Ten Selected for 2009 U.P. Sports Hall of Fame Induction
By David Latva

Tom and Kay Schwalbach, St. Ignace summer residents.

Ten candidates were selected for induction into the 2009 Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame during the annual meeting of the committee Saturday, July 26, in Menominee. One of the inductees is a St. Ignace summer resident.

John Berrigan of Escanaba, Bob Gingrass of Iron Mountain, and Mark Olson of Marquette were the three new members selected from the pre-1960 nominees. Seven from post-1960 include Tom Schwalbach and Dan Flynn of Escanaba, Alice (nee Duesing) Nightingale of Sault Ste. Marie, Duane Tirschel of Iron Mountain, Dale Phillips of Ishpeming/ Marquette, and Bob Wallenstein of Negaunee/Marquette.

Schwalbach, who is a summer resident in St. Ignace, was graduated from Escanaba High School after a standout career with the Eskymos football, baseball, and track teams, and spent three years with the Marine Corps Special Services.

After military service, Schwalbach received a degree from Northern Michigan University (NMU) while earning most valuable player honors for the Wildcats during his four years. In his freshman season, he played every down as quarterback, defensive safety, punter, and kicker, and led NMU in scoring with 103 points.

Drafted by the Boston Patriots of the old American Football League (AFL), Schwalbach elected to take a teaching and coaching position over playing in the AFL, and spent two years teaching at Munising High School. He and his wife, Kay (nee Reavie), originally of St. Ignace, moved to Rockford, Illinois, and coached football for 26 years and wrestling for three years at West High School.

The Schwalbachs have three children, two sons, Jeff and Scott, and a daughter, Melissa, and six grandchildren, who live in the Rockford area.

Members, History

Hall of Fame

The Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame committee selected the 39th class for induction, which will be Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Escanaba.

The committee consists of 23 members. Art Allen of Manistique and Gene Maki of Wakefield are charter members since 1972. Other members are Ted Kearly (1972) of Hancock, Frank Godman (1975) of Hermansville, Dennis Grall (1974) of Escanaba, Karl Dickson (1981) of Escanaba, Craig Remsburg (1986) of Marquette, Larry Rubick (1990) of Newberry, Steve Swanson (1993) of Ishpeming, Bob Krysiak (1994) of Menominee, Rod Guizzetti (1994) of Negaunee, Duane Tirshel (1994) of Iron Mountain, Nancy Osier (1995) of Wakefield, Dennis Chartier (1999) of Iron Mountain, Dave Lahtinen (2000) of Gladstone, Bill Crawford (2000) of Sault Ste. Marie, Robert Erkkila (2001) of Calumet, Cathy Shamion (2001) of Ontonagon, Rex Terwilliger (2004) of Iron Mountain, Dave Hallgren (2005) of Negaunee, Fred DeVuono (2006) of Sault Ste. Marie, Jim Partanen (2007) of Bessemer, and David Latva (2008) of St. Ignace.

Rod Guizzetti is president of the organization, while Cathy Shamion is vice-president, Denny Grall is secretary, and Steve Swanson is treasurer.

The committee meets twice during the year, in July, to select the upcoming class, and the day of the induction in the spring.