partan entinel

MSU Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club N E W S L E T T E R VOL. 52 ISSUE 1

MSU’s OLYMPIANS HONORED AT HOMECOMING Homecoming Weekend this past fall saw a gathering of many of the MSU athletes, coaches and staff who have participated in the Olympic Games and over the years. In conjunction with the MSU Alumni Association, the MSU Varsity Alumni ’S’ Club celebrated our Olympians at several functions around campus and in the community, including having the Olympians serve as Grand Marshals for the Homecoming Parade, and culminating in their introduction at halftime of the MSU vs Iowa football game.

Working from an idea first proposed two years ago by Varsity Alumni Club president Eldon VanSpybrook, Bob Bao of the Alumni Association, Bruce McCristal, new Honorary Member of the Varsity Alumni Club, and club board member Eric Zemper generated a list of MSU Olympians. They found over 110 names of MSU athletes, coaches and staff who have participated in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games over the years, beginning with Col. William D. Frazer, who competed in pistol marks- manship in the 1924 Games in Paris. MSU has had a presence at every Olympic Games from 1924 through this past sum- mer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. An extensive article about MSU’s Olympians was written by Bob Bao and Bruce McCristal, and can be found in the Summer 2008 issue of the MSU Alumni Magazine. (For a list of MSU Olympians, go to the Club web- site at http://www.msuvarsitysclub.org)

Thirty-five MSU Olympians and Paralympians returned to campus to take part in the festivities, coming from as far away as Ni- geria (Solomon Akpata, Track and Field - 1964 Tokyo Olympics) and Australia (Kevan Gosper, Track and Field - 1956 Mel- bourne and 1960 Rome Olympics) and from as far back as the 1948 London Olympics (Dr. Adolf Weinacker - Track and Field) and the 1952 Helsinki Olympics (Warren Druetzler - Track and Field; Clarke Scholes - Swimming; Dr. Weinacker). All who re- turned were pleased that MSU was making the effort to recognize its Olympians. Warren Druetzler commented that nothing like this had been done since right after the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, fifty-six years ago.

Pictures of many of the activities during the Homecoming Weekend are presented throughout this issue.

Some of the returning MSU Olympians get together at the Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club Banquet to kick off Homecoming Weekend. (Front row): Dr. Norman Graham, Ernie Tushscherer, Don Behm, Weldon Olson, Kevan Gosper, David Lean; (middle row): Kevin Miller, Dr. Roy Berg- man, Tom Muir; (top row): Dr. Eric Zemper, Dr Kenneth Richter, Warren Druetzler, Dr. Gail Dummer, Duncan Wyeth, Solomon Akpata, Dr. Larry Nassar.

WINTER 2 0 0 9

Many MSU Olympians Back on 2008-2009 Campus for Homecoming Weekend

Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club Thirty-five MSU graduates and staff members, who have partici- pated in the Olympic Games as athletes, coaches, officials, medi- Board of Directors cal staff or other staff positions, returned to the MSU campus for Homecoming Weekend last fall. They were: ∗ Solomon Akpata - Track - Nigeria - 1964 Tokyo Olympics Executive Committee Nancy Anderson - Track, Swimming, Boccia - 1980, 1984, 1988, ∗ President Eldon VanSpybrook ‘60 1992 Paralympic Games (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze medal) 1st Vice President Colin Cronin ’94 ∗ Don Behm - Wrestling - 1968 Mexico City (Silver medal) 2nd Vice President Cheryl Gilliam ‘81 ∗ Dr. Roy Bergman - Physician at 1984 Los Angles Olympics Secretary Mike Vorkapich ‘94 ∗ Dr. Judy Brown-Clarke - Track - 1984 Los Angles (Silver medal) Treasurer David Brogan ‘56 ∗ Dave Burgering - Diving - 1980 Olympic Team, 2008 US Diving Past President Joey Spano ‘74 Coach ∗ Dave Carrier - Athletic Trainer - 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Board of Directors 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics ∗ Dr. Marilyn Corson Whitney - Swimming - Canada - 1968 Mex- Terms Expires 2009 Term Expires 2010 ico City Olympics (Bronze medal) Joe Campbell ‘78 Wally Dobler ‘58 ∗ Dr. Eric Deal - Emergency Medicine Director, 1996 Sue Selke ‘75 Rick Lilley ‘73 Olympic Games Kevin Miller ‘88 ∗ Warren Druetzler - Track - 1952 Helsinki Olympics Jim Szymanski ‘90 ∗ Dr. Gail Dummer - Swimming official - 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Alexandra Wiesner ‘91 Games Eric Zemper ‘67 ∗ Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse - Diving - 1992 Olympics ∗ Jorge Gonzales - Swimming - Puerto Rico - 1968 Mexico City ∗ Kevan Gosper - Track - Australia - 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome Olympics (Silver medal) ∗ Dr. Norman Graham - Head of Delegation, US Archery, 2000

