National Football Foundation

Donald Patrick Newell played tackle for the University of California-Berkeley from 1957-59. The scholar-athlete won the Bob Tessier Award for most improved lineman his first year with the Bears, and he went on to be selected as captain his senior year. Often noted for his smaller stature, the three-year starter became an integral member of California’s ’58-‘59 team, the last time the Bears appeared in a Rose Bowl. Newell served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Big C Society at Cal, an organization only open to varsity athletes, which promoted sportsmanship and post-graduate preparation.

An aspiring lawyer, Newell managed a 3.8 GPA as a student of Business Administration during his undergraduate years at Cal. He bested his entire class as the sole recipient of the first-ever Robert Sproul Scholarship. Active in many student organizations, he participated in the Newman Club, Golden Bear, Skull & Keys (an intellectual honors society) and Beta Alpha Psi (an honorable accounting society).

After completing his undergraduate courses, Newell went on to Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall) to obtain his LL.B. The former Bears tackle served as a Senior Vice President and General Counsel of SPCIE Holdings, Inc., California’s largest provider of medical malpractice, from 2001-07. Newell serves as the Lead Independent Director of Mercury General Corporation, one of the fastest growing automobile insurers in the nation with total assets worth of more than $4 billion. He led a successful law career in San Diego for many years as a partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP, and is now retired.