A football and baseball star at Western Michigan University, Secory gained fame as a professional baseball player and as a National League umpire.

An all-around athlete, Secory tried out for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League before signing with the Detroit Tigers as an outfielder. He spent 12 seasons playing professional ball with the Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago franchises. Highlights include a .321 average and 4 home runs in 22 games for the Cubs in 1944, and a .400 average in 5 games for the Cubs in the 1945 World Series against his old teammates, the Detroit Tigers.

After retiring as a player, he joined the ranks of umpires. Over a span of 16 years, Secory worked six All-Star games and four World Series and earned the Baseball Writers’ Association of America “Umpire of the Year” award before retiring in 1970.