Feature: Spartan Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 30
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS CLASS OF 30
One of the most memorable events in Spartan athletic history unfolded at Kellogg Center on Sept. 11 when the first Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted. Most of the 500 attendees of the black-tie banquet stayed until 1 a.m. to commemorate Spartan greats spanning the modern history of MSU athletics. They included presidents, athletic directors, coaches, multiple national champions and Olympic champions. Each brought their unique experiences at Michigan State and made the evening a torrential flow of shared Green and White memories.
Terry Braverman, director of the Ralph Young Fund and a master of ceremonies extraordinaire, might have paraphrased John F. Kennedy and said, 'Never has such a collection of extraordinary Spartans been gathered in one room, with the possible exception of when John Hannah dined alone.'
In this case, however, Hannah, MSU's greatest president and the one person most responsible for MSU's modern growth to national prominence in both athletics and academics, was a member of the charter class. Two current superstars, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Charles 'Bubba' Smith, could not make it, but 20 of the 30 inductees made it in person--including octagenarian Fred Alderman, who weathered the trip from Atlanta. The others were represented by their families. One participant, former football coach Dan Devine, passed up a reunion at Notre Dame to present Bob Carey. Gene Washington brought his entire family entourage from Minneapolis. Earl Morrall, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, took time off from his Congressional campaign in Florida to attend. 'This . . . allows us to transmit the greatness of yesterday into the greatness of today,' said athletics director Merrily Baker, who had a unique opportunity to absorb much of the Spartan legacy in one sitting.
The following capsules of charter members were compiled by Mark Rich of Spartan magazine, the new tabloid covering MSU sports:
FRED ALDERMAN (Track) -- A three-time letterwinner in track from 1925 through 1927, Alderman was team captain in 1927. He won the national collegiate championships in the 100 and 200 yard events in 1927. Alderman was Michigan State's first athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. He was on the 1928 USA's 1,600-meter relay team at Amsterdam and set a world record time of 3:14.1.
GLORIA BECKSFORD (Softball) -- A pitcher in 1975 and 1976, Becksford led the Spartans to the national championship by winning all five games at the 1976 AIAW Softball College World Series. She threw three straight shutouts, struck out 25 batters and allowed just five runs. Her 1975 squad finished third at the College world Series. Since 1980, she has served as MSU's head softball coach. She was Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1986.
AMO BESSONE (Hockey) -- 'Mr. Hockey' was MSU's head hockey coach for 28 seasons (1951-1979). Bessone boasts the most wins (367) in MSU history and his 387 career wins rank him 15th on the NCAA all-time coaching chart. Bessone led MSU to its first national hockey championship in 1966, with a 6-1 victory over Clarkson in the title game. He was named National Coach of the Year by the National Collegiate Hockey coaches' Association that year. His teams reached the Final Four three times and won four Big Ten Championships. Bessone has also been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
JACK BRESLIN (Football, Baseball, Basketball) -- Known as 'Mr. MSU,' Breslin was a two-time letterwinner in football, baseball and basketball. He received the Governor's Award as football MVP in 1944, and captained the football and baseball teams in 1945. After his athletic career, Breslin served Michigan State in administrative capacities for over 30 years. In 1984, he won the Duffy Daugherty Award for having distinguished himself on and off the field. The Jack Breslin Student Events Center, home of MSU basketball, was named in his honor in 1989.
BOB CAREY (Football, Basketball, Track) -- Carey won three letters in football (1949-51), basketball (1950-52) and track (1950-52). He was a consensus All-America end and captained the 1951 football team to a 9-0 record and a No. 2 national ranking. Carey made the all-time MSU football team in 1969. He shares the all-time MSU record for touchdown receptions in a season with eight. In 1952, Carey won MSU's prestigious Chester L. Brewer Award. Carey was a three-year starter at center in basketball, as well as an All-America and Big Ten champion in the shot put in 1951. After graduation, Carey played six seasons in the NFL and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. Biggie Munn described him as 'the greatest all-around athlete I've ever seen or hope to see.'
LYNN CHANDNOIS (Football) -- Chandnois won four letters in football (1946-49) and was a consensus All-America halfback in 1949. His 7.48 yards per carry in 1948 remains an all-time MSU record. He also holds the MSU record for most career pass interceptions with 20. MVP in 1948 and Michigan's outstanding Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1950, Chandnois played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1950-56 and made the NFL All-Pro squad three times. In 1952 he was named the 'NFL Player of the Year' by the Washington Touchdown Club. Chandnois made the all-time MSU football team in 1969 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
DON COLEMAN (Football) -- A three-year starter at tackle (1949-51), Coleman was the first Spartan named unanimous All-American in 1951. He won the Governor's Award as MSU's MVP as a senior. Coleman recorded the tackle on every MSU punt and kickoff in the 1951 game against Penn State He was named outstanding lineman in the East-West Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl in 1952. In 1969 he made MSU's all-time football team and was named best interior lineman in MSU history. His jersey (78) was the first one retired by MSU. Coleman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
DUFFY DAUGHERTY (Football Coach) -- The all-time winningest football coach in MSU history (109-60-5 from 1954-72), Daugherty was the first man ever named Coach of the Year twice by the Football Writers of America (1956 and 1965). His 1965 squad went 10-1, losing only to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, and was named national champions in the final UPI poll. Two other Daugherty teams, in 1956 and 1966, finished No. 2 in the nation. Seven others finished in the national Top 10. In 19 seasons, Daugherty's teams won the Big Ten outright two times and finished second four times. The Duffy Daugherty Football Building was named in his honor. Daugherty has also been inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (1975) and the College Football Hall of Fame (1984).
CHUCK DAVEY (Boxing) -- A four-year letterwinner in boxing (1943, 1947-49), Davey was the NCAA's only four-time boxing champion. Voted the outstanding NCAA boxer three times, he was undefeated in all of his collegiate bouts. Davey captained the boxing squad for three years (1947-49) after he won his first NCAA title at age 17, the youngest champion ever at the time. Davey was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic boxing team. He was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He has served as vice- president of the World Boxing Association and as Michigan's boxing commissioner.
LYMAN FRIMODIG (Baseball, Besketball, Football) -- The only 10-time letterwinner in MSU history, 'Frim' earned four monograms in both basketball and baseball, plus two in football. He captained the basketball squad in 1915-16, and his MSU single-game scoring record of 30 points stood for 35 years. As basketball coach Frimodig compiled a 24-20 record from 1921-22. As assistant athletic director, he was the business manager for 41 years.
