Adrian

In the late 19th century through early 20th century Adrian was known as the "fence capital of the world," when J. Wallace Page invented the first successful wire fence. Throughout this time period Adrian was the one of the first fencing manufacturers in the world and its fences were shipped as far as New York, Berlin, Asia, and Africa. The company sponsored the highly successful Page Fence Giants black baseball team.

Notable People

Addison Comstock, founder of Adrian and builder of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad (the first railroad west of New York State)

Norman Bel Geddes, architectural industrial designer, aviation designer, and theatrical designer best known for the 1939 New York World's Fair pavilion Futurama he designed for General Motors

Laura Smith Haviland, Superintendent and Stationmaster on the Underground Railroad

Thomas M. Cooley, Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, 1864–1885

Thomas Edison, inventor, lived in Adrian and opened a shop for repairing telegraph instruments and the making of new machinery

Charles Croswell, Governor of Michigan, 1877–1881

Phil Donahue, talk show host got his start in 1959 working at radio station WABJ in Adrian

Orville D. Merillat, founder of Merillat Kitchens—later Merillat Industries (born in Salem, Ohio, moved to Adrian as a young man)

Martha Seger, economist, in 1984 became first woman appointed to a full term on the Federal Reserve Board, Governor of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. from 1984–1991

Dorne Dibble, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions was born in Adrian

Mike Marshall (baseball pitcher), Major League Baseball pitcher who won the 1974 Cy Young Award

Garry Wills, Catholic intellectual and author, spent childhood years in Adrian[5]

Matt Noveskey, the bass player for Blue October and A Plus Machines was born in Adrian

Chris Gregoire, Governor of Washington, 2005–present, was born in Adrian

Honus Wagner, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer played 16 games for the Adrian Demons in 1895.

Rich Hoffer, Radio and Television Play-By-Play Announcer for University of Toledo. Graduated Adrian High School, 1975.

William L. Greenly, fifth Governor of the State of Michigan, 1847-1848 lived in Adrian

Frank Navin (1871–1935), principal owner of the Detroit Tigers for 27 years was born in Adrian.

Bob Westfall (1919–1980), College Football Hall of Fame member lived in Adrian

Dale R. Sprankle, championship coach at Adrian College

Home Run Johnson and Bud Fowler, African-American baseball players who founded the Page Fence Giants in Adrian

Rube Kisinger, baseball pitcher, born in Adrian

John Maulbetsch, All-American football halfback, played for Adrian College in 1911

Byron Darnton, was an American reporter and war correspondent for the New York Times in the Pacific theater during World War II was born in Adrian.

Alanson

Both the town and the Crooked River are mentioned in a song title on the Sufjan Stevens album, Michigan.

Albion

Albion is the birthplace of food writer M. F. K. Fisher.

Notable People

Jack Vaughn, Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador to Panama and Colombia, and Director of the Peace Corps from 1966 to 1969 grew up in Albion.

Bill Laswell, Jazz bassist, record producer and record label owner grew up in Albion graduating from Albion High School.

Gary Lee Nelson, Composer, pioneer in electronic and computer music grew up in Albion.

Algonac

Algonac was the birthplace of Emily Helen Butterfield, artist and first woman to be licensed as an architect in Michigan. She was famous for innovations in church architecture.

Algonac is also the home of Catelynn Lowell, who stars in the reality television show Teen Mom on MTV.

Allegan

Easter/Passover Weekend 1967, some scenes from the movie Ciao! Manhattan were filmed at the old Allegan County Jail, now the Allegan County Jail Museum. Ironically, Paul America, one of the actors in the underground film, was jailed the following year in upstate Michigan, facing twenty years to life on an obscure marijuana charge

Notable People

Ray Luther "Dad" Hale (1880–1946), Major League Baseball player

Clare Hoffman (1875–1967), member of the United States House of Representatives in the 20th century

Frank Miller (1886–1974), Major League Baseball player

Clara Elsene Peck (1883–1968), painter and illustrator

Blissfield

Blissfield High School is the home of the Royals. Most known as a perennial baseball powerhouse with seven state titles, many other sports have also been very successful.

Girls cross country has dominated their league and had strong showings in state meets for much of the past two decades.

The girls volleyball team has seen success, recently winning their first state title in 2005

During World War II, 16 German POWs, who were working on a sugar beet farm near Blissfield, were killed in an accident when their truck collided with a train as they were returning to Fort Custer. They are now buried at Fort Custer National Cemetery where they, along with ten of their comrades, remain the only members of another nation's armed forces who are buried in a US National Cemetery.

According to local legend, Blissfield was home to the first set of Triple Bridges in the world. These three bridges stood directly next to each other and crossed the River Raisin to accommodate train and vehicular travel. Throughout time, the two vehicular bridges were replaced with one. Recently though, a pedestrian bridge was erected to restore the heritage of the Triple Bridges

Almont

Notable People

Jimmy Gregerson- Guitar player of the International american pop/rock band I See Stars.

Alpena

Alpena in popular culture

The 1991 feature film Not Without My Daughter starring Sally Field and Alfred Molina was based upon the true story of Betty Mahmoody who was living in Alpena in 1984 during the events surrounding the film and novel of the same name.

Bruce Willis and the film crew of Die Hard 2 used Alpena's airport to shoot several scenes of the film. Although the location was selected because snow was expected to be integral to the movie (and was moved from Denver's Stapleton Airport which had no snow), a dearth of precipitation in Alpena necessitated the use of artificial snow.[20]

The nearby novelty attraction in Ossineke features "Dinosaur Gardens" a handmade collection of prehistoric animals and dinosaurs was featured in the book Roadside America[21]

In the Home Improvement episode "Twas the Flight Before Christmas," Tim (Tim Allen) and Al (Richard Karn) get stuck at the Alpena Airport. This prevents them from attending the Elf Parade they are supposed to lead, and spoils Tim's chances of getting a last-minute Christmas gift for Jill (Patricia Richardson).

Notable People

William Comstock, 33rd governor of Michigan, also buried there

Leon Czolgosz, Presidential assassin

Bob Devaney former football coach for several college and highschool football teams

Paola Giangiacomo, news reporter, former WBKB anchors

Robert L. Emerson, politician

Stanley Grenz, Christian theologian

Betty Mahmoody, author of Not Without My Daughter

Harvey Marlatt, former Detroit Pistons player

MLB players Blaise Ilsley, Dan Rohn and Kevin Young

Michael Bailey Smith, actor

K.J. Stevens, novelist and short story writer

Paul Bunker, 1901 and 1902 All-American football player at Army and College Football Hall of Famer

Armada

Notable People

Sportscaster Dick Enberg grew up in Armada. A country fair is held in the village each August

Augusta Wayne Lamb Choreographer and Director for the Barn Theatre, and long-time resident

Bad Axe

Notable People

Allen James Babcock, Roman Catholic bishop

Lilian Jackson Braun, mystery writer

Bob Murawski, Academy Award winning film editor

Bangor

The 1920s bandleader and bassist Thelma Terry was born in Bangor.

