Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Spring 2010 | Page 14

Alumni News

2009 Athletic Hall of Fame

On Saturday, Oct. 10, Thornton
Academy honored six individuals
at its fourth annual Athletic Hall of
Fame induction ceremony: Daniel
Donovan ’59, David Lane ’69, Bradley
Leach ’56, Joseph Regina ’43, Joseph
Vachon ’25 and Robert Warner ’72.
Daniel Donovan, Class of 1959
Donovan played four years of
football, baseball and basketball during his tenure at Thornton Academy,
but it is his excellence on the gridiron
that stands out the most. He played
quarterback on two very talented and
successful teams and was one of the
main cogs in the split-T offense. His
efforts were recognized by twice being named to the all-state football
team and also receiving honorable
mention on the 12th Annual National
High School All-Star football team.
Additionally, he earned a partial
scholarship to the University of New
Hampshire, where he played for one
year. Following a move by his family
to South Carolina, Donovan entered
Furman University, where he again
became a star, earned all-conference
accolades, and also picked up the
nickname “The Irish Gambler.”
David Lane, Class of 1969
At 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, Lane
likely did not strike fear into his opponents during pre-game warm-ups.
That all changed, however, once the
game started and he got the ball in
his hands. Using his phenomenal
speed and quickness, he dominated
over the rest of the league. Lane often
times had the option of either running
or throwing the ball from the quarterback position, and opponents had a
hard time stopping both. Serving under the tutelage of coach and fellow
inductee Brad Leach, Lane started as
a sophomore as a defensive back and
both quarterback and defensive back
during his junior and senior campaigns. His accomplishments include
being named to the 1967 all-state
team as a defensive back and to the
1968 all-state team as a quarterback.
Coach Leach described his go-to guy
as follows: “He was the kind of kid
who makes coaches better. In my
30 years at Thornton as a coach and
then athletic director, I never saw a
better athlete.” Following his career
at Thornton Academy, Dave went on
to shine at Colby College. Lane is married to his high school sweetheart,
Postscripts

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Martha.
Bradley Leach, Class
of 1956
A three-sport standout
at Thornton Academy in
the 1950s, Leach participated in football, basketball, and baseball during
Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette ’89
an outstanding high school
career. A talented running After the 2009 award ceremony: From left to right are
back and receiver, he led David Lane '69, TA Trustee Joan Vachon Victor '48 acthe Maroon and Gold to cepting on behalf of Joseph Vachon Sr. '25, Bradley
state championships in Leach '56, Robert Warner Jr. '72, Joseph Regina '43 and
1954 and 1955. In 1954 he Daniel Donovan '59.
was named to the all-state
team and was selected as the state’s to the all-conference team in 1940,
outstanding performer on the grid- 1941, and 1942 and in 1942 was also
iron. During his senior season, he selected to the All-Maine team. Regiaveraged 9.6 yards per carry and was na’s coach was the legendary George
named as an All-American player. Martin who was inducted into the Hall
Leach was also one of the top school- of Fame in 2008. While at TA Regina
boy baseball players in the state dur- also lettered in indoor track and was
ing his era. He started for the 1954 vice-president of his class for four
Telegram League championship base- years. As a player, he was a fierce and
ball team and was selected as an all- accomplished competitor. As a coach,
conference pitcher in 1955 and 1956. he was a role model for hard work
He led the Owen-Davis American Le- and consistency both on the field and
gion baseball team to state champion- in the classroom. He always stressed
ships in 1954 and 1955 and was the the “game of life” to his players: the
American Legion state tournament importance of family; the importance
most va XX