NFHS Hall of Fame Inductee Charles E. Forsythe
Mr. Charles E. Forsythe, State Director of the Michigan State High School Athletic Association for 32 years, was one of the most savent interscholastic administrators of his day. He gave 45 years of distinguished leadership to Michigan athletics while emerging as a significant contributor on the national level. Except for a brief period of military service during World War II, he spent 39 years with the Michigan High School Athletic Association, polishing its administrative and organizational functions and developing the state association into an organization that has acquired distinguished reputation within the National Federation family. Mr. Forsythe is a legend in his home state. He is considered a pioneer in the development of administraitve controls in interscholastic athletics and is perhaps the most influential author ever in the field of athletic administration. His published works were not only the first comprehensive efforts in the area of high school sports administration, but served for many years as professional blueprints for athletic directors throughout the nation.
Mr. Forsythe began his influential career in athletic administration in 1923 as athletic director and science teacher at Central High School in Lansing, Mich. He spent seven years in the post, developing many of the fundamentals he would later detail in his books. He joined the Michigan High School Athletic Association in 1929 as Assistant State Director, then became Executive Director in 1931 and except for brief interruption for military duty (1942-45) served the state association until retiring four decades later in 1968. During his tenure the MHSAA expanded state championship events to include basketball, track and field and swimming. For many years he served on the National Federation Competition Committee and the national swimming rules committee. Mr. Forsythe also served 25 years (1935-60) on the NCAA swimming rules committee. His counsel was frequently sought by his colleagues and he served on many ad hoc committees.
His insight into athletic administration was captured in a series of books which stand among the most important publishing efforts in the history of high school athletics. His initial book, "The Administration of High School Athletics," was published in 1939 and was a forerunner in athletic administration which for many years was the standard text in professional courses at many colleges. In 1951 he co-authored "The Administration of Physical Education" with Dr. Ray Duncan. His final major work, "The Athletic Director's Handbook," was completed in 1956 and widely used both educationally and professionally. He contributed frequently to magazines and professional journals. His philosophy and knowledge of school athletics placed him in great demand as a speaker for a variety of educational convocations. He served as a visiting professor and lecturer in athletic administration at the University of Michigan as well as Wisconsin, Oregon and Southern California.
Mr. Forsythe is among the most honored individuals in Michigan sports history, having received the "National Award" from the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1968, the "Michigan Honor Award" (1960) and "Fellow Honor Award" (1951) from the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The Michigan Education Association recognized this distinguished service in 1969 and that same year he received a similar award from the Michigan High School Coaches Association, He was inducated into the Eastern Michigan University Hall of Fame in 1981.
Charles Forsythe was an outstanding student and athlete in high school and on the collegiate level. He attended college at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan where he completed under graduate work and Masters Degree. He received Doctor of Law at EMU in 1965. Mr. Forsythe graduated from Milan (Mich.) High School in 1918.