Notable People

Peter Gent, born 1942; Michigan State University basketball player and National Football League wide receiver.

Hall Overton, born 1920; American composer, jazz pianist, and music teacher.

Bellville

The city has been called birthplace of techno music, namely having been home to Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, commonly known as the Belleville Three, who were instrumental in its creation.

The Belleville High School Marching Band is one of the three largest marching bands in the United States, with almost 300 members on the field at one time

Sports

Former University of Michigan head football coach, Lloyd Carr, coached Belleville High School's football team from 1970-1973.

Several current players in the NFL attended Belleville High School including: former Michigan Wolverine and Denver Bronco linebacker Ian Gold, Carolina Panther defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and his brother Green Bay Packer defensive end Cullen Jenkins, and Buffalo Bill linebacker Kevin Harrison.

Former Los Angeles Dodger and Boston Red Sox outfielder Billy Ashley also attended Belleville High School.

In the 1930s, Belleville had a reputation as a resort community where the wealthy of Detroit maintained getaway estates. Henry Ford Sr. and Charles Lindbergh once owned summer cottages on Belleville Lake, in the neighborhood of Harmony Lane

Benton Harbor

Jack Dempsey defended his heavyweight title September 6, 1920, in Benton Harbor, defeating Billy Miske.

The city hosts the Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon,[18] which is a qualifying event for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Some Ironman 70.3 races also qualify for the Ironman World Championships, but the Benton Harbor race is not one of them.

Notable People

Vivica A. Fox-Actor

Judy Bady - musician and writer [1]

Quacy Barnes - former WNBA player for Sacramento, Seattle, and Phoenix, and assistant basketball coach at Eastern Illinois University

Bobo Brazil - professional wrestler

Courtney Burton - welterweight boxer [2][3]

Wilson Chandler - NBA basketball player for the New York Knicks; 1st round draft pick in the 2007 NBA draft #23.

Gene Harris (Haire) - jazz pianist

Niki Harris (Gina Haire) - Singer, daughter of Gene Harris

Ernie Hudson - actor

Arte Johnson - actor/comedian

Julie Krone - horse jockey and first woman to win the Belmont Stakes

Iris Kyle - Ms. Olympia 2005

Anthony Miller - professional basketball player

Charles Willard Moore - architect and AIA Gold Medal winner

Benjamin Purnell - leader of the House of David religious sect

Rome (Jerome Woods) - R&B singer

Sinbad (David Adkins) - actor / comedian

Chet Walker - NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls

Wally Weber - U-M football player, assistant football coach and Hall of Honor inductee

Robert Whaley - Former NBA basketball player

Preston J. Horne - actor

Anthony S. Moorer - Best selling author Life & Love; The Ultimate Sacrifice, magazine publisher HHEAT Magazine and entrepreneur.

Benzonia

Notable People

Benzonia was the boyhood home of Civil War historian Bruce Catton. Later in his life he spent his summers in the Frankfort area. A Michigan state historical marker commemorates his residence there.

Benzonia is also home to 1994 NMRO Mud Racing Open Paddle Tire champion Paul Hospenthal

Berrian Springs

Muhammad Ali owned an estate in the Berrien Springs area.

NFL defensive lineman Regan Upshaw was born in Berrien Springs in 197

Bessemer

Notable People

Jay W. Johnson, member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin

Arthur Redner, halfback for Fielding H. Yost's 1901 "Point-a-Minute" football team

Beulah

Beulah is the home of The Cherry Hut, a popular northwest Michigan diner famous for its products made from locally grown cherries

Big Rapids

Big Rapids is the birthplace of former Commandant of the Marine Corps Ben Hebard Fuller.

It is also the birthplace of Clint Hurdle, a former baseball player for the Kansas City Royals and former manager of the Colorado Rockies.

It is also the hometown of the Commanding Officer of the USS Mesa Verde, Commander Larry Legree.

Anna Howard Shaw, the English-born prominent leader of the U.S. woman suffrage movement and first ordained female Methodist preacher who grew up on the Michigan frontier, lived, preached, and attended high school in Big Rapids (entering at age 23) before moving on to degrees in divinity and medicine at Boston University.

The Whippet Museum of North America is located near the former High School (now in use as the Intermediate School.)

Breckenridge

Notable People

Jim Northrup, major league baseball player

Bridgman

The town is famous for being the location of a clandestine communist planning meeting in 1922 that was broken up by federal agents and local authorities

Brighton

Popular culture

In the fifth episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (105), the character Harriet Hayes (played by actress Sarah Paulson) says that she is from Brighton.

The film Aspen Extreme begins in Brighton, with the two main characters being maintenance staff at the local ski hill, Mt. Brighton.

The 1987 horror film The Gate, starring a young Stephen Dorff, had its world premier at the Brighton Cinemas in Brighton. The film's producers wanted to hold its official premier in the town of Hell, Michigan, but Brighton was the nearest town with a theater large enough to hold the event. Dorff and the other stars of the movie attended the premier.

Rapper Eminem attended rehab in Brighton.

Notable People

George W. Romney - Buried at Brighton's Fairview Cemetery. Republican. Board chairman and president, American Motors,; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 12th Senatorial District,; Governor of Michigan,; resigned 1969; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1964; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1968; U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,; member of Wayne State University board of governors,.

Kinsley S. Bingham - Bingham was elected as the first Republican Governor of Michigan in 1854 and was re-elected in 1856; he was the first Republican to be elected Governor of any state. He was known as the farmer-governor of Michigan and was instrumental in establishing the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan (today, Michigan State University). Actively campaigned for Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election. Bingham was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1858 and served in the 36th and 37th Congresses from March 4, 1859, until his death on October 5, 1861, he is interred in Old Village Cemetery in Brighton.

Drew Henson - starred as a high school football, basketball and baseball player at Brighton High School, setting a national record for home runs hit, went on to play quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines, and briefly played for the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions.

Denny McLain - Star pitcher for the 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers, and 1968 Cy Young award winner resides in the Brighton area (Pinckney).

Mickey Stanley - Very popular outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, and famous for switching to Shortstop in the 1968 World Series .

Danny Spanos - Had hit album "passion in the dark" in 1983, and a hit single off the album called "Hot Cherie" . He also played drums for Redbone, a band most famous for its hit single "come and get your love" in the 1970s, at the time going under his given name "George Spannos".

Matthew Lillard - Lived in Brighton for a brief time from 4th grade until Junior year of high school whereafter he moved to California to begin his film acting career.

Barry Blazs is one of the top selling Christian Musicians of all time with his band "Code of Ethics" with singles reaching number one on the Christian Charts numerous times.

