Archway dedicated in memory of Portsmouth High's Ray Sullivan

Ray Sullivan is really Portsmouth High School’s founder of traditions and legacies.”

Frank Winter, Class of 1966

Attachments

Three members of Sullivan family cut the ribbon the archway over the footpath to the turf field at Portsmouth High School Friday. They are the late Raymond C. Sullivan’s grandchildren, Emily Hambleton and Ryan Sullivan Weaver, and his daughter, Carrie Sullivan-Hambleton.

This plaque will soon be affixed to the archway honoring Raymond C. Sullivan.

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PORTSMOUTH — When students pass under the new archway over a footpath leading to the Portsmouth High School turf field, they’ll be carrying on a legacy first started by Raymond C. Sullivan more than 50 years ago, members of the PHS community said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon.

“We are a few generations away from when he was here, but his impact is still being felt today,” said Athletic Director Stephen Trezvant.

The archway, funded by the Class of 1966, was dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by more than three dozen people, including former students of Mr Sullivan, members of the School Committee and school administrators. Mr. Sullivan, a popular coach and longtime teacher at the school, died in December 2015.

Frank Winter, president of Portsmouth High School’s Class of 1966 — its students were the first to graduate from the school — said “Ray Sullivan’s Patriot Way” honors a man who basically defined the school’s culture that continues today.

“Ray Sullivan is really Portsmouth High School’s founder of traditions and legacies,” said Mr. Winter. 

It was Mr. Sullivan who encouraged students, way back in the 1960s, to pick the school’s colors. They voted for red, white and blue. 

A history teacher for 44 years, Mr. Sullivan always talked about the original Patriots who fought and died in the Revolutionary War — including during the Battle of Rhode Island, parts of which took place near the school. Under his guidance, the students also decided on the school mascot — Portsmouth Patriots.

“You put that uniform on, you represent the Patriots and play with pride,” Mr. Winter recalled his late teacher and coach saying. 

Academics always came first, Mr. Winter said. When one of Mr. Sullivan’s star players’ grades slipped, the coach told him he wasn’t a Patriot and wouldn’t play on his team until he hit the books. He did, and became a good student, Mr. Winter said.

“Ray Sullivan was a multifaceted individual and loved by all,” he said.

Promise to his mother

At his 40th class reunion, Mr. Winter said he asked Mr. Sullivan why he worked so hard on behalf of the school.

“He said he made a promise to his mother,” recalled Mr. Winter. Mr. Sullivan’s younger sister, Ellin, attended the school at which he worked. 

“He promised his mother that he would give Ellin a good high school experience,” Mr. Winter said. “That was Ray Sullivan.”

PHS Principal Joseph Amaral said he’s always had a fondness for teacher/coaches in the vein of John Wooden, the late UCLA men’s basketball legend. Those types of leaders not only teach students about a life beyond sports, “but use sports to teach them about life,” Mr. Amaral said.

“Ray took the mantle and led the students to be the best they could be,” he said. “We live on the backs of great people who did great things on behalf of the students.”