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Young's Magic Will be Missed in Muskegon

By Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com

January 10, 2018

Muskegon High School’s historic Hackley Stadium was not an easy place for Gene Young to navigate in recent years, with his hulking 6-foot-6 frame slowed by neuropathy in both feet and worsened this past fall by a nasty infection on his left heel.

But few people have ever been more positive than Young, a giant – literally and figuratively – in the Muskegon area sports, broadcasting and education communities who died on Jan. 2 at the age of 76.

Young was determined to make it up to the Hackley Stadium press box back on that August day last fall, to broadcast the Big Reds’ opening game against Ann Arbor Pioneer with myself and play-by-play man Larry Taylor on Muskegon radio station WMUS-FM 107.9 – kicking off his 39th year as the voice of high school football on the lakeshore.

The first challenge was parking.

“Tommy, pull into that lot across from the gate. I know the people working there,” said Young, who seemingly knew everybody, everywhere.

Gene rolled down his window and I couldn’t hear his exact words, but I know he gave $10 instead of the $5 charge (the proceeds were going to help out Muskegon’s minor sports programs). He also put a smile on that parking lot attendant’s face and made him feel like the most important part of the entire game-day operation.

That’s the Gene Young magic.

The next hurdle was crossing Sanford Street and getting into the stadium.

Back in his heyday, Gene was a fantastic athlete, a standout big man and 1959 graduate of Muskegon Heights High School, who accepted a basketball scholarship to Central Michigan University and played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman. He transferred to Otero Junior College in Colorado for one year, before playing his final two years for Weber State University in Utah, coached by NBA legend Dick Motta.

But this past fall, crossing the street was getting to be a challenge.

The gate attendant spotted him making his way slowly across Sanford with his cane and began undoing the padlocked gate. Young never needed to show a press credential in the Muskegon area, as he and his buddy Jim Moyes had been the voice and the spirit of Muskegon-area high school sports since they first started working together in 1978. The two filled their broadcasts with memories and insights brought in from their deep knowledge of Muskegon’s sports history.

As Gene and I were let in, many of the fans who still had to wait snickered a bit. Gene diffused the situation quickly, as only he could.

“We’re big time; we’re with ESPN,” he deadpanned.

The next part of the journey is walking down the dark tunnel and up a short ramp where you then experience that first glimpse of the hallowed ground at Hackley Stadium – it’s a moment that Muskegon locals would equate with going around “the curve” near Pere Marquette Park and seeing that first view of Lake Michigan, or an 8-year-old’s first visit to Disneyland. As he plopped down on the handicap bench up front to rest, no one knew it would be his final time to experience that thrill.

Shame on me for not appreciating that moment as I should have, because I was nervously scurrying up the bleachers to set up our radio equipment.

When I glanced down, Gene was holding court on that bench as a steady stream of folks stopped by to shake his hand.

Some of them were old education friends like Roger Hoekenga, a retired Muskegon Public Schools administrator who stopped to talk about retirement. Gene began his teaching and coaching careers at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, but is best known for his 26-year run as the Director of Community Education, Adult Education and Recreation at Fruitport. Upon his retirement, he specialized in helping school boards make good hires for superintendent and other administrative positions.

Terri Clock, the lone woman on the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board, then stopped to visit for a few moments. One of Gene’s crowning achievements had been his tireless work for the local sports hall, taking over as president in 1994 and serving in that role until his death.

“He is the hall of fame. When Dick Hedges (the first president of the MASHF) passed away, Gene took over and that was his baby,” said Moyes, who delivered a powerful eulogy at Young’s funeral service on Jan. 6. “He put hours and hours into making our hall of fame the best one. Everything was always first class with Gene.”

The equipment was all set up, and I had already done a test call with the station – and my partner was still sitting on that bench.

I just shook my head and smiled. His friends and family (and especially his wife, Sandy) were used to “Gene speed” – whether it was making his way past all of the characters at the bar to get to our table for lunch every Friday, or visiting with each of the workers on his way to the pool at the health club, or shaking everyone’s hand after church on Sunday.

Muskegon head coach Shane Fairfield also stopped quickly to chat, thanking Gene for sending him a note of encouragement all four times his teams lost in MHSAA championship games (Fairfield told me at Gene’s visitation that he received another note this year after the Big Reds won the Division 3 title). Then, finally, Gene had a brief word with Muskegon star quarterback La’Darius Jefferson, who experienced Gene’s handshake grip, which he kept locked on until he was ready to let you go.