Del Howison - A former resident of Winans Lake he is a Bram Stoker Award-winning editor and author whose story "The Lost Herd" was made into the premiere episode of the NBC television series "Fear Itself". He has appeared in over 15 films and owns Dark Delicacies in Burbank, California. He was also an actor for one season at the Brighton Playhouse. He is a graduate of South Lyon High School.

Brooklyn

In 1990, the Brooklyn area was home to a Little League World Series participant. The Columbia Little League All-Stars won the United States Central Region Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana, by first defeating teams from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Ironton, Ohio, before a 5-4 championship victory over the Franklin National All-Stars from Franklin, Wisconsin. Their run through the youth baseball tournament was ended at the apex in Williamsport, Pennsylvania where they fell to teams from Cypress, California and Tamaulipas, Mexico. The Columbia All-Stars won the Michigan State Championship in 1991.

Vivian Kellogg (born November 6, 1922 in Jackson, Michigan) is an alumnus of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League having played for the Minneapolis Millerettes and the Fort Wayne Daisies between 1944 and 1950. She moved to Brooklyn in 1968. On May 17, 1992, she was inducted into the Jackson Bowling Hall of Fame. On May 1, 1994, Vivian Kellogg Field was dedicated at the Columbia Little League complex. Kellogg remains a Brooklyn resident and the field containing her namesake is the current home of the Columbia Central High School softball program.

Buchanan

Popularly known as "Redbud City" because of the many redbud trees that have historically lined city streets and the major approaches to the city Jack "Sky" Knight, aviation pioneer.

Jackson Scholz, the 200-m sprint champion in the 1924 Olympics, was born here. He was immortalized in the film Chariots of Fire.

Cadillac

In October 1975 the rock group Kiss visited Cadillac and performed at the Cadillac High School gymnasium. They played the concert to honor the Cadillac High School football team. In previous years, the team had compiled a record of sixteen consecutive victories, but the 1974 squad opened the season with two losses. The assistant coach, Jim Neff, an English teacher and rock'n'roll fan, thought to inspire the team by playing Kiss music in the locker room. He also connected the team's game plan, K-I-S-S or "Keep It Simple Stupid", with the band. The team went on to win seven straight games and their conference co-championship. After learning of their association with the team's success, the band decided to visit the school and play for the homecoming game

Caledonia

The school has a history of success in track and field and cross country Boys Cross Country: 1996 State Champions - Coach John Soderman - Class B, Lower Peninsula [2] Girls Cross Country: 1993 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgkinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula 1994 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgkinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula 1995 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgkinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula 1996 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgkinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula [4] Girls Track: 1995 State Champions - Coach Joe Zomerlei - Class B, Lower Peninsula In 2007, the boys track and field team marched undefeated to the MITCA team state finals to walk away with a state championship victory. The boys went undefeated during all dual, conference, invitaional, regional and state meets.

The high school football team was the 2006 State Champion in Division 3 when they defeated the Haslett Vikings 27-6 at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Girls golf team won the 2002 State Championship in Division 2

Capac

Preston Tucker, designer of the 1948 Tucker Sedan, was born near Capac in 1903. Tucker is the subject of the 1988 movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream.

Caro

Caro in the news Although Caro is a small town, the area has had a relatively high level of national media attention. On November 12, 2001, 17-year old Chris Buschbacher, armed with a .22-caliber rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun, took one teacher and one student hostage at the Caro Learning Center before killing himself. In August 2006, three men were arrested in Caro after 1,000 cell phones were found in their van. A Wal-Mart employee grew suspicious when three men of Arab descent purchased 80 prepaid cell phones. Also found in the van was video and pictures of the Mackinac Bridge. Because of this, they were believed to be involved in "terrorist activity". When the case went to pre-trial hearing, it was found that the men were innocent and had no intention of committing terrorist acts.

Terry Nichols had/has strong ties to the Thumb area. Additionally, one of the co-founders of his defense fund was/is from Caro

Caseville

It is home to the 10-day Cheeseburger in Caseville festival, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett's song "Cheeseburger in Paradise".

It has been also called the Perch Capital of Michigan for its extraordinary catches of the native fish yellow "perch".

Casnovia

Casnovia is believed to be the only place on Earth with that name, now or at any time in the past

Cass City

Notable People

Cass City is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Larry MacPhail

astronaut Brewster H. Shaw.[12]

In the media

Parts of the 1983 film Going Back were filmed in and around Cass City.[13] The marquee of the historic Cass movie theater appears in one of the film's segments

Cassopolis

Notable People

Ed Lowe, inventor of cat litter, grew up in Cassopolis. His trademark "Kitty Litter" brand cat litter led to the popularization of cats as household pets after World War II.

David F. Cargo (born 1929), liberal Republican governor of New Mexico from 1967—1971, was born in Dowagiac in Cass County.

The aviation pioneer Iven Carl Kincheloe, Jr. grew up in Cassopolis.

Although he was born in Detroit, Dennis Archer grew up in Cassopolis. Among his accomplishments, Archer went on to become an attorney, Michigan Supreme Court Justice, two-term mayor of Detroit, and President of the American Bar Association.

Cedar Springs

Red Flannel Festival

Cedar Springs has developed a reputation for its production of red flannels. Its popularity peaked in 1936, when the Associated Press featured an article about the town. Due to high demand, red flannel sales rose dramatically and established the town's status as the "Red Flannel Town." Despite the closure of the Red Flannel factory in 1994, the town still holds an annual Red Flannel Festival the first weekend of October. This festival includes a marching band competition, arts and crafts fair, an entertainment tent, and several food booths. The festival closes every year with a parade featuring local high school marching bands, and floats sponsored by local businesses and organizations.

Centreville

Notable People

Verne Troyer, actor, grew up and attended high school in Centreville.

Matt Thornton, currently a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox.

Charlevoix

Charlevoix was once a popular destination for many passenger liners, including the Manitou, Alabama, North American, South American, Milwaukee Clipper, Illinois, and others.

During Prohibition, Charlevoix became a popular place for gang members from the Chicago area. The Colonial Club, a restaurant and gambling joint on the city's north side became known as a popular place for the Midwest's most powerful and influential. John Koch, the club's owner, kept automobile license number "2", only second to the governor - a telling sign of his influence. The converted lumber barge Keuka served as a blind pig and speakeasy and sailed nightly between Boyne City and Charlevoix, hosting its guests in relative comfort. A murder aboard the ship and the pressure of US Treasury Department surveillance, however, forced the owner to scuttle the vessel in Lake Charlevoix.

November 18, 1958, Charlevoix City Hall served as a makeshift morgue for the bodies of crewmen of the SS Carl D. Bradley after the lake freighter foundered in Lake Michigan during a severe storm. The USCGC Sundew, stationed at Charlevoix, was one of the first vessels to arrive at the search area and played a pivotal role in that night's rescue of the two surviving crewmen.

