Interesting Tid Bits

 

Interesting Tid Bits About Muskegon and MHS  

 

  • The first graduating class from MHS was in 1875 and consisted of two girls. In that year there were 102 students enrolled and it employed three teachers.

 

  • On December 14, 1890, a fire completely destroyed the Central campus which accommodated 700 students.

 

  • Charles Hackley furnished money to build two schools – a high school located at Jefferson at Washington that opened in 1893 and the second school at the current location opened in 1895.  Hackley followed that pledge with a building for Manual Training School that opened in 1897.

 

  • The game of football dates back to 1895 at Muskegon.  However it is uncertain how the nickname of Big Red came about.  It is thought to be the creation of a past sports writer/editor of the Muskegon Chronicle (Jimmy Henderson) who created the name because of the colors worn by the team in 1922.

 

  • About the Indian Mascot – It is unknown when MHS decided to associate an American Indian with their nickname.  Some think that the use of the Indian began in the 1930’s, but proof is hard to come by.  The first evidence of the use of an Indian as a mascot was noted in a November 1943 copy of the Said and Done.  In that document it described in detail the bands new uniforms.  And it states “Silver hat bands, buttons and musical emblems carry out the traditional “red and white” of Muskegon Senior High.  A new feature is a black and red circular emblem with “Muskegon Big Reds” lettered about the figure of an Indian in scarlet headdress.”

 

  • The Big Red Indian – Spirit Leader:  The first actual Big Red Indian began in 1956 and the last one performed in 2002.  Our classmate John Matthews was the Indian in 1964 through 1966.  There were a total of 38 different individuals who were the spirit leader in those 46 years.  In 2002 the Board Of Education decided that the Indian mascot need to be retired and they replaced it with a stylistic block M with origins going back to the 1900’s.

 

  • The name Muskegon is derived from the Ottawa Indian term “Masquigon” meaning “marshy river” or “swamp”.  The “Masquigon” river is identified on French maps dating from the late seventeenth century, suggesting that the French explorers had reached the western coast of Michigan by that time.

 

  • Notable Former Residents of Muskegon County
  • David Leestma – Astronaut
  • Captain Johnathan Walker – abolitionist “The Man with a Branded Hand”
  • Nancy Anne Fleming - Miss America 1961
  • Vonda Kay Van Dyke – Miss America 1965
  • Harry Morgan – Actor, Mash, Dragnet, starred in over 100 movies
  • Frank Stanton – Past President of CBS
  • Mark Grimmette – Olympic Silver Medal Winner in the two man-luge
  • Earl Morrall – Former NFL Quarterback – Miami and Baltimore
  • Jimmy Bakker – TV Evanglist
  • Edmond Szoka – Roman Catholic Cardinal and former President of the Governorate of Vatican City State
  • Charles Hackley – Lumber Baron, Philanthropist – Donated Hackley Hospital, Hackley Library, Hackley Administration Building, Hackley Art Gallery and Hackley Park
  • Haddon Sundblom – Graphic Art Designer best known for his images of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola
  • Buster Keaton – Comedian and director – born in Kansas but spent his summer months of his childhood in Muskegon.  Keaton always considered Muskegon as his home.
  • Bettye LaVette – Soul Singer
  • Steve Gorman – Drummer Black Crowes
  • Clarence Zylman – the original Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
  • Ike Kepford – WWll Ace Pilot
  • Joe Beryrle – Only soldier to have served in both the US Army and the Soviet Army in WWll.
  • Bill Szymczyk – Musical Producer for the Eagles and The Who
  • Nate McLouth – MLB, Atlanta Braves
  • Justin Abdelkader – NHL, Detroit Red Wings
  • Ronald Johnson – NFL, Philadelpia Eagles
  • Sherman Poppen – Inventor of the Snurfer (first snowboard)
  • Bobby Grich – former 2nd basemen for the Baltimore Orioles
  • Ruvell Martin – NFL, Seattle Seahawks
  • Todd Herremann - NFL - Philadelpia Eagles

       MHS Championships

  • 12 Class A Football Championships (1920,1921, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1936, 1937, 1942, 1944, 1951, 1971)
  • 5 MHSAA Football Championships (1986, 1989, 2004, 2006, 2008)
  • 2 Boys Track and Field State Championships (1909, 1910)
  • 4 Boys Track and Field Runner-Up State Championships (1908, 1911, 1915, 1921)
  • 3 Boys Basketball State Championships (1923, 1927, 1937)