[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.

                          ____________________