Hollie Donan

Who is Hollie Donan?

Holland "Hollie" Donan was an American football defensive tackle. He played college football for Princeton University, where he was a member of the class of '51. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

Holland Donan was called the best tackle he ever coached by Princeton coach Charlie Caldwell. According to Caldwell, Donan's size, tremendous speed and uncanny ability to foresee enemy moves were what made him stand out among the nation's football stars. Head line coach Dick Colman praised him for giving his teammates pep talks and boosting morale. In 1950, Donan led the Tigers to the Lambert Trophy and their first perfect record in 15 seasons. The 6-5, 230- pound bruiser helped arouse his team to a second half come- from-behind win that wiped out a 14-7 Navy lead. Princeton won 20-14, and placing the Tigers in the fore-front of Eastern football for the 1950 campaign. Donan missed only two minutes on defense that season, and was named Lineman-of- the-Year as well as New Jersey's outstanding athlete. Donan graduated from Princeton in the spring of 1951 with a degree in history, married the same year and entered the U.S. Army where he served in the Transportation Corps. When his military service obligation was over he entered the life insurance business, eventually opening two offices in New York City.