Elections for the Board of Directors of the Varsity Sydney Olympics ∗ Marcia Jones-Smoke - Kayak - 1964 Tokyo, 1968 Mexico City, Alumni ’S’ Club are held each Spring. If you would 1972 Munich Olympics (Bronze medal) like to serve on the Board, simply visit our website, ∗ Harry Kendrick - Baseball - 1968 Mexico City (Gold medal) click on the application tab, print the form, complete ∗ David Lean - Track - Australia - 1956 Melbourne (Silver medal) and mail to the office. ∗ Don Leas - Competition Director, Diving - 1996 Atlanta ∗ Kevin Miller - Ice Hockey - 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics ∗ Tom Minkel - Wrestling - 1980 Greco-Roman team, 1988 Asst. Coach, 1992 Barcelona Head Coach Michigan State University ∗ Tom Muir - Wrestling - 1976 Montreal Olympics Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club ∗ Dr. Larry Nassar - Team Physician, Gymnastics - 2008 Beijing 242 Spartan Way ∗ Dr. Sally Nogle - Athletic Trainer - 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 East Lansing, MI 48824 Seoul Olympics Phone (517) 355-8523 ∗ Weldon Olson - Ice Hockey - 1956 Cortina, 1960 Squaw Valley Fax (517) 355-5265 Winter Olympics (Silver medal, Gold medal) E-mail [email protected] ∗ Joe Puleo - Weightlifting - 1968 Mexico City, 1980 Team Website www.msuvarsitysclub.org ∗ James Renuk - Swimming - 1980 Paralympics (Silver medal) ∗ Dr. Kenneth Richter - Team Physician - 1988, 2008 Paralympics ∗ Clarke Scholes - Swimming - 1952 Helsinki (Gold medal) ∗ Kari Seitz - Soccer referee - 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing ∗ Ed Slade - Track official - 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

We value your opinion and want to know what ∗ Ernie Tuchscherer - Soccer - 1968 Mexico City Olympics you think about the Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club ∗ Dr. Adolf Weinacker - Track (50Km Race Walk) - 1948, 1952, 1956 Olympics Newsletter. Send us an e-mail, call or fax with ∗ Duncan Wyeth - Cyclist - 1988, 1992, 1996 Paralympics items or topics you would like to see included in ∗ Dr. Eric Zemper - Track official - 1984, 1996 Olympics future newsletters. If you have suggestions on how to improve the publication, let us know. Check out the new club website at: http://www.msuvarsitysclub.org

WWINT I N T E E R R 2 2 0 0 0 0 9 8 MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Celebrating Our Heritage ONCE A SPARTAN - ALWAYS A SPARTAN!

Dear Club Members,

In the fall we promised we would develop a smaller plastic wallet sized membership card. This project has been completed. The new cards list on the front your name, sport, alumni/donor ID number and type of membership. On the back the card lists some of the Varsity ‘S’ Club membership benefits and our website address. These cards will be phased in during the spring.

During the recent holiday season we initiated a membership drive, which to date has resulted in 92 new annual memberships and 26 lifetime memberships for a total of 118 new members. In addition, these new members do- nated $1,705 to the club. Thank you and welcome to the Varsity ‘S’ Club!

