He demanded high achievement from his student athletes whether in the classroom or on the athletic field.”

Class of 1966, on Raymond C. Sullivan

PORTSMOUTH — The “first Portsmouth Patriot,” Raymond C. Sullivan, is finally getting his tribute.

The School Committee voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve plans for an archway at the entrance of a path leading to Portsmouth High School’s main athletic field to honor the late longtime teacher and coach. Mr. Sullivan, who taught history at PHS for 44 years and was the school’s first football coach, passed away in December 2015 at the age of 80.

The 12-foot-high archway, emblazoned with the words “Ray Sullivan’s Patriot Way,” will be located at the entrance to the footpath that starts at the PHS parking lot and leads down to the turf field. 

“I think it’s going to make a good entryway for that location right now,” said Matt Murphy, the school district's facilities director. 

Mr. Murphy said he’s working with contractor East Coast Construction on a timeframe, but that the job should be completed some time this fall. 

The cost of materials and construction will be funded entirely by members of the Class of 1966, some of whom called the late teacher, coach and mentor the “first Portsmouth Patriot.”

Class members initially asked the School Committee in June 2016 to change the name of the turf field from John F. Kennedy Field to Ray Sullivan Field. The committee agreed to form a panel to study the proposal before realizing that a 2012 agreement with the PHS Athletic Boosters threw a monkey wrench into the Class of 1966’s plans.

Under that agreement, anyone who donated $500,000 or more toward the field would be entitled to naming rights for 10 years. Those who gave between $250,000 and $499,999 would be entitled to have their name and logo on the scoreboard for 10 years, and donors contributing $100,000 to $249,999 could get their name on the press box for 10 years.

Committee Chairwoman Terri Cortvriend, at an August 2016 meeting, said there was in fact an anonymous donor with naming rights to the field. That meant members of the Class of 1966 had to move on to Plan B: the archway.

‘Founding father’

In a letter to the committee, class members explained why Mr. Sullivan, whom they dubbed the high school’s “founding father,” was worthy of the honor.

“Ray influenced the selection of the Patriot mascot, school colors (red, white and blue), fight song, first class ring and the first yearbook,” the letter stated. “He was the first Portsmouth High School football coach. He demanded high achievement from his student athletes whether in the classroom or on the athletic field. This included good grades, good sportsmanship and 100 percent of your efforts every day, in every way, on every play. This is only one way, ‘the Patriot Way.’”