Don McAuliffe will join one of the most exclusive clubs in the Mining City Friday night.
As Butte High takes on Missoula Hellgate in a Western AA football game at Naranche Stadium, McAuliffe will become just the 19th Diamond B in Bulldog history.
That means it has been 75 years since McAuliffe earned his varsity letter playing football for Butte High.
Friday night is Silver B’s Night. Players who earned their first varsity letter 25 years ago will become Silver B’s, while players who lettered 50 years ago join the ranks of the Golden B’s.
McAuliffe is this year’s lone Diamond B. He lettered as a senior, which was the only season he played football for coach Swede Dahlberg at Butte High School. (Click here to see a story about McAuliffe by Bruce Sayler on ButteSports.com.)
In 1948, McAuliffe earned first-team All-State honors at receiver for Butte High. He also played basketball, taking home an All-State honorable mention.
It was on the track, though, where McAuliffe really shined. He was an amazing hurdler. He won both hurdles races at the 1948 state track meet, setting a state record in the 120-yard high hurdles. The next year, he broke his own 120-yard record, clocking in with a time of 14.8 seconds. That record stood for 14 years.
McAuliffe went on to compete at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he set the school record in the 120 hurdles with a time of 14.4 seconds.
He was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
After transferring to the University of Idaho and earning a degree, McAuliffe joined the Army Reserves. He went on to a long career with Coors Beer, which took him to Golden, Colorado, where he lives today.
Listen in to this episode of the ButteCast as McAuliffe talks about playing for Dahlberg and how he vividly remembers Butte High’s win over Class A champion Butte Central after 75 years.
Listen as he talks about growing up in Butte, his 62-year marriage to a Butte girl and his military days.
Listen in to see that he still cheers for his beloved Butte High Bulldogs.
Today’s podcast is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warrantee.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 