Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Winter 2012,
Winter 2012

---

Original Images:

Author: Fred Thomas

As a junior high school student I had never heard of the NBA which officially formed August 3, 1949 when the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged, creating the National Basketball Association (NBA). Had I known its members would go on to become millionaires, perhaps I‘d have begun improving my hoop skills at a young age. But, at thirteen, what young man was thinking about his future? Life was coming at us head on, and we lived it for the moment!
At any rate, The Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a ten week basketball program for junior high school boys. Interest in the 1953-1954 leagues drew participants from Ypsilanti High, Roosevelt, and St. John’s schools.
We were the Rough Riders, named after the Roosevelt mascot. The nine other teams in the eighth grade circuit were the Cool Cats, Dragnets, Drifters, Eagles, Greyhounds, Lions, Globe Trotters, St. John’s and Warriors. The monikers chosen obviously favored strong animals, followed by TV programs of the time. There was a popular rhythm and blues singing group at the time called The Drifters. The Globe Trotters were a national basketball exhibition team. Perhaps the names were borrowed from those groups. Cool Cats spoke for itself.
Games were played Saturday afternoons in the Ypsilanti High School gymnasium at 421 North Washington Street. I looked forward to the weekly competitions.We lived on East Cross Street and the mile-and-a-half walk to the games went by quickly.
Our fledgling team was fortunate to have an encouraging coach. Robert Boyd was a student at Michigan State Normal College doing his practice teaching at Roosevelt as a gym teacher. He also played end on the MSNC football team. Thank goodness he volunteered his time with us.
In addition, half our players came with extensive prior experience. I was not one of them and would likely not have participated. However, my best friend, who became the captain, encouraged me to take part. It seemed like a good idea as we went most places together anyway. In retrospect, I would have missed a memorable time had I not participated.
When the nine weekly games were over the Rough Riders (9-0) were in first place. The Dragnets (8-1) swept second place, St. John’s (7-2) captured third, Eagles (6-3) swooped down in fourth, Greyhounds (5-4) raced into fifth, Lions (3-5) roared to sixth, Cool Cats (3-6) danced around seventh, while Globe Trotters (1-8) and Warriors (1-8) were tied for eighth.
In non-league completion we defeated Roosevelt’s top seventh grade team and an eighth grade team from Ann Arbor’s University High. Our only loss was at the hands of a quintet representing Lincoln High (26-24).
Following the presentation of the winners’ trophy and patches, everyone gathered at the home of Ken Ross where we celebrated our victories and took photos.
When the city parks and rec program concluded, so did my organized basketball days. Thus my personal competence never advanced significantly. Other than playing in gym class I didn’t spend much time on the courts. However, I enjoyed seeing other team members play on the high school teams and excel at the sport.
These days I sometimes get depressed when I see big-buck NBA players, and wonder whether or not I might have been one had I stuck with the game!!!!
Of course, I’ll never know the answer. So I console myself that it is still worth a million to dust off the fading snapshots and think about those exciting teenage times.

[Fred Thomas moved to Ypsilanti in 1948, graduated from Roosevelt in 1958, and then from Eastern Michigan University in 1965. He currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.]

Photo Captions:

1. The Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a ten week basketball program for junior high school boys

2. Members of the first string: (top row – left to right) Art Dykman, Bob Kidd (Captain) and Ken Ross. (bottom row – left to right) Jim Blodgett, and Lee Judson. Their skills made the difference when the going got tough

3. Other members of the team: (top row – left to right) Larry Hoffman, David Waters and Fred Thomas. (bottom row – left to right) Alan Moore, and Robert Arrick. Members not pictured are Dewey Barich, Gary Barnes, and Reggie Herndon

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Fall 2012,
Fall 2012

---

Original Images:

Author: Peg Porter

While working on the article about my uncle Craig Porter, the Olympic Swimming events were on TV and, since swimming is one of my favorite sports, I spent lots of time watching. I wondered how the sport had changed over the years and if it were possible to compare times in certain events from the Games in 1928 and 2012. My brother, Don Jr.––a former swimming
coach––and I put our heads together and identified some significant differences.

Swim suits:
Then - men and women wore the one piece tank suit, usually woolen. The suit created a drag on the swimmers both because of the material and the fact that water went through the suit, slowing the swimmer.

Now - synthetic form fitting suits perform almost as a second skin with virtually no drag.

Equipment:
Then - virtually none.
Now - swimming caps also fit the head like a second skin. Swim goggles fit in the eye sockets. No leaks with these streamlined goggles.

Swimming Pools:
Then - pools were usually shorter affecting how a swimmer swam a certain distance. Pool water was very turbulent during a race.
Now - pools are longer, many are built to Olympic specifications. A small runoff rims the edge of the pool allowing the water to remain less turbulent, easier for swimming.

Racing Turns:
Then - in a multiple lap event, the swimmer touched the wall, turned and pushed off. We estimate this type of turn took almost two seconds.
Now - racers use a race turn––essentially a somersault that has little effect on time.

Race Officiating:
Then - the starter had a gun that fired blanks. Other officials had stopwatches.
Now - technology has replaced people in measuring time; time can be measured in much smaller segments. People do rate diving events however.

Training:
Then - swimmers trained by swimming.
Now - weight training is common.

High School Comparisons:
• Craig Porter, 1929, 50 yard freestyle: .28
• Vlad Morozov 2010, 50-yard freestyle:.1943 (lead-off swimmer in relay)

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Fall 2012,
Fall 2012

---

Original Images:

Author: Peg Porter

Several months ago I found a message in my voice mailbox from Lauren at the Ypsilanti Historical Society. She told me she had received a call from a Scott Porter who thought I might be his cousin. She asked for his telephone number so she could forward it to me. I had not been in contact with my Porter cousin for over 30 years and was anxious to talk to him. I knew that his sister, Mary Ruth, had died tragically as a result of early-onset Alzheimer’s less than five years ago. I called Scott that same afternoon. Scott had “found me” through computer searches. He had read some of my Gleanings articles which convinced him that I was, indeed, his cousin. He then found the YHS website and telephone number. A number of phone calls and email exchanges followed. We shared family stories and I provided additional information on the Porter family tree.

We talked about the Johnny Weissmuller story contained in the article that follows and his dad’s experience as a State Champion swimmer. We were both interested in trying to document the story we knew and began to assemble what information we had. Scott shared photographs and we both did considerable research. The story that follow is the result of our collaboration. It is dedicated to the memory of Craig Porter and his daughter, Mary Ruth.

His high school nickname was “Fish.” He was tall, with long arms and legs, broad shoulders and slim hips: the ideal body type for swimming. He was the second son of Evelyn Havelock Porter and Ellen Craig Porter, both immigrants to the United States from Canada. Craig Porter was born in Webster Township in 1912 while his father was herdsman at the Brookside Dairy.

