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E. Don McCullough, 85, was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1915. There were no high school swim programs, so he swam with the Columbus Athletic Club. He competed for Ohio State niv, from 1935-1940, with world record holder, Higgins, and Coach Mike Peppe. His best college swim was 4th in breast, at Nationals. Following graduation, he joined the Coast Guard, engaged in convoy duty. During this time, he married Betty. After the war, Don taught high school phy. ed. and coached for seven years, in Columbus. In 1951, he did circus work and promotion for Cole Bros. Circus. In 1954, he worked for Bailey Bros. Circus, in an organizational role. Afterwards, he taught phy ed and coached at Emporia State Teachers College, Kansas, and chaired the PE Dept. In 1958, the State Dept. sent him to Iran for two years, as Nat'l Sports Advisor to the Shah. Betty taught school. Don returned to Emporia until 1965. He then spent a year on the road with a circus. In 1966, he moved to Vermillion, SD, as a university professor and chair of the PE Dept. He started their swim team. In the 70's, Don started Masters swimming and is frequently ranked as an All American. He swam the hour swim, and set a Nat relay record with his 85+ teammates. He and Betty still live in Vermillion, SD, shoveling their way through an extremely snowy winter. |