| Overall UK Wins: 1 | Overall UK Losses: 1 | Win % 50 |
Date of Birth: February 4, 1917
Date of Death: June 3, 1996
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Alma Mater: SUNY-Cortland [1939]
For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.
| Date | Matchup | W/L | Score | UK Fouls | Opp Fouls | UK FTA | Opp FTA | UK DQ | Opp DQ | Technicals | Officiating Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21/1960 | Illinois at Kentucky | W | 83 - 78 | 23 | 27 | 43 | 37 | 3 | 2 | - | Don Neff and Dallas Shirley |
| 12/22/1960 | St. Louis at Kentucky | L | 72 - 74 OT | 16 | 26 | 40 | 22 | 2 | 2 | - | Don Neff and Dallas Shirley |
| Average of Totals: (Of Known Stats) | 19.5 | 26.5 | 41.5 | 29.5 | 2..5 | 2.0 | |||||
Obituary - Cortland Hall of Fame Class of 1990
The recipient of the Silver Star for his heroic actions in World War II and a three-time honoree as commander of the top U.S. Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station (AFEES) in the nation during the early 1970's, Col. Donald Neff has combined a distinguished military career with his continued interest in athletics.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Neff graduated from Cortland in 1939 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. While at Cortland, he won the Red Letter in soccer playing for "Prof" Holloway's first Red Mule squads. Neff was a four-year letterman in baseball and competed on the football and gymnastics teams.
Before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1943, Neff coached football, basketball and baseball in Copenhagen, N.Y., and Margaretville, N.Y. Assigned to the Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion in the Pacific Theatre, Neff was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest honor, for leading a pre-invasion reconnaissance of Tinian Island that resulted in the saving of thousands of Marine Corps' lives.
After the War, Neff returned to teaching and coaching at Margaretville Central School and at Highland High School. From 1951 until 1956, Neff was the Assistant Commandant of the Cadet Corps and head football, basketball and baseball coach at Cardinal Farley Military Academy in Rhinecliffe, N.Y. During this time, he also organized and commanded the Marine Corps Volunteer Training Unit in Poughkeepsie.
In 1958, after moving to Pittsburgh, Pa., Neff became a member of the Pittsburgh Marine Corps Volunteer Training Unit. He commanded that unit from 1963 until 1966, when he was recalled to active duty as the commanding officer of the Pittsburgh AFEES. His operation served 60 Selective Service Local Boards in Pennsylvania and 77 local boards in West Virginia. From 1970 to 1972, Neff's AFEES was chosen as the nation's top from among 74 AFEES in the United States.
Over the years, Neff has officiated collegiate basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Southern Conference and the Tri-State Conference. He has officiated in the NCAA Tournament and, in 1968, was voted the top collegiate basketball official in Western Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh basketball sportswriters. He has also officiated collegiate soccer in western Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. He also served as chief collegiate scout in eastern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and eastern Ohio for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.
