Sad news: Passing of UW-Green Bay’s first scholarship athlete

We’ve just received the sad news that UW-Green Bay’s first-ever scholarship athlete, soccer standout Desmond (Desi) McCullagh, passed away this week at the age of 73. Lou LeCalsey, president of the Chancellor’s Council of Trustees/UW-Green Bay Foundation Board, tells us McCullagh ’71 played the inaugural 1969 and 1970 seasons with UW-Green Bay, captaining the ’70 squad and earning All-Midwest honors after his 1970 senior season. The first UW-Green Bay scholarship athlete in any sport, McCullagh also was senior class president and was active in a number of student affairs and veterans organizations before graduating with honors with a degree in Political Science. In recent years, he’s been an avid follower of Phoenix soccer, both attending games and speaking to teams about the history of the sport at UW-Green Bay. McCullagh leaves behind two children, a son and a daughter (plus their spouses), and five grandchildren.

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A visitation for McCullagh will be held from 4-7 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 26) at the Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St., with a Knights of Columbus prayer service to be held at 6:45 and a parish wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday (Jan. 27) at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, after 3 p.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in McCullagh’s name. See his full obituary.