January 7, 1971 An unarmed USAF B-52C-45-BO, 54-2666, of the 9th BW, Westover AFB, Massachusetts, crashed into Lake Michigan near Charlevoix during a practice bomb run, exploding on impact.[citation needed] Only a small amount of wreckage, two life vests, and some spilled fuel was found in Little Traverse Bay. The bomber went down six nautical miles from the Bay Shore Air Force Radar Site and close to the Big Rock Point Nuclear Plant.

Charlevoix was home to Michigan's first nuclear power plant, Big Rock Point, which operated from 1962 to 1997

After the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey, who spent her summers in Charlevoix and had won a pageant in the town, Charlevoix became a regular haven for tabloid photographers, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Ramsey family. John Ramsey, JonBenet's father and husband of the late Patsy Ramsey, still resides in Charlevoix.

The infamous murderer Richard Loeb's family owned a summer estate in Charlevoix in the 1920s

Notable people

Robert Boss, professional football player.

Bob Carey, All-American football and track-and-field athlete.

Ernest Hemingway, iconic author, spent his boyhood summers in the area, setting many of his Nick Adams Stories on or near Lake Charlevoix.

Albert Loeb, lawyer and vice president of Sears and Roebuck who built the Castle Farm test farm complex in Charlevoix.[74][75][76]

Richard Albert Loeb, son of Albert, of Leopold and Loeb murder trial fame.[77]

Jetty Rae, musician and independent artist.

John Bennett Ramsey, businessman, father of JonBenet Ramsey, resided in Charlevoix.

JonBenét Ramsey summered here with her family until her death in 1996, and her family moved here after her murder.

Willard J. Smith, thirteenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

Glendon Swarthout, novelist.

Earl Young, builder of distinctive stone houses[78]

Alson Wood, Wisconsin politician, lived in Charlevoix.

Charlotte

Notable People

A. Whitney Brown – Comedian and writer, Saturday Night Live.

Brock Gutierrez – Former NFL player.

Eric Menk – Professional basketball player in Denmark and the Philippines.

Harry T. Morey – Stage and film actor.

Wayne Terwilliger – Major League Baseball player and coach.

Cheboygan

Early in the 20th Century, it was home to the pioneering brass era cyclecar maker Flagler

Notable People

Rob Otto: 1988 graduate of CAHS. Radio personality for Sportsradio 1130 WDFN in Detroit, Michigan and television sports commentator for Comcast Television.

Otto was one of the original personalities at the former WGFM 105.1 W-Gold-FM in the summer of 1989.[citation needed]

Scott Sigler: 1988 graduate of CAHS. Contemporary American author of science fiction and horror.

Jeff Daniels, actor of stage and screen[4]

Greg Pollex: 1968 graduate of CAHS. Former owner of PPC Racing a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. PPC Racing made it's Cup racing debut in 1993 and ran up until 2007. During that time frame as an owner Pollex is credited with 24 wins and a Busch Series championship in the year 2000. PPC Racing has raced in the Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Series, and Nextel Cup with such notable drivers as Jeff Green, John Andretti, Jason Keller, Kenny Wallace, and Terry Cook.

Dwight E. Beach, U.S. Army General and namesake of Beach Middle School[3]

Tony Scheffler, professional football player for the Detroit Lions

Chesaning

Chesaning Showboat Music Festival

Chesaning is known for an annual event called the Showboat. Founded in 1937 and intended to be a Vaudeville style show, it has now become more-or-less a simple concert series. It takes place for a week in July. Each night of the event a riverboat known as the Shiawassee Queen brings the evening's performers around a bend in the river and docks at an outdoor theater, allowing them to make a grand entrance prior to their performance. Attendance has declined in recent years, as many performers schedule multiple performances in the same area in close succession, and many fans are more interested in seeing their favorite musicians perform than in the pageantry of the showboat, and so choose to see the same musicians elsewhere. Nonetheless, it is not unusual for Showboat to draw upwards of twenty thousand people.

Clare

Notable People

Glenn Douglas Packard, dancer and television personality

Clawson

Notable People

Jon Jansen, tackle for the Detroit Lions

Tim Gleason, defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes; 2010 Olympian, Ice Hockey.

Mark Campbell, tight end for the New Orleans Saints

Coldwater

Notable People

Harriet Quimby, aviation pioneer, who was the first US woman to receive a pilot's license.

Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was convicted of murdering his wife and executed.

Dan Severn, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler

Scott Brayton, Indycar driver who was killed in practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.

Jeff Kellogg, current MLB umpire Alice Haylett, AAGPBL All-Star pitcher

Samuel Etheridge, one of Michigan's first state senators, representing the Seventh Senatorial District from 1838-1840.

Coleman

A meteorite known as the "Coleman meteorite" fell near the city, which is ironic because the community schools' mascot are the Coleman Comets

Colon

As the burial site of the famous magician, Harry Blackstone, Sr. (The Great Blackstone), Colon refers to itself as "The Magic Capital of the World." Each August more than 1,000 magicians and lovers of magic gather there for "Abbott's Magic Get-Together", a 4 day magic convention, doubling the population, sharing magic tricks, and recollecting their knowledge of the famous occupation. The convention concludes each day with an evening show at Colon High School.

Constantine

Constantine is the birthplace of Harry Hill Bandholtz, US Brigadier General in World War I and head of the US Military Mission to Hungary.

Coopersville

Notable People

Del Shannon an early rock singer

Guitarist Butch Miller a NASCAR driver

Tim Steele an ARCA racer

Corunna

Michigan Governor Andrew Parsons was a long-time resident of Corunna. A historical marker commemorating Parsons in Corunna was erected in 1969

Film

In 2005, filmmaker Bryan McGuire produced/directed/wrote a documentary chronicling what life in Corunna is like entitled Stay on the Tarvey. The film included interviews with current and former residents and explored topics such as race relations, family values and "hickdom

Crystal Falls

The Humungus Fungus

In April 1992, Crystal Falls received international attention due to the discovery of a giant fungus, Armillaria bulbosa, in the nearby forest. The discovery was announced in articles in Nature and the New York Times. The fungus covered an area of more than 30 acres (120,000 m2) and had a total mass estimated at 100 tons. At the time it was believed to be the oldest living organism on earth, as well as one of the largest. Although the fungus is actually located in nearby Mastodon Township, Michigan, the city of Crystal Falls adopted it as a tourist attraction, and holds a "Humungus Fungus Fest" as an annual event

Davison

Notable People

Filmmaker Michael Moore was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Flint, Michigan, spent most of his childhood in Davison, and graduated from Davison High School in 1972.[4]

Thomas C. Hart, a U.S. Navy admiral and Superintendent of the Naval Academy in the early 20th Century, was born in Davison and graduated early from Davison High School to attend Annapolis, beginning a career that saw him at the forefront of developing combat strategies in submarine warfare.

Admiral Hart was a US senator from Connecticut in the last years of his life. The US Navy frigate USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092) was named in his honor.

