Don Downing – (1982)

DON DOWNING
Inducted April 21, 1982

A four-sport standout at Admiral King High, he earned varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track, and capped his fantastic scholastic career by being named to the 1962 First Team All-Ohio gridiron squad.

The multi-talented Admiral, cat-quick at 6’2” and 215 pounds, was a three-year varsity starter for mentor Tony Misko’s gridders, and was named to the First Team All-Buckeye Conference squad both on offense and defense in 1962. The rugged offensive tackle received First Team All-Ohio honors from the Associated Press.

For Hall-of-Famer coach Al McConihe’s Admiral King cagers, he led the team in shooting percentage, free throw percentage and rebounding, and was named the Captain of McConihe’s 1962-63 quintet.

Always a leader, he was elected President of the Admiral King High School National Honor Society and served as Vice-President of Admiral King’s Student Council. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by Congressman Charles Mosher in 1963.

While at Navy he was selected as Playboy Magazine’s “Sophomore Lineman of The Year” in 1964 and was named honorable mention All-America in 1966. As a 230-pound middle linebacker, he was chosen by his teammates as Captain of the 1966 Navy squad.

He was picked on the All-East eleven by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and was called the “Best Linebacker in the East” by numerous sportswriters. Navy Coach Wayne Hardin put Downing in the “super” category, comparing him with Heisman Trophy winners Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino. After his senior season, Downing won the prestigious Admiral Cooke Memorial Trophy, awarded to Navy’s Most Valuable Player.

Downing currently holds the rank of Commander with a U.S. Navy helicopter unit based in San Diego. Although pursued by many pro football scouts following graduation, Commander Downing honored his commitment to serve in the military, and is now a career officer.