By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK – A football player and coach, trailblazing female track standout, and members of undefeated football and swim teams will again bask in athletic glory and be honored for their community service.
The Lincoln Park Rotary Club’s 15th annual Lincoln Park Sports Hall of Fame honors will recognize achievements – both on- and off the field – during an induction ceremony and benefit dinner.
This year’s inductees are William Meadows, Class of 1961, who co-captained the varsity football squad while serving as class president during his senior year; and Sherice Duchamp (Krzywonos), Class of 1972, who, beginning at age 12, ran track with the Lincoln Park Parkettes, an independent organization that competed in the Amateur Athletic Union as the school district had not yet implemented many girls’ sport teams.
Also being recognized are members of the 1962 varsity football team (8-1 on the season); and undefeated 1963 squad (8-0-1); and the 1955-56 swim team that racked up a 19-0 record, and the 1956-57 squad that went 14-2.
Rotary Club Secretary Don Kush said the award been given to 60 individuals so far – along with dozens of notable teams from years past – with plaques summarizing their achievements lining a hall at the high school.
Proceeds from the benefit dinner go toward scholarships for local student-athletes. The Lincoln Park Rotary Foundation also works with Downriver substance abuse programs which also have benefitted from the induction dinner.
Hall of Fame co-chairman Jim Nelson said more than just athletic prowess is recognized through the inductions. After graduating near the top of his class, Meadows, an all-league tackle, played on scholarship at the University of Missouri. He shifted to guard by his senior year, and also played linebacker in the 1963 Blue Bonnet Bowl.
Meadows returned to Lincoln Park High School as a teacher and coach who helped steer an undefeated 1969 squad. Meadows also taught and coached in the Woodhaven School District before a recent retirement – which was noted when Woodhaven High School named its athletic complex in his honor.
Duchamp joined the newly formed Parkettes squad in 1965 and early on showed championship abilities by taking a pair of All-America titles in her age group, which earned invitations to national tournaments where she competed with future Olympians. Parkettes played hard and worked hard for the community, and were frequent fixtures at parades and local events.
Duchamp set more than two dozen records before graduating, but continued with her passion for running and mentoring young women. In the early 1990s Duchamp returned to competitive running and served with Team Ameritech while also becoming an integral part of the St. Cyril’s Jerusalem Food Pantry, St. George’s in Detroit, Downriver Christnet and a pantry in Cheboygan.
The inductees will be honored beginning with a reception at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 at Lincoln Park High School, 1701 Champaign. Tickets for the event are $35 and can be purchased at the door or by contacting the Rotary Club of Lincoln Park Foundation, P.O. Box 299, Lincoln Park, MI 48146.
For more information contact Nelson at 734-673-0997 or George Cretu at 313-506-4045.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)