Class
salutatorian Mike Critelli worked his way up the corporate
ladder to become the CEO and Chairman of Pitney-Bowes. From
there he took a sharp turn into the movie production
business to create From
the Rough, a sports drama film based upon the true
story of Dr.
Catana Starks, the first woman of color to coach a
men's golf team at a major college, a challenge made even
more difficult because she did so at a historically black
college which had never previously fielded a golf team! She
eventually developed the Tennessee State team into a feared
national powerhouse.
The film was written by Mike's son, also named Mike, and
starred several prominent actors including Oscar nominee
Taraji Henson, Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan, and Tom
Felton, who had previously achieved international prominence
as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
Mike, in co-operation with classmate Tony Mangione, arranged
for a Rochester premiere in April of 2014. Many Class of
1966 classmates were in attendance, as seen in the pictures
below. (The images are thumbnails. Click on them for the
full-sized versions.) |
