One of the greatest scholastic track athletes in Newport News history quietly passed away last month. Donald Snead, a multiple state record holder in the hurdles for Warwick High in the late 1950’s, died on January 8th at the age of 74.
Snead’s legacy as a track athlete was revolutionary for his time. In 1958, the Raider athlete won all four state hurdle championships, which included the 70-yard low and high hurdles indoors, as well as the 120 and 180 highs outdoors, a feat he also accomplished as a junior. His 70 (8.0) and 180 (19.8) high hurdle times were both state records at the time.
Older brother Dean remembers his brother as an original multi-event talent, one who shined on the track and field before the likes of athletes such as Newport News’ Doug Dickinson won multiple state titles in various events. “Don would enter five events in every meet. He ran the hurdles, he did the high jump, and usually was the fourth guy (anchor leg) on the relays.”
In spite of his family’s success at other sports (cousin Norm threw for 199 TD’s as an NFL quarterback with several teams), Dean recalls that Don “was kind of good in football. he also played basketball and baseball, but track was really the one thing he was good at.”
In fact, his speed translated into his greatest play on the gridiron.
“I remember that Warwick was playing Newport News High, back when Julie Conn was their coach. On one play, they (the Typhoon) were on about their 25-yard line and their quarterback went back to pass. Donald was rushing the quarterback, who threw a pass which was caught by the wide receiver.”
“Now Donald started out about fifteen yards behind the ball carrier, but he started running by all those guys like they were standing still! He ended up catching their guy at about the 20.”
The feat did not go unnoticed by the legendary Typhoon coach.
Recalls Dean, “Oh yeah, there was one night when Julie Conn came by our house to get Don out for Newport News.”
But Snead went in a different direction, eventually graduating from Fork Union Military Academy, which he attended on a track scholarship. Eventually, his family settled down in Carrollton.
In 1958, Snead was recognized by the Peninsula Sports Club as a member of the All-Peninsula Track team for his exploits in the hurdles and high jump.
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