I am happy to report we have located another 21 championship team pictures for our Club Room. We have 200+ team pictures in the room and the adjacent hallway. Thank you for your contributions to the picture project, which was paid for entirely by donations.

The Club has four coming events over the next six months that will be promoted in our newsletter and by email. Of course you can always call the Club office at 517-355-8523 for details.

On March 25 our members are invited to participate in our school partnership program during National Reading Week. We will meet in the Varsity ’S’ Club Room from 9:00 to 9:30 am for coffee and donuts and Spartan fellow- ship. At 9:30 we will drive to Averill Elementary School where we will read to the children until approximately 11:00 am. Hope you can join us in this community outreach event.

On Thursday, April 16, at 7:00 pm we have a limited number of tickets to our first cross town showdown with the MSU Spartan Baseball Team vs. the Lansing Lugnuts. Last year this game attracted 12,000 fans, so you should register early for our reserved seating in the exclusive Gasoline Alley in center field with a free ball park meal grilled on site.

Our membership appreciation event will be held in conjunction with the Green and White Football Game on Satur- day, April 25, scheduled for 1:30 pm. The Varsity Club Room will be open for this event with free food for Club members with a membership card.

June 3 is our traditional 4-person scramble golf outing at Forest Akers, with a shotgun start at 10:00 am, lunch at the turn and dinner at approximately 4:00 pm with numerous prizes, at a very special $95 rate for Club members and guests. Enjoy some Spartan fellowship and meet some of the MSU coaches. Join us for this great traditional event.

We are working on improving our office and telephone coverage. The joint agreement with the Alumni Association did not work out this past fall. We currently have 2 student assistants working part-time for us. At the present time we are looking at various longer term solutions to provide our members better service. We are all volunteer board members and we thank you for your patience.

I hope to see you at our coming events. Thank you for your support.

Go Spartans!

Eldon VanSpybrook Varsity ‘S’ Club President Hockey 1956-60

WINT E R 2 0 0 9 3 VARSITY ALUMNI ‘S’ CLUB 2008 ALUMNI WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

The Annual Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club Weekend was held in conjunction with Homecoming this year, where the 2008 award winners and new honorary members were presented.

Jack Breslin Award: Dr. Donald G. Baird, Football 1966-69 Nell Jackson Award: Mary Jo Truesdale, Softball, Field Hockey and Basketball 1975 Henry C. Bullough Award: Dr. John Shinsky, Football 1970-73 Lifetime Coaches Award: Grady Penninger, Wrestling Coach 1960-1988 Honorary Member Inductees: George Blaha, Gregory M. Bria, Richard Comley, Edward J. Demmer, Bruce McCristal, LouAnna K. Simon

During the Homecoming activities, the Varsity ‘S’ Club presented the 2008 Award Winners

2008 Jack Breslin Award 2008 Nell Jackson Award Coach (left) 2008 Lifetime Coaches Award Dr. Donald G. Baird Mary Jo Truesdale presents the Grady Penninger 2008 Henry C. Bullough Award to Dr. John Shinsky

2008 Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club Honorary Member Inductees:

George Blaha Gregory M. Bria Richard Comley Edward J. Demmer

Bruce McCristal MSU President LouAnna K. Simon

W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 ‘WHERE ARE THEY NOW?’ 1950s Jeffrey Leib, Baseball 1960-61 - Prac- ing in Medina, OH, Ronald is self- ticing law in West Bloomfield, MI, Jef- employed as a baseball instructor. Robert Devenny, Basketball 1952-55 - frey also is enjoying four grandchildren, Karen (Nina) Santoni-Zodtner, Field Robert is retired and spends nine playing golf and traveling. Hockey, Basketball 1976-78 - Nina is a months a year in Sparta, NJ, playing Michael Lesch, Football 1960-63 - homemaker and coach in Wayne, PA, golf and boating, and three months a Living in Westport, CT, Michael is en- who also enjoys traveling and playing year in Venice, FL, golfing and enjoy- joying his grandchildren and retire- golf, tennis and “planning my oldest ing beach activities. ment. daughter’s wedding” this past summer. Robert Hynes, Swimming 1950-53 - Maureen (Rathbone) Strait, Tennis Michael Shelden, Lacrosse 1974-75 - Bob is retired and living in Palos Hills, 1962-65 - Retired after teaching for 42 Michael is an osteopathic physician IL, but enjoys spending six months of years, Maureen lives in Olympia, WA, practicing in Bloomfield Hills, MI. the year in Arizona. and keeps busy tutoring, caretaking, Robert Tyler, Fencing 1967-70 - James Lincoln, Track 1952-54 - A volunteering and traveling. Robert is an attorney in Troy, MI. retired horticulturist for the MSU Exten- Robert Sherwood, Swimming 1962- William Wasinski, Lacrosse 1969-72 - sion Service, James now does portrait 64 - Robert and his wife have started a A real estate broker in Centennial, CO, photography in Okemos, MI. book publishing company in St. Louis, Bill also spends a lot of time skiing. William Lucy, Football 1952-54 - A MO, and enjoy traveling, most recently James Watt, Hockey 1968-72 - Jim retired administrative dean and faculty to the British Isles. sells GM vehicles in Esko, MN. member at the University of Maine in Edward (Ted) Williams Jr., Basketball Tom Wilson, Track 1972-75 - After Orono, William is now a full-time 1959-63 - Ted is Sales Director for living for 15 years in New Orleans, grandpa with 15 grandchildren. Jack Henry & Associates in Rockford, Tom recently moved to the Houston Terry Spielmaker, Football 1950-51 - MI. area, where he is a geology advisor for A retired accountant and business Shell Oil Company. owner, Terry now keeps busy working 1970s part-time for a florist in Grand Rapids, 1980s MI. Bill Dawson, Football 1968-71 - Re- tired and living in Tucson, AZ, Bill has Steven Hirsch, Gymnastics 1984-88 - 1960s fun traveling and cheering for MSU The father of twins, Steven lives in teams. West Bloomfield, MI, and has been a Ronald Henderson, Baseball 1961 - A Gregory Gilbert, Track 1966-70 - workers compensation attorney for 15 telecommunications technician for Ver- Gregory is practicing law in Wyandotte, years. izon in Hyattsville, MD, Ron enjoys MI, where he also has his own bi- Robert Lebamoff, Baseball 1982-84 - golfing, participating in a pool league, weekly cablecast TV program. Robert lives in Ft. Wayne, IN, and and dealing in real estate. Ronald Gutkowski, Basketball 1969- owns a business called Newsletter Ex- David Holms, Basketball 1965-69 - 72 - Ron lives in Belleville, MI, has change with team-mate Ken Adams. David has been a high school physical spent 36 years as an educator, and Jonathan Thomas, Fencing 1977-81 - education teacher and golf coach in currently is the Assistant Superinten- Jonathan is president of North Ameri- Comstock, MI, and is now entering re- dent of the Dearborn Public Schools. can Licensing Company in Beverly tirement. Ronald Pruitt, Baseball 1969-72 - Liv- Hills, MI. Missing Championship Team Pictures The Varsity ‘S’ Club’s goal is to have a picture of every MSU championship team posted in the Club Room. If you have a copy of one of the missing team pictures please contact our office or Eldon VanSpybrook, Club President at 248-895-0015. • 1961 Wrestling Team – Big Ten Champions • 1966 Wrestling Team – Big Ten Champions • 1966 Wrestling Team – Big Ten Champions • 1973 Women’s Swimming Team – Big Ten Champions • 1974 Women’s Swimming Team – Big Ten Champions • 1975 Women’s Golf Team – Big Ten Champions • 1975 Women’s Gymnastics Team – Big Ten Champions • 1975 Women’s Swimming Team – Big Ten Champions • 1976 Women’s Cross Country Team – Big Ten Champions • 1977 Women’s Softball Team – Big Ten Champions • 1999 Men’s Track Team – Big Ten Indoor Champions

