In Memoriam: Fred McLeod (1952-2019)
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 10, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Basketball fans all over Ohio and Michigan are mourning the death Monday evening of longtime play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod, who was known most for his broadcasts of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons over the last 36 years – but also made a few of the most memorable calls in MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals history.
McLeod, who was 67, was a voice of MHSAA Finals broadcasts from 1998 – FOX Sports Detroit’s first year of coverage – through the 2005 boys basketball championship games, his last before leaving FSD for FOX Sports Ohio.
According to a statement posted by the Cavs on their website, McLeod broadcast more than 1,000 games for that team during two stints, and 22 seasons for the Detroit Pistons, in addition to time supplying his voice for the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers as well over nearly four decades.
Below are McLeod’s calls from the final seconds of the 2005 Class D Final between Detroit Rogers and Bellaire and 1999 Class D Final between Detroit City and Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, both on FOX Sports Detroit.
In Memoriam: Brenda Henry (1967-2021)
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 30, 2021
Brendaettie “Brenda” Henry, a dedicated academic and athletic presence at Detroit Western International High School for more than three decades and an integral member of the tournament management staff annually for the MHSAA Girls & Boys Basketball Finals at Breslin Center, died unexpectedly April 21.
Henry had served on staff at Western since 1989, most recently as an academic interventionalist in charge of working with seniors and getting them scholarships, and she also oversaw Western’s night school IMPACT (formerly Second Chance) Program that assists high school students with credit recovery.
She also had served as Western’s athletic director for four years and coached volleyball, basketball and track & field, and she was a registered MHSAA basketball official for 14 of the last 16 seasons.
Every winter for nearly 15 seasons, Henry’s educational service extended to her MHSAA basketball family as she contributed to championship weekends at Breslin and previously Eastern Michigan University.
“Brenda had a huge heart for people, and that’s why she was such a valuable part of our basketball tournament staff for so many years,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “She was a huge reason the Breslin experience has been special for so many people.”
Henry, an alum of Detroit Northern High School, worked in Detroit Public Schools for more than 35 years total. She also was a sign language interpreter and active part of her church community.