When Craig was still quite young, the family moved to Ypsilanti where they opened a small restaurant in their home at the corner of Brower Street (now College Place) and Washtenaw Avenue, just a few blocks from the campus of the Michigan Normal. Craig attended the Laboratory School. When the new Roosevelt High School opened in the fall of 1925, both Craig and his older brother Don enrolled. At the time of its opening, Roosevelt was a state-of-the art high school. The ground floor had a swimming pool, shower room and locker rooms.

By the time Craig began high school he was already a swimmer. There were few pools, no community pools and, unless your family had a lake cottage, your opportunities to swim were very limited. So where and how did Craig Porter develop the skills that would make him a State Champion swimmer in a few short years? Perhaps he attended Camp Hayo-Want-Ha, a YMCA camp on Torch Lake. Don, his brother, spent several summers at the camp. It’s also possible that Laboratory School students had access to the college pool, a few short blocks from his home. Finally the Porter brothers had friends whose families had cottages, on Portage or Base Lake.

Although he expressed interest in both baseball and track as a high school freshman, he joined the Roosevelt Swim Team. His first meet took place March 2, 1927 against River Rouge. Three days later he participated in the Inter-Scholastic meet at the University of Michigan. Craig was rewarded with his first varsity letter that year, the only freshman class member to receive one.

He swam freestyle 40, 50 and 100 yard events as well as the 240 yard relay. He set school records, only to break his own records. In March of 1929, Craig led the Roosevelt swimmers to a Class B State Championship, winning first in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle as well as swimming to a first place on the 240 yard relay. In 1930, the Roosevelt team finished fourth, winning four meets and losing only two. The two they lost were to class A schools. The Rough Rider, Roosevelt’s school newspaper, described him as “Roosevelt’s freestyle artist.”

In his senior year the Rough Rider paid tribute to its champion swimmer. “…Craig Porter, an athlete who has forgone the pleasure of playing football, basketball or baseball that he might excel in a sport he likes best and so to add another laurel to the fame of Roosevelt High School.” He was also recognized for his leadership as Captain of the swim team for three years.

In the spring of 1930, a tennis team was organized at Roosevelt. The team’s coach was faculty member, Leonard Menzi. Menzi would later become the school’s principal, serving in that capacity for nearly 30 years. Craig showed up for the first team practice. Although he was only able to play tennis for several months before his graduation, he was awarded a varsity letter in that sport.

While Craig Porter was attending high school and developing his skills as a competitive swimmer, Johnny Weissmuller was on his way to becoming one of the country’s most well known swimmers and later the movie’s second Tarzan. Weissmuller was born in 1904 in Romania. His birthplace would later create some controversy when he was named to the U.S. Olympic Team in 1924. While still a child, he swam regularly in Lake Michigan. As a teenager he began swimming with the Illinois Athletic Club. Later he would win three gold medals in freestyle events at the 1924 Games and two more gold medals in the 1928 games.

In addition, he played on the U.S. Water Polo teams in both 1924 and 1928. The teams earned a bronze medal at the Paris and Amsterdam games. Weissmuller parlayed his success in the Olympics into first a modeling career and then an acting career. He played Tarzan in 12 movies to become the best known of the screen Tarzans.

There is a story that is well known to members of the Porter family. Friends and classmates of Craig Porter knew the story as well. The story is simply this: Craig Porter once raced Johnny Weissmuller and Porter won. How could this have happened? Weissmuller was nearly ten years older than Porter, an Olympian and world record holder. How could a teenager, from a small high school in Michigan, beat the man who would become Tarzan and who frequently boasted that he never lost a race?

Craig Porter, unlike Weissmuller, was not a bragger or boaster. To the contrary, he was quiet and never talked about himself. If you had questioned Craig about whether the story was true, he would nod his head “yes” but would not go on to say when or where. There are at least two times when such a race could have occurred. While still in high school, Craig was a member of the Seagulls, the swim team of the Detroit Yacht Club. We do not know how he was recruited for this team nor how he made regular trips to Detroit to practice and race. Swimming with the Seagulls did provide him with more professional coaching and a higher level of competition. The competition included members of the 1928 U.S. Olympic swim team who trained at the Club. Could Porter have beat Weissmuller in practice?

There is at least one other time when the two swimmers paths may have crossed. Weissmuller returned to Michigan in the summer of 1930 with his water show. He was a star attraction at the Eastern Michigan Water Carnival in Bay City. Weissmuller’s show toured the country and attracted large audiences who wanted to see the man who won five gold medals in the Olympic Games. Often Weissmuller would challenge the best local swimmers to a race. Was there such a race in Bay City or elsewhere in Michigan? Did, in fact, Craig Porter beat Weissmuller. Did the Weissmuller publicists spread the word that Weissmuller was tired from traveling and therefore it wasn’t a valid race?

The search for documentation of the Weissmuller-Porter race continues. The author and other family members believe the story is true. Should any Gleanings readers have information to share, please contact Peg Porter at the Ypsilanti Historical Society. Perhaps the more interesting question is: could Craig Porter have been a member of the United States Olympic Team in 1932?

His times in the freestyle kept dropping through his senior year in high school (1930). The major barrier to achieving Olympic status was money. At the time of Craig’s high school graduation, the country was plunging into what we now call The Great Depression. Money was always tight around the Porter household. Now with fewer people having money to spend on a restaurant meal, money became even more of an issue. Craig’s parents were able to provide their two sons with the basic necessities, primarily food and shelter. The boys were expected to work to earn money for any “extras.” Don worked steadily from his early teens primarily with Lamb’s grocery. He did not participate in high school athletics by choice. He wanted his own car (a convertible), a speed boat and an occasional trip. He was able to earn enough to get them.
Craig, on the other hand, devoted his time and energy to swimming. The University of Michigan offered Craig a tuition award if he were to agree to attend college and join the swimming team. This was not a “full-ride” by any means. He would need to pay for books, fees and transportation. The resources were not there. He would have to work (if he could find a job) to pay for all other expenses.

Swimming is a demanding sport. It requires focus, discipline and many, many hours in the pool. To add a full class schedule, plus a job would be daunting. Had he been able to swim for Michigan and assuming he had remained healthy, he likely would have made it to the Olympic swim trials and perhaps made the U.S. Team. That was not to happen. Instead he alternated work with school and received a degree at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern) in 1938. He met and later married another student, Doris Schroeder, in 1940. They would have a daughter and son, Mary Ruth and Scott. Craig would spend his working days in a lumber yard, retiring early because of chronic health problems. He died on Christmas Day, 1976.

The focus of this story is not lost opportunities, but to recognize one of Ypsilanti’s outstanding athletes or as the Roosevelt Rough Rider summed up his years in high school “…he is one of the greatest swimmers ever produced at Roosevelt.” That remained true until the Roosevelt High School closed in 1969.

(Peg Porter is the Assistant Editor of the Gleanings and regular contributor of articles.)