Brent Metcalf, two time NCAA national wrestling champion

Ken Morrow, an ice hockey defenseman, played on the U.S. men's ice hockey team in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games that won the gold medal by beating Finland after defeating the Soviet Union's team in what has become known as the Miracle on Ice. Morrow also played for the New York Islanders, becoming the first player to win an Olympic gold medal and an NHL championship in one season.

Barry Stokes, NFL football player, is from Davison.

The post-hardcore band Chiodos started in Davison.

Robert Longfield, American composer and arranger, served as the band and orchestra director at Davison High School from 1972-1987.

Tim Thomas, Goaltender for the Boston Bruins is a 1992 graduate of Davison High School.

Actor Phillip Roetter a current ABC Family actor.

Decatur

Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen grew up here and a street is named for him

Deerfield

Deerfield was the birthplace of actor and philanthropist Danny Thomas.

Dexter

Dexter is the birthplace of biologist, women's suffragette, and philanthropist Katharine Dexter McCormick

Dr. Royal S. Copeland, US Senator from New York.

Dexter is also home to the high school boys cross country team that tied the state record for most consecutive Michigan High School Athletic Association state championship titles with five, winning from the years 2002-2006.

Notable People

Harrison Jeffords, colonel in the Union Army and a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg

Arthur Hills, golf course architect

Rob Malda, founder of Slashdot

Milo Radulovich

Douglas

Notable People

George Washington Maher - early 20th century Prairie School style Architect

Dowagiac

Notable People

Michael Collins Irish novelist and international ultra-distance runner

Billi Gordon - Model, Actor, Author, Television & Film Writer, & Doctor of Functional Human Brain Research

James Heddon - Inventor of the artificial fishing lure

Judith Ivey - Tony Award Winning Actress

Webb Miller (journalist) - Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist and author

Chris Taylor - Olympic Medalist

Kenneth Porter[5] - World War I pilot/Ace. Credited with 5 enemy aircraft destroyed

Emery Valentine - Alaskan statesman and businessman

Dryden

Notable People

George Owen Squier, major general in the United States Army; founded Muzak.

Edmore

Edmore is close to the site of the finds of the forged Scotford-Soper-Savage relics

Evart

Notable People

Joseph William Guyton, the first American soldier to be killed on foreign soil during World War I, was born in Evart.

George Seman, better known as Ted, Police Chief in Evart, killed in the line of duty. A portion of US 10 in Evart was designated the George Edward (Ted) Seman Memorial Highway

Farmington

Notable People

NHL goaltender Brent Johnson of the Pittsburgh Penguins is from Farmington

In 2007 CNNMoney.com listed Farmington as number 55 in their Best Places to Live

Flat Rock

Flat Rock is home to the AutoAlliance International manufacturing plant, co-owned by Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation. As of 2005 it produces the Mazda 6 and the 5th generation Ford Mustang.

Also, Flat Rock is home to the famous Flat Rock Speedway, though the track is technically located in Berlin Charter Township in neighboring Monroe County.

Fowler

Notable People

Clem Sohn, (1910-1936) daredevil, aviation pioneer

Fowlerville

Charlie Gehringer, the baseball Hall of Famer, was from Fowlerville.

Frankenmuth

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which bills itself as the World's Largest Christmas Store, is located in Frankenmuth

Franklin

Notable People

Ashley Johnson, actress, former Miss Michigan

Luther Biggs, former Professional Wrestler, and exotic dancer

Fremont

Fremont was also central to the plot of the 1966 Eurospy spy film, Secret Agent Super Dragon which was later featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K).

Business

Gerber Products Company is located in Fremont. The Gerber Products Company was originally started as the Fremont Canning Company.

Notable People

Bert Zagers, former running back and defensive back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.

Frank Daniel Gerber, founder of the Fremont Canning Company, and later the Gerber Products Company

Galesburg

Notable People

William Rufus Shafter, United States military officer

Gaylord

Gaylord styles itself as an "Alpine Village" and the city center features many buildings with Tyrolean traverse style motifs.

Receiving abundant snowfall and experiencing mild summer temperatures, for many years the area around Gaylord has become known for its many skiing and golf resorts, one of the largest such concentrations in the Midwest.

Gaylord features an annual event in July known as the Alpenfest. Participants are encouraged to dress in traditional Swiss stylings.

Gaylord is also seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States.

Notable People

Kurt A. David - Former professional basketball player, Bestselling Author, & TV Host/Executive Producer - From Glory Days Television show.

Gaylord is the childhood home of the "father of information theory", Claude Shannon.

Gladstone

Gladstone is the first stoplight a driver would have to encounter on US-2, if this driver was coming eastbound from I-75. Gladstone would be the first stop light since Florida. This distinction is now held by Gladstone since the US-2 bypass of Manistique, MI.

Because of its natural port and its access to iron ore, Henry Ford at one time considered Gladstone as a spot for his first automotive plant [The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century].

Gladstone is mentioned in the now canceled Television Program, Capitol Critters. In the third episode, “The Rat To Bear Arms," Trixie talks about spending her childhood living on the shores of Lake Michigan. She then states: “What I wouldn’t give to be back eating those Gladstone perch!" {how to cite a television show?}

The Gladstone High School Track team currently holds the record in the state of Michigan for most consecutive Division 1 championships with 6

Notable People

Robert John Cornell, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin

Roman Catholic priest

Becky Iverson, Professional golfer

Bart Stupak, member of the United States House of Representatives, Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Kevin Tapani, Professional Baseball retiree

Brian Movalson, National Sports Marketer, ESPN/EA SPORTS

Goodrich

Goodrich is home to the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 Back to Back Michigan Division 3 State Championship Wrestling Team, and the 2008 Division 3 State Champion Boys Soccer Team

Grand Haven

Notable People

Neal Ball, the first player in Major League baseball to execute an unassisted triple play (accomplished in 1909)

Gary Hogeboom, former NFL quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Also a former contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala

Dan Bylsma, former National Hockey League forward and current head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans Basketball coach owns a home and spends his summers in Grand Haven

Grand Ledge

Rock Climbing - Popular rock climbing route Doug's Roof

Oak Park in Grand Ledge is one of the few places to climb in Michigan making it a popular destination for local climbers. The sandstone cliffs along the river have nearly 100 routes ranging from basic (5.2) to very difficult (5.13)

Grant

Notable People

William Herman Bolthouse, early founder of Wm. Bolthouse Farms. Which is a national leading producer of carrots and super premium refrigerated products.

Kristian Ostergaard - Danish-American Lutheran Minister and founder of the Ashland Folk School (1882-1938

Greenville

Greenville is also home to the Fighting Falcon, the lead plane of a wave of gliders during Operation Overlord. The Falcon was purchased with funds raised by the school children of the town, and was designated the lead aircraft in recognition of this achievement.

Since the foundation of Ranney Refrigerator Co. in 1892, the town has been known as the "Refrigerator Capital of the World

Hancock

Hancock has been called "the focal point of Finns in the United States".

