I can’t believe you’re not approving this. He was the first Patriot.”

Frank Winter, president of the PHS Class of 1966

PORTSMOUTH — Emotions ran high Tuesday night as members of Portsmouth High School’s Class of 1966 renewed their plea to the School Committee to name the school’s sports complex after the late football coach and PHS teacher of 36 years, Raymond C. Sullivan.

In the end, though, they had to settle for a plaque — at least for now.

Mr. Sullivan, who started the football program at PHS and taught social studies and history until retiring in 1990, passed away in December 2015 at the age of 80. 

Despite the impassioned appeals from several of his former students and players Tuesday, the committee held off on agreeing to name any field after the popular educator, labeled the “first Portsmouth Patriot” by several members of the Class of 1966.

In fact, the committee voted to rescind its June 14 decision that formed a committee to study the idea of renaming the PHS turf field after Mr. Sullivan. 

It wasn’t until after that meeting, Committee Chairwoman Terri Cortvriend explained, that board members learned of a 2012 decision made by a previous committee regarding fund-raising efforts for the “T3 Project,” which involved the installation of a new artificial turf cover on the football field and the resurfacing of both the running track and tennis courts.

That 2012 agreement between the committee and the PHS Athletic Boosters detailed how private donors would be recognized at the athletic complex. Anyone who donated $500,000 or more, for example, would be entitled to naming rights of the new turf field 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.

“After reading through that, I felt we should probably come back and redo that decision because I don’t field the turf field is really up for naming, because I felt it was attached to a previous donation,” said Ms. Cortvriend, noting there is in fact an anonymous donor with naming rights to the field. 

Ms. Cortvriend said for now, the turf field will continue to be known as John F. Kennedy Field. (The school was officially opened as Portsmouth High School on Nov. 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated.)

The committee did, however, unanimously approve the Class of 1966’s proposal for a plaque honoring Mr. Sullivan that will be placed on the announcer’s shack at the main field. It will go next to a similar plaque recognizing the late coach Richard “Foxy” Marshall, who led the football team to six state Super Bowl championships. The dimensions of the plaque must not exceed 30 by 24 inches, and its wording must be reviewed by the superintendent’s office before the committee votes.

‘Not enough’

Before the regularly scheduled committee meeting, the panel held a short workshop to hash out various ideas the Class of 1966 proposed to honor the late coach and teacher.

While the plaque is a start, it’s not enough to recognize a man who did so much for the school community, said Tony Reise, a member of the Class of 1966.

Mr. Reise said the class is now proposing to name the entire PHS athletic complex — made up of the turf field and nearby baseball fields, where a total of five different sports are played — after Mr. Sullivan. 

“We want to honor our first coach (by naming it) The Ray Sullivan Sports Complex — everything combined,” Mr. Reise said. Kennedy Field can keep its name, he said, even though there’s no sign marking it as such now.

Frank Winter, the president of the Class of 1966 who flew in from California to attend Tuesday’s meeting, agreed that a plaque wasn’t enough.

“Ray was much more than a football coach, and that is inadequate,” said Mr. Winter, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps who choked up several times while speaking about Mr. Sullivan. He mentioned the possibility of an archway, stone carving or other marker to recognize Mr. Sullivan at the field. Any plan would be submitted to the district for approval, with all costs borne by the Class of 1966, he said.

Mr. Winter, however, expressed disappointment when it became clear the committee was not prepared to name a field after Mr. Sullivan at this time.

“I’m not normally emotional, but this gets me upset,” said Mr. Winter. “I can’t believe you’re not approving this. He was the first Patriot.”

Mr. Sullivan taught members of the first PHS football team how to make decisions on their own, Mr. Winter said. The players picked the school colors (red, white and blue) and mascot (Portsmouth Patriot) under Mr. Sullivan’s guidance, he said.

“He is a founding father of the legends, history and traditions of this high school — no doubt. He was like a father to me,” said Mr. Winter.

Not a ‘Dunkin’ Donuts Center’

Committee member Thomas Vadney, however, said there is significant monetary value to naming rights.

“If you want to do something like naming a sports complex, you’re probably talking about a million dollars,” he said.

“Why? It’s not the Dunkin’ Donuts Center,” replied local resident John Vitkevich, who joined Mr. Sullivan’s supporters.  

Committee member John Wojichowski, chairman of the school policy subcommittee, said there’s no district policy that references donations as large as the one Mr. Vadney mentioned.

Committee member Emily Copeland said it’s clear Mr. Sullivan is someone deserving of recognition and honor. The question, she said, is whether naming an athletic facility after him will conflict with any of district’s existing policies.

Mr. Reise, however, was unswayed. “It sounds like this is all about money,” he said.

Added Mr. Vitkevich, “I think after all I’ve heard about Ray Sullivan, we should rename the high school 'Ray Sullivan High School.'"

He then pointed to Mr. Sullivan’s former players and students, telling the board that the teacher “took care of these kids who are now sitting in front of you.”