When Damien Memorial School executive officer Greg O'Donnell retires at the end of the month, more than just the Monarch 'ohana will have reason to say "thanks."

In addition to a decade spent at the Houghtailing Street school, he leaves an imprint on high school sports.

Had it not been for a firm, courageous stance on the mushrooming of one-sided football games nearly six years ago, the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association might not now have a Division II format in that sport — or anything else. For sure it would not have had one in football as soon as it did, 2003.

It was Brother O'Donnell who, in the wake of successive years of blowouts along the lines of 84-0, 83-0, 82-0, 68-0, etc., put his foot down. After 10 consecutive losing seasons in the ILH and with a young, inexperienced team coming back, O'Donnell threatened to have Damien forfeit its two games rather than play 15-time defending ILH champion Saint Louis twice in 2001.

It was hardly a popular stand, either in the league or on his own Kalihi campus. But in sticking to his guns on what was termed an "administrative safety issue," O'Donnell forced not only the ILH but everybody to confront the growing disparity between powerhouse programs and the lacking.

Damien wasn't the only one taking beatings, it was just most willing to stand up and say "enough." Twenty-four times on O'ahu in the 2004 season — or about three times per week — somebody was dishing out a 40-point or wider defeat.

So-called "mercy" rules and roster restrictions were symptoms of the problems, not real solutions to the disparity and declining turnouts.

"No question his decision had a role in (classification)," said Keith Amemiya, executive director of the HHSAA. Divisional classification wasn't O'Donnell's brainchild. Amemiya and the late Clay Benham, among others, had pushed the D-II concept for years.

But Damien's refusal to continue knocking its head against a wall forced everybody to take a renewed look at the problems and brought about compromises, which included a restructuring of the ILH's six-football playing schools.

It eventually led to the adoption of divisions that gave small enrollment schools a more realistic playing field and an opportunity to hoist a trophy. Which the Monarchs nearly did in 2003, losing to 'Aiea in the D-II title game.

O'Donnell's legacy is one for underdogs beyond the Damien campus to cheer, too.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.