Hancock hosts an annual midwinter festival called Heikinpäivä.

Every summer, the cities of Hancock and neighboring Houghton host a festival known as "Bridgefest," to commemorate the building of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge

Harbor Beach

Notable People

Frank Murphy - an historically important Detroit mayor, Recorder's Court Judge, Michigan governor, United States Attorney General, and United States Supreme Court Associate Justice. He was a resident of Harbor Beach and followed in his father's footsteps, practicing law there. His office is the Frank Murphy Memorial Museum in the downtown, as is his home.[5] He is also memorialized there with an official Michigan Historical Marker[6] and a plaque from the State Bar of Michigan for "Michigan Legal Milestones", namely, his dissenting opinion in Korematsu v. United States, protesting the decision to uphold exclusion orders imposed upon persons of Japanese descent during World War II. The plaque was dedicated and placed in front of the Frank Murphy home in Harbor Beach on August 16, 1996.[7] His remains are interred at Our Lady of Lake Huron Cemetery

Harbor Springs

Notable People

Constance Cappel (1936- ), author of Hemingway in Michigan,(Michigan Notable Book, 2000) Sweetgrass and Smoke, Odawa Lanquage and Legends, and The Smallpox Genocide of the Odawa Tribe at L'Arbre Croche, 1763: The History of a North American People.

John C. Danforth, former U.S. Senator, married to former Sally Dobson of Harbor Point.

F. James McDonald (1922-2010), former president and chief operating officer of General Motors

Harrisville

Notable People

Harrisville is home to the legal offices of Pamela Burt, an attorney who in 2005 succeeded in getting the Michigan Supreme Court to throw out an appellate court's decision that had equated wayward beach walking to trespassing, while leaving intact the principle that owners of property abutting the Great Lakes own to the current water edge.

Harrisville is the summer home of author and screenwriter Judith Guest.

Casey Makela, the author of bestselling books on soap making,[22] and owner of the Killmaster Soap & Woolen Works,[23] lives in Harrisville.

Harrisville was the birthplace and home town of Baseball Hall of Famer Kiki Cuyler, and he is memorialized on a section of M-72 and in a local baseball field.

Hart

Hart was the birthplace of Donald W. Wolf, a World War II U.S. Marine Corps hero who was killed in action at Guadalcanal.

Hartford

Notable People

Marty Conrad, offensive lineman in the NFL for the Toledo Maroons (1922-1923), the Kenosha Maroons (1924), and the Akron Pros (1925).

Edward D. Kelly, third Bishop of Grand Rapids from 1919 until his death in 1926.

Holland

The city is perhaps best known for its Dutch heritage, which serves not only as a part of the city's cultural identity, but the local economy as well: the Tulip Time Festival in May and various Dutch-themed attractions augment the nearby Lake Michigan shoreline in attracting thousands of tourists annually.

Tulip Time Festival

Each May Holland hosts an annual Tulip Time Festival. Tulip planting and the festival began in 1930 when 250,000 tulips were planted for the event.[14] Currently six million tulips are used throughout the city. Tulips are planted along many city streets, in city parks and outside municipal buildings as well as at tourist attractions like Dutch Village, the city-owned Windmill Island Gardens, and at a large tulip farm named Veldheer Tulip Gardens. It is normally held the second week of May, right when the numerous tulips planted around the town are blooming. In the past, about one million tourists would visit Tulip Time each year to which the community finds innovative ways to enhance self-funded projects. It has been ranked as America's third largest town festival and was named Reader's Digest's best small town festival.[15] The Tulip Time Festival has attracted big name acts in recent years such as: Christina Aguilera in 2000, O-Town in 2001, The Verve Pipe in 2004, and Jars of Clay in 2006.

Ed McMahon visited Tulip Time in 2007 along with Bobby Vinton.

Notable People

L. Frank Baum (d. 1919), author, wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while summering in the resort community of Macatawa.

Brian D'Amato, American author (Beauty, In the Courts of the Sun) and sculptor

Max DePree, writer; industrialist; former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc.

Gerrard Wendell Haworth (d. 2006), founded office furniture manufacturer Haworth Company.

Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Congressman from Michigan's 2nd Congressional District; chairman of House Intelligence Committee, 2004-2007.

Alex Koroknay-Palicz, youth rights advocate

Paul de Kruif (d. 1971), science writer (Microbe Hunters, etc.) retired to Holland, where he died

Rob Malda, founder of Slashdot

Ryan McDonald, NFL offensive lineman

Lisa McMann, young adult fiction writer

James Michael, lead singer (Sixx:AM) and producer; co-wrote Rest In Pieces by Saliva

David Myers, psychologist, author

Milton J. Nieuwsma, author, Emmy-winning filmwriter-producer

Erik Prince, founded Blackwater USA

Ron Schipper (d. 2006), college football coach; member of College Football Hall of Fame

Herman Stegeman (d. 1939), varsity coach and athletics director at the University of Georgia at Athens (UGA)

Sufjan Stevens, singer-songwriter; attended Hope College, details the city in the song "Holland" on his 2003 concept album, Michigan

Charles Symmonds, U.S. Army general

Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, composer, pianist, and educator

Andy Van Hekken, professional baseball player

Brian Vander Ark, lead singer (The Verve Pipe)

Matt Urban (d. 1995), U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, WWII - received 29 combat decorations and the Medal of Honor

Kirk Cousins, Outstanding Quarterback for Michigan State

Feature films filmed in Holland area

2010: What's Wrong With Virginia Holland/Zeeland 2010: Touchback Coopersville area, Holland area starring Kurt Russell 2009: Tug Holland area 2006: Come On Over, Children's TV Series 2002: Road to Perdition Holland Township just north of Holland near West Olive

Hopkins

Notable People

Frank Kitson (baseball player)

Houghton

In the winter of 2001, Houghton was the site of one of the first lumitalos (Finnish temporary snow houses) to be constructed in the United States.

Houghton in Popular Culture

Houghton figures in the novels The Truth About Fire by Elizabeth Hartmann, A Superior Death and Winter Study by Nevada Barr, and the poem "The Idea of Children at Houghton, Michigan" in Gavin Ewart's Penultimate Poems. Much of Ander Monson's Other Electricities takes place in Houghton.

The song called 'Honesty' by Zerzy's Dreams is about Houghton.

Howell

Howell is home to the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest[4] that the city hosts.

The city is also the site of the Howell Melon Festival, an annual celebration of the Howell melon, a juicy hybrid cantaloupe known to grow only in the surrounding area. The three day festival, held in mid-August, draws approximately 50,000 visitors each year.

