Danny Sullivan (1940-1942)
Danny Sullivan was the single-wing QB for Coach George Moriarity in 1941 and 1942. He played a significant role as a junior throughout 1941, scoring 2 TD's, one on a 60 yard run and a "sleeper pass" against Swampscott in a surprise 26-6 upset. Sullivan was the spark plug of the powerhouse 1942 team---9-0-2---Co-champs of the Northeastern Conference with Swampscott after the classic 7-7 battle on Thanksgiving. The team scored 164 points and gave up only 26 for the season. With fullback David Larkin, halfbacks "Chipper" Chapman and Ed Barry, Sullivan completed one of MHS' finest backfields. He scored 4 TD's during the season. Danny Sullivan later served in the U.S. Navy and attended Providence College.
Harry Palmer (1947-1948)
Harry Palmer was the starting RHB on Coach Dave Morey's last Marblehead Team in 1947, as a junior.
In 1948, under new Coach Herm Hussey, MHS was 6-2-2, losing only to Class A champion
Beverly and Lynn English. The team won the Northeastern Conference and was unscored upon in four NEC games.
Palmer led the 1948 team in scoring with 6 TD's and one point after TD, and threw a TD pass as well. A fine all-around back, he was a shifty runner, an excellent passer and receiver and ran back both kick-offs and punts. On defense, his patented rolling block tackles never missed in the open field. He was named to the North Shore All Star Team. Harry Palmer later attended college in Texas and served in the U.S. Marines.
William "Zeb" Gillis (1952-1954)
Bill was a Co-Captain with George Crowninshield for Coach Herm Hussey's 1954 team. He was "outstanding defensively" in the line in 1953 as MHS finished a disappointing season with a major upset of Swampscott 6-0, thereby knocking Stan Bondelevitch's first team out of the NEC title. He also played some fullback and is credited with a touchdown. In 1954 Gillis was the mainstay and leader of a fine line in an injury-plagued season, playing offensive right guard and excelling on defense. He was picked for the first team on the Lynn Item All Scholastic Football Team. He was recruited to the University of Connecticut via Cushing Academy by Marblehead Gridiron Hall of Famer Bob Ingall's, then coach at UConn. Bill played football, hockey and track & Field at Cushing Academy where he was named MVP in 1955 and went onto become a Connecticut "Huskie". Upon graduation, Gillis went onto coach and teach in Danvers and Swampscott (line coach under Stan Bondelevitch), before a 34 year teaching career at Salem State University, where he also coached baseball, cross country, and track & field. He served as Athletic Director from 1975-1980 and is credited with starting the Sports Trainer Program as Salem State. Gillis is also a founder of the Marblehead Magicians Gridiron Club and managed the club's scholarship program for 20 years.
(See gallery below)
Peter Maitland (1958-1960)
Peter Maitland was the starting left end on Noel Reebenacker's first MHS team in 1959. In 1960 Maitland was Co-Captain with Don Freedson of the powerhouse MHS team which was 8- 1-0, scoring 276 points to 113 for its opponents, winning the Northeastern Conference and setting a new scoring record, losing only to Danvers 21-20. Maitland played both LE and LT on that championship team. An outstanding blocker and tackler, he also scored 2 TD's one on a pass and had 2 two point conversations in Tommy Manning's record 25 TD pass season. He was a team leader and outstanding all-around player on one of MHS' finest teams. Peter Maitland is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Larry Digimmarino (1975-1977)
An outstanding baseball and basketball player, Larry DiGiammarino brought his athletic talents to the MHS football field in 1977. In his senior year, he became QB John Wolf's favorite pass receiver, leading the team in receptions, scored 5 TD's and 2 two-point conversions in Marblehead's fine 8-2-0 season under Coach Alex Kulevich. Wolf's 13 TD passes led the MHS offense which scored 182 points, finishing 21'd in the NEC. DiGiammarino was the split end, sometime KI-IB and played defensive back. On Thanksgiving, he scored the Isi and 3rd TD's on passes in a 34-6 win. Larry DiGiammarino later set pass receiving records at Bates College, and in 1982 was selected as a scholar-athlete for the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.
