventh season at UNM and has a career
record of 144-71. Flanagan took over this struggling program and the
Lobos have improved remarkably under his guidance. They have captured a
conference regular-season championship, a conference tournament title
and have made five consecutive postseason appearances, including the
school's first-ever NCAA bid in 1998.
In fact, Flanagan posted a won-loss record at Eldorado High School in
Albuquerque that will never be duplicated in New Mexico. His incredibly
401-13 career record in 16 years was good for a winning percentage of
97.0 percent.
Flanagan's accomplishments included 14 different tournament
championships, 15 district championships, winning streaks of 77, 74,
69, 66, and 60 games and, his teams averaged 25 wins a year for 16
years. During those 16 years, Flanagan's teams at Eldorado High School
went undefeated nine times. In 1987, Eldorado was honored as
Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame Team of the Year. Additionally under
Flanagan, Eldorado was ranked nationally seven different years
including 1980, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992.
And it didn't stop there. The honors for Flanagan have rolled in
continuously year after year after year. Following the 1997-98 season,
Flanagan was inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame for a
lifetime of achievement. He was nominated for the National High School
Coach of the Year honors on three occasions (1985, 1994, and 1995) and
was named Region VRI Coach of the Year for 10 consecutive years (1985-
1994). He was named Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year
(1992), Bank of America Coach of the Year (1993 & 1994), Albuquerque
Tribune Coach of the Year (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, and 1990) and
Albuquerque Journal Coach of the Year (1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990,
and 1992).
Flanagan earned his bachelor of arts from Fort Lewis College in 1971
where he was a member of the honor roll. He was also honored during
college as a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-
Academic team. Flanagan, 56, and his wife Wahleah, have three children,
Sean, 31, Shane, 25, and Brent, 23.
Donny was a natural who we always looked up to and admired. Athlete,
leader, competitor, friend, a credit to his family, his community, his
states of New Mexico and Connecticut and the nation. I know Jim's
smiling from ear to ear and we in East Hartford join with all the
Flanagans in relishing this great moment. How proud Pop Elliot, and
your Mom would be to see you being honored by the town you grew up in
and by a legend like Ray McKenna.
It is with great pride and admiration that I am joined by my
colleagues Tom Udall and Heather Wilson to pay tribute to another kid
from the Village. Congratulations Donny.
____________________