Notable People

Andy Hilbert - Ice Hockey Player For New York Islanders

T.J. Hensick - Ice Hockey Player For Colorado Avalanche

Heywood Banks - Comedian

Steve Lombardi - Former WWE Wrestler best known as the Brooklyn Brawler

Mark Schauer - United States Congressman

Mike Rogers - United States Congressman

Hudsonville

Sports achievements

The Hudsonville High Football team has consistently won district championships over the past several years, and has gone to state finals games on several occasions, the most recent in 2005. They finished second in Division 2 Football, losing to Birmingham Brother Rice in a close battle. The Unity Christian High School girls soccer team has won the MHSAA State Championship 6 years in a row (2005-10), and the girls basketball team has gone to State Finals two consecutive years (2005-06), winning the Class B title in 2006. In 2005 the boys soccer team finished runner-up in Division 2 and in 2007 went 25-0-1 to win their first state championship in Division 2. The Crusaders again won the Division 2 title in 2009. The Hudsonville High School Marching Band were the MCBA Flight III state champions in 1995 and 1997. The marching band has been a consistent competitor in the MCBA state championships since the band began competitions in 1992. The Hudsonville High School girls water polo team won state at Jenison in June 2007. The Hudsonville High School wrestling team went to the state championships in March 2004 and has sent many wrestlers to the individual state championships over the years. The Hudsonville High School boys bowling team won the MHSAA Class A Team State Championship in 2004. This was Hudsonville High School's first ever team state championship. The Hudsonville girls softball team won back-to-back Division 1 state championships in 2009-10. The Unity Christian High School boys bowling team won the MHSAA Class B Team State Championship in 2004. The Freedom Christian (formerly Freedom Baptist) High School boys soccer team won the Division 4 State Championship in 2002 and 2009.

Notable People

John Vander Wal, retired pro baseball player (Montreal, Colorado, San Diego, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, N.Y. Yankees, Cincinnati, Milwaukee), pro scout for San Diego Padres organization; also holds the MLB record for pinch hits in a season (28)

Ray Bentley, retired pro football player, current college football TV analyst; also remains the current NFL combine record holder of the flat bench press with 52 reps with 225 pounds

Joel Smeenge, retired pro football player (New Orleans Saints)

Taylor Lautner, Actor, was born and raised in Hudsonville until age 11[3]

Dirk Roberts, winner of Best Picture/Best Acting/Best Director for the Clip Emotionitis

Ionia

Every late July (ending on the last Saturday of July and beginning 10 days previous) it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair

Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain hosts a few points of interests such as the Millie Hill bat cave, The Cornish Pump, and is located adjacent to Pine Mountain ski jump/ski resort, one of the largest artificial ski jumps in the world.[4]

In addition, Iron Mountain is known for its pasties, Bocce Ball Tournaments, World Cup Ski Jumps, and Italian cuisine

Notable People

John Biolo, former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers

Robert J. Flaherty, a filmmaker who directed and produced the first commercially successful feature length documentary film, Nanook of the North, in 1922.

Walter S. Goodland, Governor of Wisconsin, practiced law and owned a newspaper.

Tom Izzo, the men's basketball head coach for Michigan State University since 1995.

Steve Mariucci, former NFL head coach for the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

Thomas Lawrence Noa, Roman Catholic bishop.

Gene Ronzani, former NFL head coach of the Green Bay Packers

Leonard L. "Chick" LaPointe, writer and neuroscientist, born in Iron Mountain and raised in Channing, MI, who has written 10 books on brain-based communication disorders and lectured worldwide

Ironwood

It is the westernmost city in Michigan, situated on the same line of longitude (90.2 degrees West) as St. Louis, Missouri.

Ironwood is home of the "World's Tallest Indian" : a 52 ft (15.8 m) fiberglass statue of tribal leader Hiawatha.

Ironwood and its famous pasties appear in Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods.

Ironwood and the Ironwood region are central to folk novel Marvin & Me, by author and Ironwood native Rod Stockhau

Notable People

Raymond Joseph Cannon, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, attorney for Shoeless Joe Jackson and several of the Chicago Black Sox William S. Carlson, President of the University of Delaware, the University of Vermont, the State University of New York, and the University of Toledo

Stephen P. DiSalvo, NERC Compliance

Jack Gotta, Canadian Football League player, coach, and general manager

William C. Gribble, Jr., United States Army Chief of Engineers. As commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers, began the tradition of the Gold Castles insignia which forms the basis for the current "Castle" logo of the Corps

John Regeczi, football player and teammate of future president Gerald Ford on the University of Michigan undefeated national championship teams in 1932 and 1933

Ishpeming

Ishpeming is considered the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States and is the home to the National Ski Hall of Fame

Historical Events

The movie Anatomy of a Murder was filmed in Ishpeming and surrounding areas in 1959, based on the novel by Ishpeming native John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver.

The Green Bay Packers played their first ever road game in Ishpeming on Oct. 19, 1919. The Packers won 33-0.[4]

At the end of the 19th century almost one third of the population of Åtvidaberg Municipality in Sweden emigrated to Ishpeming, as copper mines in the Åtvidaberg area closed down.[5]. In 1994 this was commemorated by a plaquette at the Mormorsgruvan mine of Åtvidaberg.

The National Ski Association, the forerunner of the present-day United States Ski and Snowboard Association, was founded in Ishpeming on February 21, 1905. The founder and president was local banker and skier, Carl Tellefsen.[6]

Notable People

Clarence "Kelly" Johnson (born 1910), aviation engineer

Glenn T. Seaborg (born 1912), Nobel prize winning chemist

John D. Voelker author under the pen name Robert Traver, and Michigan state Supreme Court Justice.

Tom Izzo Head Coach, Michigan State University Basketball. Head Coach, 1977 Ishpeming High School. Da Yoopers, band

Jackson

Birthplace of the Republican Party - "Under the Oaks" Jackson is the disputed birthplace of the Republican Party. Undisputed is the fact that the first official meeting of the group that actually called itself "Republican" was held in Jackson under the Oaks on July 6, 1854. Earlier meetings of groups that later formed the Republican Party were held in Ripon, Wisconsin, Exeter, New Hampshire and Crawfordsville, Iowa, and all four cities bill themselves as the "Birthplace of the Republican Party."[4] Since the convention day was hot and the huge crowd could not be accommodated in the hall, the meeting adjourned to an oak grove on "Morgan's Forty" on the outskirts of town, where a slate of candidates was selected for state elections. The spot is now the north west corner of Second and Franklin streets in Jackson, and is commonly called "Under the Oaks."

Notable People

James Earl Jones - actor

Claire Allen - architect

Austin Blair - Governor of Michigan

Dan Coats - U.S. Congressman and Senator, representing Indiana.