W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 5 Joey M. Spano - Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club Graduate Endowed Fellowship Following the announcement last fall of the establishment of the Joey M. Spano - Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club Graduate Endowed Fellowship, fundraising efforts have gotten off to a great start. Named for the first female president of the Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club, this scholarship provides for our Michigan State University student-athletes who have left the competitive athletic field and now desire to further their education in post-graduate studies at MSU. Eligible appli- cants 1) must have earned a MSU varsity letter, 2) must be MSU Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club member in good standing, 3) must have graduated with a GPA of 3.1 or higher during their undergraduate studies, and 4) are returning to cam- pus to earn an advanced degree. Further information about the Fellowship, application forms and donation Joey Spano and MSU All-American basketball player Steve forms can be found at the Club website: http:// Smith discuss post-graduate education possibilities at the msuvarsitysclub.org/Spano_Endowment.html Breslin Center recently

Scenes from 2008 Homecoming Weekend

MSU Olympians come out of the tunnel onto the football Varsity Alumni Club members prepare for the pregame field before the game activities on the field

Fifty-year honorees at the Varsity Alumni Club Banquet, Sixty-year (plus) honorees, who lettered prior to 1948 who lettered between 1948 and 1958

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Get Linkedin with Your Fellow MSU Athletes!

In an effort to connect with MSU Athletes from around the world while utilizing technology, two groups on the web- site LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) have been created.

LinkedIn is a powerful professional networking website where users create their own profiles and connect with other professionals, schoolmates and teammates. Some of you already have accounts/profiles on this website and others do not - but it is a great opportunity to join Linkedin and connect with our newly formed groups. The two groups are: MSU Varsity Alumni 'S' Club (Group Manager: Cheryl Gilliam - Track 1978 - 81) and Former MSU Ath- letes (FMSUA) (Group Managers: Kaleb Thornhill - Football 2004 - 07 and Cheryl Gilliam - Track 1978 - 81).

In order to join these groups, you must have a profile on Linkedin which is free to create. Once you have a profile, you may go to the search feature and type in fmsua or msu varsity alumni s club. Another way is to search for Cheryl or Kaleb and click on the groups on their profile page. John W. Hill ([email protected]), Director, Alumni Career Services, has done several seminars across the country on the power of linkedin with fellow MSU Alums.

Mission Statement - FMSUA

This mission of the Former Michigan State University Athletes group is to cultivate the great legacy, strong tradition and core values that come from participation in Intercollegiate Athletics. It is very important that we stay connected with the Spartan Family and continue to help each other succeed in life beyond athletics. The lessons learned on the field of competition provide a strong foundation for the challenges that are faced in the professional ranks. By continuing to stay in touch with former MSU athletes, this will open up career advancement opportunities.

Mission Statement - MSU Varsity Alumni 'S' Club

You may find our Mission Statement on the home page of our website: http://msuvarsitysclub.org/ Thank you for visiting the webpage.

Please pass this information on to your teammates. If you have any questions contact Cheryl Gilliam ([email protected]) or Kaleb Thornhill ([email protected]).

Harold (Hal) L. King (baseball 1955-58) recently presented the Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club and Presi- dent Eldon Van Spybrook an original Sport Magazine cover dated December 1953, featuring MSU’s famous Pony Backfield. The cover pic- ture is signed by all four legendary team mem- bers: LeRoy Bolden, Billy Wells, Evan Slouac and . Note: Sport Magazine was the forerunner of Sports Illustrated.

7 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID East Lansing, MI Permit No. 21 Forwarding Service Requested

Michigan State University Varsity Alumni ‘S’ Club 276 Spartan Way East Lansing, MI 48824

SAVE THE DATES

VARSITY ALUMNI ‘S’ CLUB REUNION WEEKEND and 50th ANNI- VERSARY REUNION OF MSU’s 1959 NCAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAM- PIONSHIP TEAM (AND CELEBRA- TION OF ALL EIGHT MSU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS COUNTRY

TEAMS: 1939,’48,’49,52,’55,’56,’58,’59). Due to the high costs of printing and MSU vs. CMU FOOTBALL postage, we ask that you help us by SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2009 keeping your contact information current. Also, please inform us of any e-mail address changes. We VARSITY ALUMNI ‘S’ CLUB don’t want you to miss out on any of GOLF OUTING our events. Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Check the Club website for details

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