Harold "Snooks" Sullivan, 91 of East Grand Forks, MN, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2006 at the Valley Eldercare Center, Grand Forks, ND.
Harold Michael "Snooks' Sullivan was born April 7, 1915 at home in East Grand Forks, MN to P.J. and Jennie M. (Barlow) Sullivan. He was baptized there at home, then confirmed at Mendenhall Presbyterian Church, of which he became a lifetime member and Elder. "Snooks' married Margaret Raymond of East Grand Forks on August 20, 1939. "Snooks' was an outstanding athlete in both football and basketball on the East Grand Forks Central High School varsity teams from 1928-1932. Their 1930 football team was undefeated. In 1931, he played shortstop on the East Grand Forks American Legion Baseball Team. In 1932, the year he graduated, he coached the Legion baseball team with Harry Gregg as manager. He was captain of the 1932 Central High Basketball Team. "Snooks' first became interested in coaching the spring of 1933 when he assisted Father Dougherty with the Sacred Heart basketball team. "Snooks' Enrolled at the University of North Dakota in 1933 where he "lettered' in varsity football for 4 years. Their 1936 UND football team won the North Central Collegiate Championship. Upon graduation in 1937, he accepted a coaching and teaching position at the Walsh County Agriculture and Training School in Park River, ND. In 1938 he was promoted to Athletic Director, head football, basketball, and track coach, plus his teaching duties. That year the school enjoyed their "best ever' football season, winning seven out of eight games. While coaching in Park River, he had players Tom Meagher in Basketball and Daley King in Football named to the "All State' teams. The 1940 Walsh County High School yearbook was dedicated to "Snooks'. In 1945 "Snooks' returned to East Grand Forks and accepted a contract as Athletic Director, Head Coach of Football, Basketball and track, plus teaching General Business. During his tenure as track coach, he had a State qualifier for six consecutive years. In 1946 "Snooks' organized, and for 8 years managed the first All-City summer recreational program. In 1949 he was manager of the annual Fourth of July Picnic when the East Grand Forks 4th Street Park was formally named Sherlock Park. In 1951, "Snooks' East Grand Forks Basketball team won the Region 8 Tournament for the first time in the history of the school, and went on to the Minnesota State BB Tournament in Minneapolis. That same year, "Snooks' received his Masters Degree at UND. "Snooks' coached 2 more All-Staters while at East Grand Forks Central; Jon Haaven in Basketball and Kermit Christianson in Football. He also coached the first East Grand Forks Footballer to go to the "Pros' - Pat Holmes of the Houston Oilers.
In the 1960 East Grand Forks Central High yearbook (Memories of 1960) was dedicated to "Snooks' in appreciation for all he had done for the school and Community. That year, he stepped down from his coaching duties and remained as teacher and Athletic Director until 1968. In 1971, "Snooks' was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches "Hall of Fame' in Minneapolis. In 1977, after a 40-year career, he decided to fully retire. Then, in 2002, "Snooks' was inducted into the first East Grand Forks Central High School "Hall of Fame'. During his busy career, "Snooks' was also a member of the Grand Forks Quarterbacks Club, the UND Letterman's Club, the Lake Aggazzi Coaches Association, the Minnesota State Coaches Association, the Eagles, the Elks, and the East Grand Forks Retired Men's Club. He was also was a Paul Harris Fellow through the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. "Snooks' Sullivan's life was dedicated to family, school, and Community. His FAIRNESS to all with whom he associated, as well as the FUN he made out of each task was truly his TRADEMARK. His unique "sense of humor' endeared him to all. "Snooks' lifework is probably best summed up by the Community, in the inscription on the wristwatch presented him upon his retirement in 1977: COACH EXTRODINARY' "Snooks' is survived by his wife Margaret of East Grand Forks, daughter Raanne (Gene) Wavra of East Grand Forks, son Patrick (Diane) of Bemidji, MN, daughter Rita (Ted) Pond of Waianae, Hawaii, grandsons Sean Sullivan of Minneapolis, and Casey (Darla) Sullivan of Grand Forks, granddaughters Michelle Zeleny of Pine River and Mary Beth Pesch of East Grand Forks, great grandchildren Kaitlyn Pesch and Joseph, Grant and Ryan Sullivan, nephew Dennis (Helen) Sullivan and family of Minneapolis, niece Joan Stallmo and family of California, and an extended Hawaiian family. He is preceded in death by his parents, and 2 brothers, Dr. L.J. Sullivan (Frances) and George "Yammie' Sullivan (Geraldine). Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 2, 2006 at the Mendenhall Presbyterian Church, East Grand Forks, MN. Visitation: Friday, December 1, 2006 from 5-7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Prayer Service all at the Mendenhall Presbyterian Church, East Grand Forks, MN. Interment: Memorial Park Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND. Arrangements by Stennes Funeral Home, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. www.stennesfuneralhome