Only then did he start his trek up the 28 concrete rows to the Hackley Stadium press box, which included two or three more stops to rest/visit with Muskegon and Ann Arbor Pioneer fans, before he finally got to his spot at 6:25 p.m. – 5 minutes before air time.

“Tommy Kendra, I picked up some good information down there,” he said.

Those words struck me that day, and I learned a valuable lesson. As I sat there alone in the middle of the press box, sweating profusely, bored and isolated, poring over relatively meaningless stats that I already knew by heart, I realized that he was doing it the right way.

I’ve determined that the best way to honor and remember my dear friend and mentor is to never be in too big of a rush to get into the press box, to get a seat at the lunch table or a treadmill at the gym. Take it a little slower. Be interested in other people. Figure out a way to use your God-given gifts to help them. Brighten their day. And, in the process, learn a few things and gain a new perspective.

That’s the Gene Young magic.

Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.

***

Ludington’s Beckman Came Home, Gave Back

Rod Beckman never really got away from high school sports.

Beckman, who died on Dec. 20 at the age of 69 after a five-year battle with cancer, is remembered as one of the best all-around athletes to ever come out of Shelby High School – good enough to earn a Division I basketball scholarship to Oklahoma State University and later shift gears and play three years of professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers organization.

Then Beckman went back to high school, in a way, as the voice of Ludington High School sports for 40 years, from 1972 to 2012, at radio station WKLA in Ludington, where he worked as a popular disc jockey by day.

Beckman also made an impact on high school sports as a well-known and respected baseball and softball umpire in Mason County for more than 25 years.

Ultimately, Beckman stayed involved in sports throughout his life as an outlet for his competitive nature and a way to spend quality time with family and friends. His passion for basketball and baseball later gave way to fast-pitch softball and golf, but he also did his share of bowling, hockey and racquetball. Beckman is a member of the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame.

Beckman used his popularity and name recognition to help others right up until his death.

In September, Beckman hosted the Rod Beckman Cancer Charity Golf Classic, which raised more than $70,000 for the Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Cancer Patient Assistance Fund and The Optimist Childhood Cancer Campaign.

Beckman is survived by his wife of 21 years, Traci.

– Tom Kendra

PHOTOS: (Top) Gene Young, left, with his most recent broadcasting team of Larry Taylor (second from left) and Tom Kendra, and halftime guest Justin Abdelkader of the Detroit Red Wings, during a 2016 game. Young was working for iHeart Media station WMUS-107.9 FM in Muskegon. (Middle) The legendary broadcast duo of Young, left, and Jim Moyes, call the Class D championship game in 2002. (Below) Young poses in front of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame displays at the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon. Young served as president of the MASHF for the past 24 years.

Goodrich’s Jakoby Lagat (24) followed the block of teammate Chase Burnett during their team’s Division 4 Semifinal win over Harper Woods.

1st & Goal: 2024 11-Player Semifinals Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 25, 2024

Of 16 teams that earned trips Saturday to this weekend’s MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals, eight will be returning to Ford Field for at least the second season in a row – with a repeat Division 8 championship game leading off the upcoming lineup.

MI Student AidNotable as well, four schools earned an opportunity to play on the season’s final day for the first time – and those are just some of the storylines to catch up on during a quick week that will conclude the MHSAA’s 2023 Fall season.

We’ll be back with a preview of all eight championship games Wednesday evening. For now, see all 16 Semifinals at a glance:

(Note: Highlights from Saturday's 8-Player Finals will be included in a final football championship "Review" next week.)

Division 1

HEADLINER Hudsonville 27, Rochester Adams 7 Hudsonville (12-1) will play for a championship for the first time since 2005. The Eagles broke away with 20 unanswered points after the teams went into halftime tied. Adams finished 10-3, reaching double digit wins for the third time in four years. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

HEADLINER Detroit Cass Tech 17, Detroit Catholic Central 14 Cass Tech (11-2) will make the one-mile Finals trip for the first time since 2016 after handing Detroit Catholic Central (12-1) its only defeat this season. Alex Graham returned the opening kickoff for a Technicians score, and they held off the Shamrocks late with a Corey Sadler interception and blocked field goal attempt. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Division 2

HEADLINER Byron Center 41, East Lansing 14 Byron Center (12-1) advanced to a championship game for the first time with a stunning defensive performance – stopping a Trojans offense averaging 38 points per game – and on the legs of quarterback Landon Tungate, who ran for six touchdowns. East Lansing finished 9-4. Click for more from FOX 17.

