Don Bolk, class of 1959, was a versatile multi-sport athlete. He competed in football, basketball, and track and field. Many of his teammates are already in the HPHS HOF. George Guliano, Gene Jenkins, Gary Chesky, Ron Copes, and Fred Koury to name a few gridiron mates. And in basketball, Copes, Jenkins, and Stan Poole.
The 1958-1959 basketball team had a solid year going 13-8 and advancing to the CIAC quarterfinals. Don's strong rebounding was key to that successful season. Gene Jenkins noted after a game "you can't score unless you have the ball and Don gave us the ball, and we scored". Don scored many points off offensive rebounds. The tournament loss was to rival Wilbur Cross.
The track team was strong going 8-1, losing only to New Britain. Don scored 35 points in track that year. He was the teams best shot putter and fifth leading scorer on that team.
The 1958 football team went 7-1, losing to New Britain then beating Weaver in the Thanksgiving Day finale. The team won the City title and shared the CDC crown with New Britain.
To summarize the football team was Top Five in the state, basketball made the state quarters, and track finished third in the state in CIAC track. He toiled for Hall of Fame coaches Ralph Worth, Joe Kubachka, and Larry Amann.
Don attended Arnold College, which is now Bridgeport University. Mr Bolk, as many of us knew him in high school, retired from HPHS after spending 30 years in the Hartford system teaching physical education, and 28 years coaching. Many of those years were working with Hall of Fame Coach Joe Cirone.