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Craig Porter, Ypsilanti Roosevelt’s outstanding swimmer

Photo 2: Roosevelt’s 1930 Swim Team finished fourth in the State Meet

Photo 3: Detroit Yacht Club Seagulls patch worn by Craig

Photo 4: Swan dive at the Detroit Yacht Club – check that wingspan

Photo 5: Porter Women: left in front row - Craig’s mother Ellen Craig Porter; second from right in front row – sister in law Ruth Young Porter; far right in top row – Craig’s wife Doris Shroeder Porter

Photo 6: Porter brothers at family home – Don is left and Craig is at right

Photo 7: Craig Porter in his late 30’s

Photo 8: Porter cousins at Base Lake – Don’s kids were swimmers while Craig’s were not.

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Summer 2012,
Summer 2012

---

Original Images:

Author: Bill Nickels

Our country was in the middle of World War II when Carl Arvin served his country as a Military Police officer. Carl and his wife Dorothy’s first child, Carl Robert “Bob” Arvin was born in 1943 while he served. Carl and Dorothy would have to live their lives to learn the complete role the military would play in their lives.

The family moved to Ypsilanti and lived at 907 Pleasant Drive for most of Bob’s youth. Being across the street from Recreation Park, Bob’s youth fit the ideal 1950s stereotype. He was a prize-winning paper boy for the Ann Arbor News while he attended St. John’s Elementary School. Joining Troop 240 of the Boy Scouts of America at St. John’s Catholic Church, Bob became an Eagle Scout and counseled younger scouts at the Bruin Lake Boy Scout Camp.

A neighborhood girl, Merry Lynn Montonye, frequently saw Bob at Recreation Park. According to Merry Lynn, they never became friends because he was “playing with sticks and doing boy stuff.”

When it came time to attend high school in 1957, Bob choose not to attend a smaller private school and moved to Ypsilanti High School where he hoped his talents could be better exhibited. The fit turned out to be perfect for him.

Bob excelled in both team and individual sports. He played varsity football for four years and was the team’s starting quarterback. He wrestled for four years. During his senior year he was the 154-lb State Champion and co-captain when Ypsi High won the State Championship. Wrestling teammate Tino Lambros remembers “the long, cold, and dark school bus trips to Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and other places. “Bob would curl up in those ‘wonderful’ bus seats, pull out a small flashlight and a book and study.”

Among his circle of friends at Ypsi High was that neighborhood girl, Merry Lynn Montonye, who now was captain of the cheerleaders. They dated sporadically, even when the year-older Merry Lynn went off to Duke University.

His club activities included four years on the Debate Team and four years with the Forensics Team where “keys” were earned by representing Ypsi High in interscholastic debates or in District speech contests. Two years with the Thespians led to the lead in the school’s senior play. He also spent two years with the school newspaper and his senior year with the yearbook staff.

Leadership skills were developed by being a Home Room Officer in the ninth grade, Class Officer in the tenth grade, Student Council President in the eleventh grade, and Class President in the twelfth grade. Leadership was broadened by participation in Boys’ State, County Government Day, and the Model United Nations. His high school record was topped by being the Valedictorian for his class and membership in the National Honor Society.

In 1989, classmate Dr. Frank Sayre said “Greatness was in his life. If anyone was destined for major accomplishments, for a national presence, it was Bob Arvin.”

West Point
Upon graduation from Ypsi High, Bob received an honor scholarship from Harvard and scholarships from six other schools. Bob’s mom said, “A Yale scholarship didn’t turn Bob’s head, he was West Point bound.” He became a plebe at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in July of 1961. The following summer, at Camp Buckner, New York, he distinguished himself by winning both the Triathlon (swimming, cross country and rifle) and “Recondo” competitions. The latter was a hand-to-hand combat pit fight where he was the last man standing among more than 700 classmates.

Bob was also a star athlete at West Point, lettering in wrestling during all three of his varsity years. During his senior year, he was elected captain. His coach was instrumental in conceiving the Arvin Wrestling Award which is given annually to “the graduating member of the wrestling team who best exemplifies the qualities of Carl Robert Arvin in the area of leadership, scholarship, and commitment to Army wrestling.”

As in high school, Bob was active in other areas of student life. He was a leader in the Student Conference on US Affairs (SCUSA) at West Point. SCUSA was a four-day conference where students discussed issues facing our country. His editing interest continued as co-editor of the HOITZER student publication. His devotion to his
Catholic faith continued as a member of the Catholic Chapel Choir and a Catholic Chapel acolyte. Both were some of his most cherished times.

After Merry Lynn graduated from Duke, her first teaching job was in White Plains, New York, a short drive from West Point. It was said their relationship ran hot and cold during this time.

It was the responsibility of General Davison, Commandant of Cadets, to select the First Captain and Brigade Com- mander of the Corps of Cadets during their senior year. He remembered, “It was my privilege as Commandant to select Bob to be First Captain. I admired him greatly; he was a concerned, compassionate leader who held the complete respect of his fellow cadets.” As First Captain, Bob hosted Dwight Eisenhower for his Fiftieth Reunion of the Class of 1915 and broke ground for a new campus building with Eisenhower. He later led the Corps of Cadets in President Johnson’s inaugural parade in Washington D.C.

Bob graduated 44th out of a class of 596 in 1961. He received the Pershing Writing Award where graduates are asked to reflect on their four years at West Point and express what West Point meant to them. As the cadet who best exemplifies the traditions of the United States Military Academy and the United States Army, he also received the Association of the United States Army Award. For exhibiting military efficiency, he won the Avarian Award. He was truly honored as a student at West Point. He received further distinction as a finalist for a Rhodes scholarship.

United States Army
After graduation as a 2nd Lieutenant, Bob went to Fort Benning, Georgia in August of 1965 for specialized training. He completed both Ranger and Airborne Jumpmaster schools. He selected the famed 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as his first assignment. The selection of the 82nd Airborne was indicative of his desire to serve up front with the action.

While in Ranger School, Bob’s West Point friend Mike Moseley invited Bob and his girlfriend Merry Lynn Montonye to a beach house in Delaware. While driving together, Bob asked Merry Lynn to marry him. They married in Ypsilanti at St. John’s Catholic Church on July 30, 1966. They had nine months together before Bob’s assignment to Vietnam in early 1967 as an advisor in the Military Assistance Command Vietnam

Vietnam
Captan Bob Arvin reported to his advisory detachment, the 7th Vietnamese Airborne Battalion, in May 1967. His West Point classmate Chuck Hemingway was also with the 7th Battalion and was killed in June 1967. Bob was assigned to take his place.

The 7th Battalion was assigned to protect the vital Hue Phu Bai Air Base near the town of Hue (the air base is now Hue International Airport). Hue was in the center of a cluster of towns that included Khe Sanh and Da Nang just south of the DMZ that separated North Vietnam from South Viet Nam.

While serving as advisor to the 7th Battalion, the US Army later officially recognized his value: “Captain Arvin was noted for the inspiration he provided the Vietnamese soldiers and was instrumental in assisting them in successfully accomplishing their missions.”

