Friday, July 26, 2019

Denny Myers - - 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

Denny Myers

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

Denny Myers was the first of the evening’s inductees.  As he is deceased, Kevin Twait, the Athletic Director at Iowa Central Community College, Lucas Babbitt, his nephew and Kim Spalsbury, a track coach and previous inductee to the Hall of Fame accepted his award for him.

Denny Myers was a track and cross country coach who led his teams to six men’s and four women’s NCJAA (Community College) championships while coaching at Lansing Community College.  He also coached two Men’s Team and three Women’s Team Marathon National Champions.  He also coached five Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Champions.

Kevin Twait told the attendees of the great success that Denny Myers had coaching sports at Iowa Central Community College. 

Lucas Babbitt, in addition to being Coach Myers’ nephew was also coached by him.  He said that his uncle brought out the best in everyone and had a big impact on his athletes’ lives, both in and out of their sport.  Coach Myers generally shied away from taking too much credit for his athletes’ success.  Lucas Babbitt thanked the hall for the award to his uncle.

Kim Spalsbury thanked the hall and noted that he and Coach Myers were hired to coach track at DeWitt when they were very young (and still had the long hair worn by many men in the seventies!)  He said “He (Coach Myers) took care of athletes like his own kids.”

He also pointed out that Coach Myers did a lot more than just win track meets and did a lot to develop the Grand Ledge track program before he moved on to coaching at Community Colleges.

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

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