Donald Culpepper

Dunbar High, Lynchburg (1966)

Basketball

As a high school student, Donald Culpepper participated in football, track, and basketball. As co-captains of Dunbar’s 1966 basketball team, he and Wheeler Hughes together averaged more than 50 points per game in winning the VIA’s Western District and Group I State Championships. In the VIA State Tournament at Hampton Institute (now University), they defeated Langston High (Danville) 72-62 in the final. Culpepper was selected to the VIA all Western District and all-state basketball teams. The team then entered the National Negro High School Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama. In Dunbar’s semi-final win over defending National Champion Lanier High (Jackson, Mississippi), Culpepper scored 22 points including game-winners at the foul line. In the National Championship game, Dunbar lost to Coleman High (Greenville, Mississippi), but Culpepper was elected to the all-tournament team. He continued his basketball career at Norfolk State College (now University) where he averaged 15.4 points and 3 rebounds per game. After graduating from Wayne State University, he remained in the Detroit, Michigan area and enjoyed a 39-year career with General Motors Cooperation. His community involvement included service as a youth basketball coach and Chairman of the Southfield, Michigan Planning Commission.