The pace and intensity of the war picked up in the summer of 1967. According to the US Army, on 5 September 1967 “the battalion was deployed in a three-pronged assault on suspected enemy positions. As the unit approached the objective area, the entire left flank came under intense mortar and small arms fire from Viet Cong bunker and trench complexes located on the rice paddy perimeters. An element on the left flank was overwhelmed by the fierce fire and withdrew, leaving Captain Arvin, his counterpart, and two radio operators alone. Undaunted by the perilous circumstances, Captain Arvin led the group forward to engage the enemy. In doing so, one of the radio operators was wounded. Although wounded, himself, Captain Arvin, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved through enemy fire to the man and dragged him to a relatively protected location. Returning to the group, he began directing repeated armed helicopter gunship strikes as all elements of the battalion now engaged the enemy. Then, heedless of the increasing volume of enemy fire, Captain Arvin established a landing zone and supervised the evacuation of the wounded. Refusing evacuation himself, he returned to the front to continue to advise and assist in the conduct of the battle. As a direct result of Captain Arvin’s indomitable fighting spirit, positive leadership, and calm courage throughout the hours-long battle, the insurgents were forced from their positions and the 7th Battalion was able to secure the objective. Captain Arvin’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.”

Following a brief hospitalization, Bob returned to his battalion which was preparing to clear enemy forces from the air base. On 8 October 1967, “Bob’s unit was completing a sweep of a suspected enemy base when an entrenched regiment was engaged.” Again, according to the US Army, “Captain Arvin was accompanying the battalion in a sweep of suspected enemy positions when the unit came under intense hostile mortar and automatic weapons fire. As the volume of enemy fire increased, Captain Arvin called for helicopter gunships to support the attacking Airborne soldiers. Realizing that the battalion was facing a determined enemy, Captain Arvin left his relatively safe position and raced through fireswept fields to a forward position where he expertly began directing the gunships on target. With enemy activity temporarily suppressed, the battalion continued to move forward until it was resubjected to punishing mortar and small arms fire. Once again Captain Arvin valiantly and in full view of enemy gunners, moved through the fire to a forward vantage point. There, as fighting raged about him, he directed extremely accurate, close range gunship passes onto enemy positions. As a direct result of Captain Arvin’s unremitting attention to duty, resolute courage, and superb direction of ground forces and supporting aircraft, a strong and determined enemy was forced to flee in defeat. Captain Arvin’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the time-honored traditions of the United States Army and reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.”

In moving forward with his Vietnamese counterpart, Bob was mortally wounded by small arms fire and died on the field of battle. By the request of General William Westmoreland, Bob was days away from being transferred to Saigon as one of his staff.

Epilogue
Arvin’s body was returned to Ypsilanti to lie in state in St. John’s Church, the first layman to do so there and, two days later, a Catholic funeral mass was conducted. His school and Boy Scout life began in the same church that saw the end of his life.

Arvin was buried at West Point on 17 October 1967 with military honors. Mourners included wife Merry Lynn, parents, brother David, Ypsilanti and West Point classmates, West Point wrestling team, 82nd Airborne members, and the Academy Superintendent.

For his engagement with the enemy on 5 September, Bob was posthumously promoted to Captain and awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action and a Purple Heart for his wounds. For the engagement on 8 October, he was awarded a second Silver Star Oak Leaf Cluster for gallantry and a Purple Heart as a result of being mortally wounded.

Our Vietnam veterans were not welcomed home like veterans of earlier wars but, on 25 February 1989, West Point did their part to keep their memories alive: the cadet gym was officially dedicated and renamed the Arvin Gymnasium in honor of Bob. West Point follows criteria requiring athletic facilities to be named after graduates who distinguished themselves in a sport related to the facility and had fallen in battle while in the prime of life. Graduates back to the founding of the Academy in 1802 were eligible.

A $97 million 495,000-square-foot addition to the 1910 cadet gymnasium was completed in 2005.

The complex was rededicated on 9 September 2005 as the Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center. The ceremony was part of the 40th Reunion of West Point’s Class of 1965. That class lost twenty-five members in Viet Nam––more than any other class. Like Eisenhower, Sherman, Lee, MacArthur, Pershing, and Grant, the name Arvin on a West Point building honors a military hero from the academy.

Frankenmuth resident Stan Bozich saw the need to tell the story of Michigan’s military heroes in 1987 with the construction of the Michigan Military Museum in his home town. Identifying Arvin as one of Michigan’s heroes, he asked the family for some of Bob’s military possessions for an Arvin display and they gladly agreed.

Arvin is memorialized locally as well. On 15 June 2002, the Ypsilanti Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2408 dedicated their post to Bob. It is now and will forever be called the “C. Robert Arvin VFW Post 2408.” In order to personalize Bob’s memory, the VFW asked the Michigan Military Museum for display items to duplicate their display. With agreement from the family, display items were shared and the display was duplicated.

VFW Post 2408 created the “Captain C. Robert Arvin Educational Fund” to honor Bob’s legacy. By 2004, golf outings raised enough money to annually award $1000 scholarships to six-to-twelve local high school graduates. To date, over $80,000 have been awarded! In 2008, the Fund was redesignated as the “Captain C. Robert Arvin Foundation” and is now a Michigan nonprofit corporation. The purpose remains the same.

Ypsilanti High School initiated an “Athletic Hall of Fame” in 2004. Bob Arvin was quickly added to the “Hall” on 30 September 2005. He is immortalized in the school that provided the environment for him to grow into the leader he would become.

During the winter of 2012, David Arvin and Merry Lynn thought about increasing the visibility of Bob’s display housed inside VFW Post 2408. Discussing the issue with Stan Bozich from the Michigan Military Museum, Pete Raymond Commander of VFW Post 2408, and Charles Kettles, they decided to ask if the Ypsilanti Historical Museum would accept the display. The Museum gladly accepted. More will now see Bob’s heroic story.

Why should we keep Bob’s heroic story alive? He became a leader by preparing himself both physically and mentally, making the right choices in life, and making sure the people he associated with were people he could trust. As a result, others accepted him as a leader. That is an important story for all people to learn and know. That story cannot be learned by becoming his friend, but it can be virtually learned through West Point, the Michigan Military Museum, and here in Ypsilanti.

Few are honored nationally, in their state, and locally. Even fewer who lived a brief life of 24 years earn the recognition. We are proud that one such person was an Ypsilantian.

Thanks to David Arvin, Merry Lynn Brondos, Charles Kettles, Jay Baxter, and Tino Lam- bros for providing pictures, memories, and to references from:
West Point Assembly, September 1983.
West Point Assembly, July 1989.
The Ann Arbor News, July 8, 1989.
The Ann Arbor News, May 27, 2002.
Speech to Captain C. Robert Arvin Foundation, June 27, 2008.

[Bill Nickels is a member of the Ypsilanti Historical Society, a constant volunteer, and a regular contributor to GLEANINGS.]

