by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A three sport star at Muskegon Heights, Frank Howell led the Tigers to a third consecutive 9-0-0 gridiron record as well as a third consecutive mythical state championship in 1947. A member of the Associated Press All-State squad in 1947 and 1948, he entered the...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A native of Montague, Ira Flagstead played baseball with four teams in a major league career that spanned 13 seasons. A catcher since his days with the Montague Independents, Flagstead was signed by the Detroit Tigers in the spring of 1917. The Tigers were deep in...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
One of the most innovative minds in the world of college football, Bob Zuppke received his start in coaching at Muskegon High School in the fall of 1906. After a brief stint as an artist in New York City, Zuppke accepted a position at Muskegon as the director of...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
An outstanding all-around athlete at Muskegon Heights High School from 1933-37, Milo Sukup earned All-State honors in basketball and football. Sukup also excelled in track, holding the school’s record in the 100-yard dash at 10.2 seconds, and in baseball, as an...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A two-time All-State halfback on the gridiron for Muskegon St. Mary’s High School, Jim Morse tallied 130 points as a junior to finish third in the state’s prep scoring race. In his senior year, he notched 133 points en route to a second place finish in the...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Soft spoken and low key, Ike Kepford lettered in three sports at Muskegon High School between 1935 and 1937. As captain of the football squad, Kepford earned All-State honors in the fall of 1937. Considered one of the finest blocking backs turned out by head football...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
An outstanding two-way tackle for Oscar E. “Okie” Johnson’s Muskegon Heights Tigers, Tom Johnson earned All-State gridiron honors in the fall of 1947. The Tigers rolled to 27 straight victories and three consecutive mythical state titles during...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A 6-foot-9 center for Shelby High School, Paul Griffin led the Tigers to state Class C basketball crowns in 1971 and 1972. An All-State selection as a senior, Griffin averaged 26.9 points and 25 rebounds per game in his final year of prep play. After graduation, he...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Muskegon High School’s Paul Dekker was a standout end with All-State credentials on some otherwise disappointing Big Red teams in Harry Potter’s first two years as head coach. Dekker was the archetype physical specimen for a football end – big,...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
An outstanding all-around athlete at Shelby High School, Dave Whitsell earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. After graduation from the University of Indiana, Whitsell logged 12 seasons and 161 games as a defensive back with five NFL teams....
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
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...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League, Bryan McLay began his professional career with the Cincinnati Mohawks of the International Hockey League in 1957. After three seasons with various eastern teams, he returned to the IHL in 1960 with the...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
After returning home from a 58-month assignment with the Canadian Army during World War I, Jim Henderson left Canada in pursuit of a job. In November 1919, he joined the staff of the Muskegon Chronicle as a reporter. It was the beginning of a 43-year career as a...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Former head coach for the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College, Russ DeVette was a football and basketball star at Muskegon High School in the late 1930s. After earning letters at Hope College in basketball, football, baseball and track, DeVette attended the University of...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A member of the Muskegon Heights High School state championship basketball teams of 1956 and 1957, Ed Burton netted a school record of 1,143 points for the Tigers during his three-year varsity career. A Scholastic Magazine prep All-American as a senior, the 6-foot-6...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Over a span of 26 years, Elmer Walcott guided the basketball squad at Western Michigan Christian to a 299-163 regular season record. In post-season play, Walcott’s teams notched an impressive 101-22 mark en route to six visits to the state cage finals. His 1958,...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Jack Tighe enjoyed a lengthy baseball career as a player, coach, scout and successful manager at all minor league levels, plus a brief stint in the majors as pilot of the Detroit Tigers in the late 1950s. His long association with baseball spanned 46 years –...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A graduate of Manistique High School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Harry Potter pursued a college career at Western Michigan University (then called Western State Normal). In the mid-1920s Harry was a three-sport star at Western in football, basketball and...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Local product Kenny Lane gave the Muskegon area its most legitimate contender for a world professional boxing title in the lightweight division during the 1950’s and 60’s. A crafty southpaw with lightning speed, Kenny honed his skills under the watchful...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A member of the Muskegon Heights High School state championship basketball team of 1954, M.C. Burton netted a school record 1,141 points for the Tigers during his three-year varsity career (this record was later broken by his younger brother Ed). In the fall of...
