The Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame Inaugural Banquet

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The Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame Inaugural Banquet

by Jack B. Tany

Review Sports Columnist

"When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name - He marks -

not that you won or lost - but how you played the game."

 - Grantland Rice (1880-1954)

Organized sports began in Saginaw County sometime around 1894. Since then,

literally thousands and thousands and thousands of athletes and athletic

teams - both male and female - have participated in a variety of sports.

Including schools that have closed and merged, there have been a total of

36 high schools in Saginaw County.

Emerging from those participants is the best of the best . . . the cream of

the crop . . . the best athletes from Saginaw County. They were honored

Saturday, October 26, 2002, when the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame

inducted its inaugural class. Included in the Induction Banquet were a

total of 11 individuals and one team.

Joining the inductees were nearly 500 people at Saginaw Valley State

University's Curtiss Hall. Of those in attendance, many were friends and

family members of the inductees, some were ex-teammates and others were

area sports fans from throughout mid-Michigan. Other well wishers included

politicians, school officials and area sports journalists.

"The induction banquet was a long time coming," said Hall of Fame president

Donald G. Bethune, a lifelong Saginaw resident and General Motor's retiree.

"It took quite a bit of planning but everything turned out beautiful. It

was a first class event."

Keynote Speaker Marshall Thomas, Saginaw

High Athletic Director and Boys Basketball Coach

Saginaw Mayor Wilmer Jones Ham was on hand to do double-duty. She presented Bethune with a proclamation, and also sang the National Anthem. Marshall Thomas, the head basketball coach and athletic director at Saginaw High School, was the keynote speaker. He stressed the importance of going back to your roots and giving back to the next generation; to be a leader on and off the field of play. Thomas, who has devoted the past 31 years to education, revealed his mentors in his life and the role they played in his development. The induction ceremony/banquet featured a video tribute of each individual athlete, including actual game footage, as well as filmed tributes from close friends who knew them best.

The inaugural class of the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame includes:

Bob Buhl - The crafty Milwaukee Braves hurler won 166 Major League baseball

games in his 15-year career. Buhl, who pitched in both the World Series and

the All-Star game, died February 16, 2001. His daughter, Kandace Rainey of

Commerce, MI., accepted the plaque on behalf of her father.

Bob Devaney - As a coach he put the University of Nebraska on the map as a

major college football power. Devaney, who died May 10, 1997, led the

Cornhuskers to nine bowl games in 11 years, including two national

championship teams and three undefeated seasons. His daughter, Patricia

Devaney of Palo Alto, CA., accepted the plaque on behalf of her father.

Reggie Jones - One of the greatest sprinters to ever don track shoes in the

county. Jones helped the University of Tennessee to a pair of NCAA track

and field titles. The nine-time All-American is a successful basketball

coach and teaches at Hillcrest High School in Memphis, TN.

George 'Kid' Lavigne - The Saginaw Kid boxed his way to the lightweight

championship of the world in 1896. Lavigne, enshrined into the

International Boxing Hall of Fame, died March 9, 1928. Accepting the Hall

of Fame plaque was Penny Hopper of Saginaw, the boxing greats fourth cousin.

Al Luplow - The Pride of Zilwaukee was both a baseball and football standout at Michigan State University before joining the Cleveland Indians. He also played for the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates during his seven-year career, which was highlighted by a brilliant catch at Fenway Park that was chronicled in Sports Illustrated. Luplow currently works as a real estate appraiser on a part-time basis and enjoys working out, golfing, fishing and spending time with his family.

Al Luplow

Terry McDaniel - A track and football standout at the University of

Tennessee, McDaniel was a first-round draft choice (ninth player taken

overall) by the Oakland Raiders in 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, McDaniel's

career was highlighted in 1995 when he won the Mackey Award, which is

presented to the top defensive back in the NFL as voted upon by fellow

players. He is heavily involved in his Knoxville, TN., church, the Children

of God church, where he is a Sunday school teacher and superintendent.

Fred 'Ted' Petoskey - He was a two-time All-American in football at the

University of Michigan, while earning eight varsity letters for the

Wolverines. The hard-nosed athlete, known as one of U-M's best all-around

athletes, wound up coaching at the University of South Carolina. He died

November 30, 1996. His daughter, Julie Smoak of Charlotte, N.C., accepted

the Hall of Fame plaque for her father.

Ted Petoskey's Daughter Julie Smoak with her

father's legendary 'silver skates'

Richard 'Dick' Rifenburg - One of Arthur Hill's greatest athletes, big Rife

was a member of the Wolverines 1947 Rose Bowl team (catching a touchdown

pass). He was named All-American the next season as well as being voted

Michigan's MVP. He became a sports broadcaster in Buffalo, N.Y., and died

December 5, 1994. His son, Bruce Rifenburg of Bowmansville, N.Y., accepted

the plaque on behalf of his father.

Ernie Thompson - A talented three-sport athlete at Saginaw High, the

basketball court is where Thompson ruled the roost. The 6-3 center led the

Trojans to an undefeated record and the 1961-62 Class A state championship,

scoring 42 points in the title game against Benton Harbor. He moved on to

Bradley University where he scored over a thousand points and was inducted

into its Hall of Fame. He is retired from his job with the Federal

Government and lives in Detroit. He enjoys teaching yoga at his church and

playing classical music on the piano.

Bill Watson - World War II was the only thing that kept Watson, then a

University of Michigan track star, from an Olympic Gold Medal. At the time

he was the world record holder in the decathlon. The first African-American

captain of any sports team at U-M, the Saginaw High grad died at the age of

56 in Detroit. His son, Rev. William Watson from Van Wert, Ohio, accepted

the Hall of Fame plaque.

Curt Young - The former three-sport standout at Arthur Hill High School

rose to prominence on the baseball diamond at Central Michigan University

where he helped the Chippewas to the MAC championship. He had back-to-back

13-win seasons for the Oakland Athletics and pitched for the A's in the

1988 and 1990 World Series. He hurled a pair of one-hitters in his 10-year

career, which saw him compile 69 victories and 536 strikeouts. He was

currently the pitching coach of the Athletics Double-A affiliate in

Midland, TX. He resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Arthur Hill's 1973 Varsity Football Team - A team like this only comes

around once every century or so. The Lumberjacks, coached by George Ihler,

outscored its opponents 443-0 en route to a perfect 9-0 record. The

Hillites completed the grand slam as far as post-season honors went as the

United Press International, Associated Press, Detroit Free Press and

Detroit News named them Class A state champions.

The highlight video from the banquet including the acceptance speeches can

be purchased from the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame committee. Simply

send a check for $30 to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame, P.O. Box

20301, Saginaw, MI., 48602.

In addition, a 2003 Hall of Fame calendar featuring photographs and

biographies of each inductee can be purchased for just $10.

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