"He was one of the most outstanding young men I have had the privilege of knowing. The Army has lost one of its future leaders." - General William Westmoreland

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Clockwise from top right: Bob Arvin in 1961, receiving the U.S. Army Award, with President Eisenhower, with Vice President Humphrey, Purple Heart and Silver Star awards, leading the President Johnson inaugural parade

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Seventh-grader, Bob Arvin raises his hand

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Ypsilanti High wrestling champ

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Cadet Arvin with his parents

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Bob & Merry Lynn, married at Ypsilanti’s St. John’s church, 30 July 1966

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Dedication of the West Point gymnasiium to C. Robert Arvin

[Photo caption from original print edition]: Ypsilanti Historical Museum intern Lauren Carpenter helps arrange the C. Robert Arvin Memorial

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Winter 2011,
Winter 2011

---

Original Images:

Author: Peg Porter

My Diary: January 1, 1951- I went skating today. We had a good New Years dinner. Michigan won in the Rose Bole. (Sic).

It all started with Sonja Henie, the very blonde Norwegian Olympic champion in figure skating. Sonja went on to appear in movies in the late 1930s and 1940s. She also had her own ice show that traveled the country. I do not remember when I first became aware of Sonja. I do remem- ber, however, that I wanted to become like Sonja, dancing on ice.

My first skates were double runners, baby skates that strapped onto your shoe or boot. Gliding across the ice was impossi- ble. I could stand upright and do a sort of walking motion and once I gained enough forward momentum could put my feet to- gether and actually move a few inches. Ice dancing it was not.

My dad took me to an ice rink on Frog Island. I was bundled up against the cold, layers under my snowsuit with a scarf wrapped around my neck. Once my skates were strapped on I stepped onto the ice and began my walking motion. There were other skaters gliding by. That is what I wanted to do but could not. Still it was exciting to be on a real rink. After about 30 minutes of waddling around the ice I got cold and was ready to go home. The Sonja dream was fading fast.

But then there was a minor miracle. Sonja Henie came to Detroit, Dad got tickets and off we went to the Olympia to see Sonja in person. She did not disappoint, she glittered and sparkled while she danced across the ice. I, along with hundreds of other little girls, was captivated. We did not notice that she was no longer as young as she was when she won her gold medals. She was our beautiful ice dancer.

My next skates were real figure skates. They had belonged to one of the older girls in the neighborhood, most likely Su- sie or Barbie Brien. Their father, Bancroft Brien, had a shoe store downtown. The skates were too big, of course, but I wore several pairs of thick socks and stuffed the toes with cotton. When I laced them up tight they almost felt as if they fit.

In the winter, there was a large rink in Recreation Park. One of my friends and I would walk the five blocks from our house on Owendale to the Park. If we left right after school, we could get almost two hours of skating in before it began to get dark. We changed into our skates in a shed at the edge of the rink, took a few steps to the ice and then joined the other skaters traveling counter clockwise around the rink. Since I’d been roller skating for a few years, the skating motion came eas- ily. We went around and around until the sky started to darken and the streetlights.

came on. By then we were cold and ready to leave. Our feet felt frozen on the walk home. They did not begin to warm up un- til we were eating our evening meal. Then began the exquisite agony of the circula- tion returning to our extremities that hurt, stung and felt good all at the same time.

The following Christmas I got my own skates, brilliant white with sharp, shiny blades. By now I had learned how to skate backwards and to rotate on the ice. I probably tried to do an arabesque with a minimum of wobbling. Still most of the time was spend circling the rink. On one outing I felt a sharp stinging pain in my right foot. I’d been hit by a hockey puck. The hockey players were confined to one end of the rink but pucks did not recognize boundaries. Hockey skate boots have a lot of padding, figure skating boots don’t. Getting hit by a puck hurt!

There was another trip to Olympia to see an ice show. This one featured Barbara Ann Scott, a Canadian Olympic medalist. Unlike Sonja, she was not an “ice princess,” she was a more athletic skater. I half convinced myself that Barbara and I were distant cousins. My grandparents were born in Canada and my great-grand- mother from Scotland was named Ellen Scott. So it seemed possible. Actually my Canadian cousins were hockey players.

About the time I left Estabrook to begin junior high at Roosevelt, my skating days came to a quiet close. I had a chance to try out for the Ann Arbor Skating Club that I turned down. Our parents always emphasized choices. You could not do every- thing so starting a new activity meant ending another one. There was another reason though: fear. At some point I knew I would have to do jumps. Leaping and jumping were no problem in Grace Begoles’s bal- let studio. The surface there, however, was wood. The thought of both feet leaving the ice and then landing on the hard, slip- pery surface was more than I could deal with.

Growing up involves gaining realistic expectations. As painful as it sometimes was, I let go of some of my dreams. The skates went to the back of the closet.

(Peg Porter grew up in Ypsilanti and is the GLEANINGS Assistant Editor and a regular contributor of articles for our publication.)

Photo captions:

Photo 1: Sonja Henie, Norwegian Olympic figure skating champion, appeared in movies in the late 1930s and 1940s

Photo 2: Barbara Ann Scott, a Canadian Olympic figure skating medalist, was a very athletic skater

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Winter 2011,
Winter 2011

---

Original Images:

Author: Phil Barnes

What is the most satisfying things a coach can have happen to him? Would it be coaching state championship teams in Tennis at Ypsilanti High School, playing tennis at a championship level in the regular season in high school or college, or playing in state level tournements in Michigan or other states? For Claude Wilbanks, it was coaching his niece and nephews, his brother Ambi's children, Gary and Ambi, and his brother Roy's daughter Lisa.

Who knows? He might have been a wrestling coach...as this was the sport he started out coaching from 1958 to 1961 at Willow Run High School during his first three eyars of teaching.

Claude's playing background and love for the sport of tennis drew him back into the game as a coach--not that wrestling didn't play a prominent role in Claude's life as he wrestled at Ypsilanti High School and was elected Captain of the team. His brothers were excellent wrestlers as well. Ambi Wilbanks was a State Champion and Big 10 Champion for the University of Michigan, and his brother Roy was also a State Champion. A championship family for sure!

Claude played tennis as a young boy in Ypsilanti on the recreational courts at Ypsilanti High School, and for the Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University). Early tennis legends Ellis Freatman, George Lund, and Dick Roberst were helpful in Claude's climb up the ladder of tennis. Ellis started Claude in tennis as a youth. Ellis, George, and Dick were each college players who went on to very successful careers and played competitive tennis for many years after college. Each of these men had sons (John and Ellis Jr. Freatman, Mike Lund, and Dan and Tim Robers) who played and lettered in tennis for Claude at Ypsi High School.

At Michigan Normal, Claude was captain of the tennis team in 1956, a year to remember as the team had the best record in school history and advanced to the NCAA tournament as Champions of the IIAC. "Bob Perry was the best player in town and always played doubles with me. We were very successful" said Claude. Perry and Wilbanks had played together since the 4th grade and knew each other's every move.

