Linked Up: Generations of Calls
July 9, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Father Ralph Burr recently finished his 50th season as an MHSAA official at 76 years old. His daughter Jackie has worked with him for 20 seasons, and son Jeff has served alongside Dad various times over the last 36 years.
Add in another son and grandson, and the family has officiated a combined 142 years in the Muskegon area.
Grand Rapids' WZZM tells the story of the Burrs, focusing especially on Ralph and his other contributions including the care-taking of Muskegon's Sheldon Field.
Click for the WZZM story on the Burrs and watch below if your browser allows for Flash playback. Also, see the report done earlier this season by the Muskegon Chronicle.
PHOTO: Members of the Burr family pose during the MHSAA Officials Awards & Alumni Banquet in May including current MHSAA officials Jackie Burr, (to her left) Ralph Burr and (on far right) Jeff Burr.
Today in the MHSAA: 4/11/16
April 11, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Forget for a minute the snow of the last two days; spring has arrived for high school sports, and a number of teams got started over the weekend.
Baseball
Port Huron Northern pitcher Brett Manis picked up a memorable early highlight with 17 strikeouts in no-hitting Yale on Friday – Port Huron Times Herald
Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse improved to 3-1 with a 6-4 comeback win over Macomb Dakota at the Spring Break Tournament – Macomb Daily
Girls Tennis
Midland Dow opened with an impressive pair of wins over Division 3 powers Detroit Country Day and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood – Midland Daily News
Track & Field
Some top Upper Peninsula athletes got off to quick starts as Ironwood competed at the Simpson Invitational in Superior, Wisconsin – Ironwood Daily Globe
Good Reads
The Detroit-area Observer & Eccentric newspapers have been reporting over the last two weeks a number of stories on officials as the MHSAA works to recruit more into the avocation. Below are links to just some from the series.
Wrestling official Zaim Cunmulaj - KLAA assignor Bob Czech - Football and Basketball official Donta Favors - MHSAA always recruiting