HEADLINER Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 28, Birmingham Groves 27 (OT) Groves scored first in overtime, but St. Mary’s (10-3) stopped a 2-point conversion try and then scored and made the extra point to earn a first Finals trip since 2016. Groves was playing in its fourth Semifinal over the last nine years and finished 12-1. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Division 3

HEADLINER Zeeland West 32, DeWitt 20 West (12-1) was able to slow down one of the most productive offenses in MHSAA history, holding the Panthers (12-1) to nearly 37 points below their season average to reach Ford Field for the first time since 2015. DeWitt did finish its season with 702 points, good for seventh all-time, with its final 54 ppg average ranking eighth. Click for more from the Holland Sentinel.

HEADLINER Detroit Martin Luther King 35, Mason 14 The Crusaders (10-3) avenged last season’s Semifinal loss to Mason to earn a return to Ford Field for the seventh time in nine seasons. Mason finished 10-3 this fall, and a combined 45-8 over quarterback Cason Carswell’s four seasons on varsity. Click for more from MLIVE-Detroit.

Division 4

HEADLINER Niles 62, Grand Rapids South Christian 30 Niles will carry its longest playoff run ever into the season’s final weekend after putting up its most points this season. South Christian scored first, but the Vikings (12-1) took a 38-14 led into halftime and denied the Sailors (8-5) what would have been a third-straight trip to Ford Field. Click for more from the Niles Daily Star.

HEADLINER Goodrich 28, Harper Woods 14 In another 2023 Semifinal rematch, Goodrich also avenged by defeating the reigning Division 4 champion. Standout running back Chase Burnett scored three times to help send the Martians (12-1) back to Ford Field for the second time in three seasons. Harper Woods finished 9-4. Click for more from the Flint Journal.

Division 5

HEADLINER Frankenmuth 42, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 35 In their fourth playoff matchup over the last five seasons, Frankenmuth (13-0) was able to get past its nemesis for the first time taking at one point a 28-7 lead before holding off the Cougars’ comeback attempt. Frankenmuth had three rushers reach 100 yards, while quarterback Odin Spencer threw for 390 and three scores for GRCC (8-5). Click for more from the Saginaw News.

HEADLINER Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 49, Flat Rock 7 Notre Dame Prep (11-1) earned its first trip to the Finals with the latest of several impressive performances this fall. Most notably, the Fighting Irish stopped a Flat Rock offense averaging 43 points per game, while putting up 49 against a defense that was giving up only 13. The Rams finished their second-straight Semifinals season at 10-3. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Division 6

HEADLINER Lansing Catholic 34, Boyne City 22 Quarterback Alex Fernandez starred again, leading Lansing Catholic (10-3) back to Ford Field for the first time since 2021 but third time over the last six seasons. Boyne City capped its longest playoff season in a decade at 10-3. Click for more from WLNS.

HEADLINER Jackson Lumen Christi 35, Marine City 6 Lumen Christi (12-1) will finish its season at Ford Field for the third straight and seventh time over the last nine seasons. Kadale Williams ran for four touchdowns, including three of at least 60 yards. Marine City (10-3) was averaging 45 points per game before the Titans defense posted its third single-digit performance of the playoffs. Click for more from WILX.

Division 7

HEADLINER Millington 35, North Muskegon 28 Millington (12-0) earned its first championship game berth, beginning to pull away during the closing seconds of the first half on a hook-and-ladder touchdown pass and then holding off North Muskegon’s comeback attempt at the end. The Norsemen finished their second-straight Semifinals season at 11-2. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

HEADLINER Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 38, Schoolcraft 7 It was quite a weekend for Monroe St. Mary, as the volleyball team won its first Finals championship since 2020 and the football team advanced to Ford Field for the first time since 2019. The Falcons (13-0) did so in part by locking down a Schoolcraft offense that averaged nearly 37 points per game entering the weekend. The Eagles finished 11-2. Click for more from the Monroe News.

Division 8

HEADLINER Beal City 17, Fowler 16 Beal City (11-2) has proven tough to overtake in close games this month as the Aggies claimed their third in a row by seven points or fewer – and actually fourth of the season with their two losses also by just four points apiece. Beal will return to Ford Field for the first time since 2021, while Fowler ended its first Semifinal run since 2019 at 12-1. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

HEADLINER Riverview Gabriel Richad 36, Decatur 30 Gabriel Richard earned its first trip to the Finals with big days from senior Joey Calhoun and junior Derek Lesko. Calhoun scored three touchdowns and Lesko twice with two interceptions as the Pioneers held of Decatur (11-2), which completed its best season since 2002 with two losses by a combined 14 points. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald.

MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTO Goodrich’s Jakoby Lagat (24) followed the block of teammate Chase Burnett during their team’s Division 4 Semifinal win over Harper Woods. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)