Easily, Claude's outstanding achievement in coaching was a three-year span from 1974-1976 when his Ypsilanti High School teams went 50 and 1. Claude never coached a losing season. Led by John Freatman and Steve Carter, the Braves dominated tennis in Michigan. Freatman was as a state semifinalist in singles and Carter and Freatman were runners-up in doubles two years in a row; George Wallace lost only three matches in a three year span. Other contributors during Claude's long career were singles stars Jay Carter, and Anders Hemklo and doubles stars Bob Fisher and Naz Sesi. Twin brothers Scoot and Mark McClure were also outstanding in doubles. Others on the teams were Tim McCarthy, Mark Harmon, Steve Cadwallader, and Tim Roberts. Later on Steve Law, Azck Underwood, Scott Butler, Scott Karoub, John Gessert, Ambi Wilbanks, Robert McClure, Mike Presenski, Dan Roberts, and Dave, Steve and Tim Burandlt were solid winners. Pat Buck was an outstanding star. Kim Otis won a Regionals Singles Championship and played collegiately at Michigan State Universty.

Claude was asked to coach the girl's tennis team soon after girls sports started in high school. For the rest of his career he coached both boys' and girls' teams. Several outstanding players came through the girl's program including Eileen McCarthy, who was "probably the best female tennis player I had," stated Claude. "Also, Kathy Work was terrific and went on to compete at the college level at Hope College. Charlotte Presenki was also a standout player for the lady Braves."

In 2005 Claude was presented with a great honor: he was chosen to be a member of the Ypsilanti High School Hall of Fame. Former athletes and coaches such as Mike Bass, Bob Arvin, Ernie Slater, Ed Shadford, and Ron Isbell were among the 16 honorees. Claude was presented with a plaque to honor his induction into the second class of inductees.

Along the way Claude excelled in officiating of wrestling. At the age of 18, Bert Waterman, Ypsi High's wrestling coach, suggested that Claude start officiating. One of the benefits was free admission to all collegiate matches. The chance to attend these matches without chard did it. Claude signed up and soon after he wss drafted out of the stands to work a high school match when the officials didn't show up. He was the only guy there with a licnese to officiate. So he was hooked! Thirty years later he retired after referring High School, Mid America Conference, and Big 10 Collegitate matches. Claude worked over 25 State Tournament matches during his stellar officiating career.

Currently Claude plays cmopetitive tennis in Florida during the winter and returns ot Ypsilanti with his wife Ann Marie during the summer to play tennis with friends. His knees are now giving him trouble and he doesn't win every match he plays. "I'm now playing just for the fun of it" Claude said. Sure!

(Phil Barnes spent 30 years in the Milan school system as an administrator, 13 of those years as Athletic Director, and is a regular member of the Ypsilanti Morning Coffee Group.)

Photo captions:

Some of the outstanding players who played on Claude's championship teams in the '70s. Left to Right: Top Row - Assistant Coach Dick Ouellette, Mark McClure, Scott McClure, John Freatman, Bob Fisher, Anders Heimklo, Head Coach Claude Wilbanks; Front Row - Steve Carter, george Wallace, Naz Sesi, Jay Carter and Rick Profit

Claude Wilbanks when he started officiating wrestling matches at 18

Claude Wilbanks with his wife Ann Marie in Frog Island Park in Ypsilanti

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Spring 2010,
Spring 2010

---

Original Images:

Author: Derek Spinei

On Aug. 1, 1949 the Detroit Lions reported for training camp at a new location, Michigan State Normal College. The players received physicals in Bowen Field House and enjoyed room and board in the Lydia I. Jones dormitory on campus. Players arrived in town by bus, train, plane and automobile. The next day training started with lectures and exercises, bodily contact would come in a few days. In his second year as head coach, Alvin “Bo” McMillin had the offense practice his “cockeyed T” formation and instituted a “Fat Man’s Table.” Here overweight players were fed from a special menu prepared by Karen R. Lurting, the director of Jones dorm. For three meals a day, the players at this table were denied fats, carbohydrates and sugars, while they were given plenty of protein. The rest of the team ate 5,000 to 6,000 calories per day, but the select “Fat Men” got only 4,000 to “assist in achieving a trim football team.”

To get out into the Ypsilanti community, Lions players helped set up tents for the Kiddie Karnival at Recreation Park, an event which used to be sponsored by the Ypsilanti Department of Parks & Recreation. However activities on the practice field were less enjoyable. Twice-daily practices and full-contact intra-squad scrimmages were punctuated by rain postponements and agonizing 95 degree weather. When two players collided with Coach McMillin, straining the inside ligament of his right knee, it’s easy to imagine him taking out his frustration on the team.

As training camp neared completion, the roster was whittled down from 60 to less than 45 and preparations began for the seven game exhibition schedule, far more rigorous than today’s four game pre-season. Most of the players cut where eventually acquired by the Lions’ new farm club, the Wilkes-Barre Bullets of the American Association.

For eight seasons training camp was hosted by Michigan State Normal until it moved to Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills in 1957. All regular season home games were played at Tiger Stadium and exhibition matches took place at University of Detroit Stadium, neither of which still are still in existence. The Ypsilanti teams featured many personnel who had participated locally at the collegiate level for Wayne State University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and University of Detroit. Many individuals who later became Pro Football Hall of Famers practiced here including Joe Schmidt, Doak Walker, Bill Dudley, Lou Creekmur, Jack Christiansen, Yale Lary, and Bobby Layne.

While using Michigan State Normal for training camp, the Lions got steadily better. They were 4-8-0 in 1949, 6-6-0 in 1950, and 7-4-1 in 1951 after McMillan was replaced by Raymond “Buddy” Parker as head coach. McMillan died in March of the following year at age 57, too soon to see the Lions go 9-3-0 and defeat the Cleveland Browns for the NFL Championship (there was no Super Bowl until 1967, when the NFL and AFL merged). To top that achievement, the Lions beat Cleveland again for the championship in 1953, but posted a 10-2-0 record. In 1954 they unfortunately lost in the championship game to archrival Cleveland after going 9-2-1 in the regular season. 1955 was a forgettable season at 3-9-0, but the Lions got back into shape for 1956 going 9-3-0.

All told, the Lions amassed a record of 57-37-2 with two world championships while Ypsilanti was the site of training camp. In light of the team’s current woes, maybe they need to abandon their Allen Park facility and set up shop once again at Eastern Michigan University and find some of that Ypsilanti football “mojo.”

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Ypsilanti Press article from August 1, 1949. “DETROIT LIONS FOOTBALL TEAM MEMBERS stretch their legs after their bus ride from Detroit. Approximately 25 players rolled in today. The rest of the famous pro-football team arrived in Ypsilanti by train, plane and automobile. The brawny football players will reside in the Lydia Jones Dormitory at Michigan State Normal College during their training period here.”

Photo 2: Ypsilanti Press article from August 8, 1949. “Russ Thomas, All American from Ohio State, who plays left guard for the Detroit Lions, supervises Chuck DeShana (kneeling), All American from the University of Alabama, as Chuck helps the youngsters set up the tents for the Kiddie Karnival. Youngsters are, from left to right, Bobbie, Eldon and Sallie Walbrecht from Recreation Park. The Kiddie Karnival sponsored by the Ypsilanti Department of Parks and Recreation, will open Tuesday, at Recreation Park at 7 p.m.

