Matthew Greene - - Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Civic Events - - July 25, 2019 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Matthew Greene

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

Matthew Greene is a talented hockey player who played over ten years in the National Hockey League and won Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. 

He was also successful in high school and his University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux was an NCAA Championship finalist in 2005.  He was honored with selection to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic team in 2004 and 2005.

Matthew Greene thanked Bob Every and the hall for his induction.  He noted that a common thread from every previous inductee presentation was passion.  (He was the final person to accept his induction.)

He thanked his family and friends.  When he was sixteen, his parents allowed him to move from Grand Ledge to Detroit to participate in Junior Hockey.  He played all over the world and got a great experience.  He learned to be responsible and to be a good teammate.

He encouraged the audience to continue to work to provide athletic experiences to young people.  It makes a difference in many lives!

(During his presentation, he mentioned following Roy Kramer, who is a dynamic speaker and worried that his presentation didn’t stand up.  I can assure him that he did fine!)

For those who wish to read about the entire induction ceremony, here is a link.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Roy Kramer - - Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Civic Events - - July 25, 2019 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Roy Kramer

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

Roy Kramer was a tremendously successful Football Coach and Athletic Administrator that has had great success on both the high school and college levels.  He won state football titles as a high school coach in Hudson, Dowagiac and East Lansing; he was named Coach of the Year in 1964.

He coached at Central Michigan University from 1967-1977 and won the Division II National Championship in 1974.

He achieved a great deal of renown as an athletic administrator.  He was Athletic Director at Vanderbilt University from 1978-1990 and Southeastern Conference Commissioner from 1990-2002. 

He has been given fourteen awards either as an inductee to a Hall of Fame or a Distinguished Service award.  He is further honored every year as the Southeastern Conference as the Athletes of the year receive the “Roy Kramer” award.

Bob Every introduced Mike Griffith, who came to the podium to introduce Mr. Kramer. 

Mike Griffith gave a wonderful introduction where he pointed out that Roy Kramer was the person most responsible for finally getting the NCAA to designate a National Football Championship.  Mike let us know that many successful, famous coaches including Phil Fulmer from Tennessee, Vince Dooley and Steve Spurrier from Florida, respected and trusted Mr. Kramer completely.

They cited his high level of honesty and sincerity as well as his experience both as a football coach and an administrator.

Roy Kramer took the stage and gave a truly dynamic presentation!  He said that he came to East Lansing during a Golden Age of High School football in the area.  He mentioned that there were many good teams when he coached at East Lansing. 

He said that his Hall of Fame Induction belongs to the players he coached at East Lansing and to the great game of football which teaches persistence, dedication and teamwork.  Football brings to him many great memories of hard work and how it pays off. 

He accepted his induction honor not just for himself, but for the game of football and many exciting Friday nights!

For those who wish to read about the entire induction ceremony, here is a link.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Dave Poquette - - Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Civic Events - - July 25, 2019 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Dave Poquette

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

This is one of three people who were inducted this year for success in a sport that is not one of the standard sports played by host high schools.  Dave Poquette achieved a lot of success as a Professional Rugby player.

He is in the Eastern Rockies Hall of Fame.  He was the MVP for the National All Stars in 1989 and the National Championship 7s and 15s.

He also coached at Michigan State University from 1992-2012 as well as for the Midwest All Stars and the United States Eagles in Japan.

Dave Poquette told us that he was proud to be the first rugby player inducted into the Hall of Fame.  He thanked his wife and sons for supporting him in his devotion to rugby.  (In fact, tonight is his 27^th wedding anniversary and his wife is here!)  He thanked his coaches.

Rugby is a tough, occasionally brutal sport that builds bonds with teammates who share the intense experience.  He named many of his teammates.  He also gave special thanks to his father, who took the time to prepare his application for the hall. 

(For those of you who are curious, Dave Poquette is the brother of Ben Poquette, a basketball player who was inducted to the hall in 1990.)

For those who wish to read about the entire induction ceremony, here is a link.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html