Photo 3: Lion’s logo from the 1950s.

Photo 4: Welcome banner on Michigan Avenue in 1953.

Photo 5: Aerial view of the MSNC sports fields in the 1950s facing east. The football field was located where the Mark Jefferson and the Oakwood parking lots are now located.

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Spring 2009,
Spring 2009

---

Original Images:

Author: George Ridenour

On November 28, 1942 there appeared in the Detroit Free Press, buried on the sports page, a brief announcement. The announcement read: “Funeral services for Frank (Doc) Owen former Detroit Tiger and Chicago White Sox pitcher will be held at McFarland Funeral Home…Owen died of a heart attack last Tuesday. He was employed at the Ford Motor Company…”1

The Ypsilanti Press on November 30, 1942 in a brief note in the obituary section included the following: “Succumbed in Fordson Hotel Dearborn. Married twice. Wife Eula (Carson) died 15 years prior. Survivors: Brother Edward and niece Marion Owen of Des Moines, Iowa.” Information followed that burial would be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Detroit.2

A former pitching great with the Tigers, the Chicago White Stockings, and then the Chicago White Sox was little remembered by the time he died in Dearborn in 1942. Frank Malcolm “Yip” Owen was born in Ypsilanti on December 23, 1879. His parents were Dr. Frank and Mrs. Georgiana (Webb) Owen. Frank played baseball in the local sandlots. He grew to be 5’11” and weighted 160 lbs.

While not much is know about his life in and around Ypsilanti (which was common in those days of baseball) let me give you a peek into the “baseball” Yip who in his day made himself quite a name and became a part of the history of the Chicago White Sox (even today).

The Baseball Library.com makes the following points about Frank and his career:

• He was one of the best right-handers in the American League.
• He won 64 (!!) games for the White Sox.
• On July 1, 1905 he became the first of only (10) American League pitchers ever to win “two complete games in one day.”
• He was the FIRST pitcher (American League) to steal home!

Frank made his first start with the Detroit Tigers on April 26, 1901 and finished his career with the Chicago White Sox on May 12, 1909.

His greatest years were with the Chicago White Sox. He was a major force in helping the “Hitless Wonders” as they were called with the 1906 World Series.

The Chicago White Sox Media Guide3 provided by Chicago White Sox Media Relations shows the following tributes to Frank:

• 1906 World Series he pitched in Game 2 (Went 6 innings).
• Giving up six hits, three runs, three walks and two strikeouts.
• His 6.0 innings pitched in relief still stands as a White Sox postseason record.
• In 1906 Owen led the White Sox in:
1. Wins with 21 in 1904
2. Games with 42 in 1905/1906
3. Games started with 38 in 1905 and 36 in 1906
4. Completed Games with 34 in 1904, 32 in 1905 and 27 in 1906
5. Led in innings pitched with 315.0, 1904, 334 in 1905 and 293 in 1906

Talk about a work horse!! Finally he was rated as having great control and his pitches were the: fastball, changeup, curveball and slider He was a great team leader. Above all he was considered a GREAT clutch performer. He appeared in the 1904 All-star game.

After the 1909 season was done he came back to live in the Dearborn area. He played sandlot baseball and even managed a few teams. He worked for Ford Motor Company. Records show him to have been in security and a chauffer.

Although married twice no children are listed. He died in Dearborn at the Fordson Hotel on November 24, 1942. He is buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Detroit.

He is not forgotten. A check of EBay shows that there are still baseball cards of Franks. They are going for $13 to over $100 depending on the quality.

Frank was an Ypsi boy who deserves to have his name known to our generations. A boy named YIP who became a baseball legend (at least with the White Sox). To bad he isn’t here for the Tigers!

1 “Services Saturday for Frank Owen,” Detroit Free Press, November 28, 1942.
2 “Frank Owen” The Ypsilanti Press, November 30, 1942.
3 Josh Lewis, Frank “Yip” Owen 2009 Chicago White Sox Media Guide, Chicago White Sox
Media Relations, March 4, 2009.

(George Ridenour is a volunteer in the YHS Archives and a regular contributing author for the Gleanings.)

Photograph Captions:

Photo 1: Frank Malcolm “Yip” Owen.
Photo 2: The Frank Owen baseball card.
Photo 3: The 1906 Chicago White Sox World Series team.

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Spring 2009,
Spring 2009

---

Original Images:

Author: Gerry Pety

A few weeks ago Edward Byrom of the United Kingdom contacted the YHS Archives via email about an oil painting he had of a horse named “Ypsilanti.” The painting was by the painter G. Paice and Byrom believed that his grandfather was possibly a groom for the horse during the years 1903 and 1904. So, our Archives staff went to work to find the untold story of “Ypsilanti” the racehorse.

We asked around but no one had ever heard of a horse named “Ypsilanti” and not even James Mann, our local historian, could recall ever hearing about this horse. We did find out there was a farm named the Deep Run Farm just a mile or so south of Michigan Avenue on Huron Street. The farm was situated on 250 acres at the corner of Stony Creek Rd and South Huron/Whittaker Rd. The farm was owned and operated by George Hammond (1847-1930), who loved horses and raised them for racing and other purposes. It had several horse mews (an area of stables built around a small street) one being a 40 stall unit over 200 feet in length, and a one mile, circular “improved” horse track designed and built by a concern from the city of Chicago. So it must have been quite the operation and we can only surmise the actual size and business activity of this horse farm plus other horse farms that existed in this area.

Mr. Hammond purchased this farm in 1869 and owned it for 50 years before selling it to George Slaughter who further improved the facilities to a state of the art horse breeding and training concern. Deep Run Farm just pops up all over the internet when you look up history of Harness Racing, which is the only horse racing allowed in Michigan since the early 1930s. Before that time, racing was similar to that allowed in other states like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, or the Belmont Stakes, etc. So, there is a possibility that the horse in the oil painting was somehow connected to the city of Ypsilanti here in Michigan.

A check of the Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database indicates that a horse called “Ypsilanti” was sired by “Galore” and “Stefanette” both born in Great Britain but that “Ypsilanti” was born in the United States.

According to the August 2, 1902, issue of the New York Times the horse was owned by Richard Crocker. “Crocker’s Horse Ypsilanti Won:” London, Aug 1. Richard Croker’s Ypsilanti won the Chesterfield Cup, (handicap, of 400 sovereigns, added to a sweepstakes of 13 sovereigns each, for three-year-olds and upward, distance one mile and a quarter) at Goodwood to-day. According to the on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia, Crocker was head of Tammany Hall in New York City and for some time almost completely controlled that organization. “As head of Tammany, Croker received bribe money from the owners of brothels, saloons and illegal gambling dens. He survived…attacks on Tammany Hall corruption and became a wealthy man…After Croker’s failure to carry the city in the presidential election of 1900 and the defeat of his mayoralty candidate, Edward M. Shepard in 1901, he resigned his position of leadership in Tammany and was succeeded by Lewis Nixon.”

After winning the Chesterfield Cup in 1902 “Ypsilanti” was entered into the Great Jubilee Handicap Race at Kempton Park in Middlesex, England in 1903. It was a race for horses 3-6 years of age. Well, Ypsilanti won the "purse" that day in May, 1903 which was quite an accomplishment. In 1904 Ypsilanti won the race again! Glory Be! Each of the purses was worth 6,500 pounds sterling or about $600,000 in current US dollars. Ypsilanti went on to win subsequent races of lesser regard in England for both the 1903 and 1904 racing seasons earning over $4,000,000 in current dollars for a racing syndicate. Ypsilanti was a celebrated racehorse in the racing circuits all over England! Later “Ypsilanti” was returned to the United States but we have not been able to determine where.

Other research conducted revealed that the horse “Ypsilanti” was involved with the Druid’s Lodge Confederacy, a group of gentlemen who ran a racing stable in England around the turn of the century. Nothing was left to chance. According to “The Independent” web site: “Stable staff were padlocked into their quarters each night and their mail always opened, to prevent news of the latest Lodge plot leaking to the bookmakers. The Confederates cheated like mad, and gambled like lunatics - except that their plunges rarely failed. Paul Mathieu's definitive account of their 10-year reign of terror in Britain's betting rings (The Druid's Lodge Confederacy, the Gamblers Who Made Racing Pay, pub J A Allen) helpfully updates some of their successful coups to modern money. Ypsilanti, in the 1903 Great Jubilee Handicap, is reckoned to have made them the equivalent of pounds 4m.”

There are many holes in this story that we may be able to fill in with information gathered through future research. If any of our readers have any information about the horse named “Ypsilanti” we would like to hear from you.

(Gerry Pety is the Director of the YHS Archives and a regular contributor to the Gleanings.)

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: The oil painting of a horse called “Ypsilanti” painted by G. Paice.
Photo 2: The Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database indicates that a horse called “Ypsilanti” was sired by “Galore” and “Stefanette,” both born in Great Britain.

Published In:
Ypsilanti Gleanings, Summer 2008,
Summer 2008

---

Original Images:

Author: Phil Barnes

Bob Moffett was a genius. Among other things, he hired Patrick Dignan as his head baseball coach in 1970-71 at Ypsilanti High School and that started a string of successes which is unparalleled in Washtenaw County. Bob became the full time Athletic Director that year and he turned the reins of the baseball team over to Patrick. Thus the dynasty began. The team lost one game that year, led by Steve Rhodin and Bob McSpadden. Bob Moffet himself had been an outstanding coach and before that a collegiate player at Michigan State Normal College. He was one of the best fastpitch third basemen ever to play in this area. He led Walker Hardware to a State Double A title by hitting two home runs in the four winning games. Now, however, he turned the Ypsilanti baseball fortunes over to Patrick Dignan who took the team on an unbelievable baseball journey.

As a player, Patrick Dignan was quality all the way. He was All-State in football and basketball at St. Thomas High School. During his senior year the football team went undefeated and unscored upon. Patrick was the star halfback and he continued his career at Eastern Michigan from 1959 to 1963, frequently rushing for over 100 yards per game. Patrick also played baseball in college and started as a centerfielder for Bill Crouch, his baseball coach.

Patrick’s first job was as football, basketball and baseball coach at Memphis High School in Michigan. He also drove school bus and received $3,700 per year for his toils in 1963-64. Ypsilanti was his next stop, as Dr. Paul Emrick hired him the next year to be the assistant football, baseball and junior high basketball coach. After his stint with Moffett in baseball as an assistant he was selected to be the Head Baseball Coach in 1970-71. This was a brilliant move by Moffett.

Ypsilanti won the Michigan State Championshio in 1986 beating Brother Rice six to five in the thrilling final game. Leading the way were Todd Kendricks, Eric Pederson, Matt Oestrike, John Noe, and John Terris.

Dignan faced many great coaches in his day. Among the best he named were Tom Noland for Lincoln Park; Jim Chronowski from Wayne Memorial; Bob Wright from Jackson; Frank Corej from Catholic Central; and Bob Topp from Kalamazoo Central. Other outstanding coaches in Washtenaw County were Wayne Welter from Chelsea; Ron Mercier from Milan; Rip Kinney from Ann Arbor; and Steve Robb from Milan.

Patrick named his all time best team from Ypsilanti. There were many top players in his program over the years, some of whom were drafted and played professional baseball. The first basemen were: Jim Horton, Steve Rhoden, Rob Sepanek, Jim Luckhardt and Pat Zurich. Middle infielders were: Bob McSpadden, Todd Irwin, Chuck Coker, Greg White, Ron Palmer, John Noe, Greg White, Steve Kinney and Matt Oestrike. Third baseman were: Eric Pederson and Dave Rukkilla. Outfielders were: Jeff Washington, John Terris, Phil Campbell (who arguably is the best home run hitter with 35), John Dignan (who led the team in batting average and home runs for three years), Todd Hendricks, Ken Robinson (who went on to Michigan State and had an outstanding career). Catchers were: Aaron Metaj, Jim Nowling, Russ Kincaid and Jim Sepanek. Pitchers were: Horton, Rhodin, Hendricks, Noe, Irwin (who also played for MSU), Mark Denise, Bob Smith, Mark Jeppesen and Kevin Bara.

Dignan’s all time opponent team is as follows: Pat Sheridan, Don Johnson, Jim Canfield and Bill Crews from Wayne; Bill Ashley from Belleville; Bob Korecky from Saline; Ted Grignon and Mike Betz from Edsel Ford; Tom Willette from Plymouth; and roger Cole from Milan. All were drafted to play professional baseball.

Patrick had been recruited by Pin Ryan, legendary Coach then Athletic Director at Oakland Community College, to be the Head Baseball Coach prior to his accepting the Ypsi head job. Three years experience gave him the credentials to be hired by EMU as Assistant to Roger Coryell in 1991. A retirement from teaching and a move to Falls Church, Virginia took him out of coaching for a while, but upon the family’s return he began a series of coaching vendettas which simply added up to helping others. When called upon he would accept a position of need in the area. Currently he is assisting an old friend, Brad Bush, a great Ypsi athlete, in football at Chelsea. Patrick always gave of himself to help any of his former athletics or coaches.

Patrick and his wife Patricia reside in Ypsilanti and have raised two children, Cassandra and John and have fire grandchildren.

(Phil Barnes was born in Detroit and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from EMU. He taught in the Ypsilanti schools from 1959 to 1963 and then served as an administrator in the Milan Public Schools from 1964 to 1994.)

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Patrick Dignan – the high school years.
Photo 2: Patrick Dignan played halfback for Eastern Michigan University in 1963.
Photo 3: Pat and Patricia with son John.
Photo 4: Pat with daughter Cassandra.
Photo 5: Assistant Coaches Joe McDermott and John Williams and Head Coach Patrick Dignan.
Photo 6: Patrick Dignan.