Tim Crabtree - Major League pitcher

Philip Campbell Curtis - artist

Tony Dungy - National Football League player and coach, won Super Bowl XLI

Raymond Salvatore Harmon - filmmaker

Dave Hill – golfer

Mike Hill – golfer

Fred Janke - football player and mayor of Jackson, Michigan

Karch Kiraly - Olympic gold medalist and pro volleyball player

Rick Lenz - actor

Clarence Love - National Football League player, Super Bowl champion with Baltimore Ravens

Tim McClelland - Major League Baseball umpire

James McDivitt - NASA astronaut

Tom Monaghan - founder of Domino's Pizza

Jack Paar - early host of The Tonight Show

Alonzo Sargent - locomotive engineer

Potter Stewart - U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Brian Stuard - PGA Tour golfer

Brian VanGorder - NFL coach

Rick Wise - Major League Baseball pitcher

Alfred Worden - NASA astronaut

Kaleva

Kalkaska

In 1916, the noted author Ernest Hemingway visited and fished in Kalkaska, and later immortalized the town in his story "The Battler". A historical marker has been placed at the Rugg Pond Dam, on the Rapid River, where Hemingway reportedly fished one night from the power house.

In 1993, the Kalkaska schools made national headlines when a financial crisis resulted in a two month-long closure. Subsequent funding reform improved the outlook for Kalkaska and similar small rural districts in Michigan

Kalkaska has held the National Trout Festival in the last week of April each year since 1933. There is a giant statue of a brook trout in the town square. New York Times featured author Jim Harrison wrote about the Trout Festival in his book Just Before Dark: Collected Non-fiction, Clark City Press, 1991

Notable People

Emil Frisk, Professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and the St. Louis Browns from 1899 to 1907.

Ron Winter, Former NCAA and NFL official.

Kinde

Kinde was renowned as the "bean capital of the world." Michigan Bean soup has been a staple for over a hundred years in the U.S. Senate dining room.[3] However, the Michigan Bean Festival on Labor Day weekend is held in nearby Fairgrove.

Kingsford

Kingsford is famous for being the home of the first Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant. The towers stood until a few years ago, when they were demolished due to safety issues. The waste from running the plant eventually became Kingsford Charcoal.

Lake City

Known as the "Christmas Tree Capital",

Lake Orion

In 1929, Amelia Earhart visited Lake Orion, and flew an experimental glider at Scripps Mansion

The story of the Lake Orion Dragon says that sometime in the 1800s a group of local kids played a prank by building a fake dragon and launching it out in the lake. A number of people saw it and soon Lake Orion was known for its dragon. There are a number of stories around about who made it and how they built it but it Is widely agreed that it was a prank. "That same year [1894] the Lake Orion “dragon" made its entrance into Orion history. First seen by two ladies near the present Robert’s Rondevoo cove, the animal grew in length as the story grew in listeners. What had started out as an average-sized lake monster was claimed by some to be at least eighty feet long. Detroit and other newspapers joshingly suggested, upon hearing of the behemoth, that Orion residents should “drink more well water in the future

Notable People

Jimmy Hoffa, former International Brotherhood of Teamsters President

Scott Amedure, The Jenny Jones Show murder victim

Brace Beemer, one of the radio voices of The Lone Ranger

William Broomfield, former politician

Pat Caputo, sportswriter, radio personality

Rolla C. Carpenter, engineer, academic, writer

Dave Collins, coach, former professional baseball player

Matthew Dear, musician

Andrew J. Feustel, NASA astronaut

Tom Gillis, professional golfer

Frederick Henderson, former CEO of General Motors

Zak Keasey, professional football player

Mickey Lolich, professional baseball player and donut shop owner

James Marcinkowski, politician, attorney, former CIA case officer

Jamie Milam, professional hockey player

Troy Milam, professional hockey player

Frank Novak, former NFL coach

William Edmund Scripps, newspaper magnate

Rich Strenger, lawyer, former professional football player

Ron Tripp, World Sambo and Judo Champion; President of USA Judo

Cynthia Watros, actress

Mike Weger, business owner, former professional football player

Mickey York, sports reporter

Lapeer

Notable People

Danelle Gay, Miss Michigan USA 2006

Theresa Duncan, American filmmaker, game designer and critic.

Marguerite de Angeli, Newbery Award winner

Jim Slater, hockey player, Atlanta Thrashers

Kirk Gibson, retired baseball player, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers

Terry Knight, singer, DJ, manager, Terry Knight and the Pack, Grand Funk Railroad

Tom Wargo, professional golfer

Terry Nichols, native of Lapeer, accomplice of Timothy McVeigh in Oklahoma City bombing.

Jake Long, Offensive Lineman, Miami Dolphins

Heather Brewer novelist of the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series.

Rich Hoffer (play-by-play announcer, University of Toledo)

Danny Schell (former baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies)

Bill Slater, Defensive Lineman, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots

Robert C. Soderberg Jr., published author

Austin E. Lathrop was born here in 1865. The family moved to Harrisville the following year.

Rob Rubic, Former Detroit Lion, FSN Detroit play by play, voice of the Eastern MIchigan University Football Eagles.

Laurium

Notable People

George Gipp - University of Notre Dame football star

Percy Ross - philanthropist, newspaper columnist

James Quello - FCC Commissioner and broadcast pioneer

Lawrence

Notable People

Werner Krieglstein, a former professor at Western Michigan University, a University of Chicago fellow and Fulbright Scholar. He lived in Lawrence where he founded the Whole Arts Theater, which later moved to Kalamazoo.

Leslie

Frank L. White, who is believed to be the model for the chef on Cream of Wheat boxes, is buried in Leslie at Woodlawn Cemetery.[4]

The 19th century anarchist and feminist Voltairine de Cleyre was born in Leslie.

Lowell

They participate in almost all sports but are most notably known for their Equestrian team which holds 4 state titles in 3 separate divisions (2000, 2002, 2003, & 2007), their football program which holds 3 state titles (2002, 2004, 2009), and strong wrestling program regarded as a powerhouse which holds 3 state championships (2002, 2004, 2009

Notable People

Daniel Vosovic, a fashion designer and a finalist in season 2 of the reality show, Project Runway.

Anthony Kiedis, "Red Hot Chili Peppers" lead singer

Mike Dumas, professional football player (retired)

Ludington

The city hosts quite a few large events. Examples are one of the largest Gus Macker basketball tournaments (with 35,500 spectators), the Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival (July 4), the Lakestride Half Marathon in June, and the West Shore Art League's Art Fair. As a result of its many attractions (based on AAA's 2005 TripTik requests), Ludington is the fifth-most-popular tourist city in Michigan, behind Mackinaw City, Traverse City, Muskegon, and Sault Ste. Marie

In 1675, Jacques Marquette, French missionary and explorer, died and was laid to rest here. A memorial and large iron cross mark the location.

Notable People

Burr Caswell - early settler and developer of Ludington area and Mason County[9][10]

Antoine Ephrem Cartier - early settler and developer of Ludington[11]

Warren Antoine Cartier - early settler and developer of Ludington

Mackinaw City

According to AAA's 2009 TripTik requests, Mackinaw City is the most popular tourist city in the state of Michigan.[3] Local attractions include Fort Michilimackinac, the Mackinac Bridge, the Mackinaw Crossings shopping mall, Mill Creek, the Old Mackinac Point Light, the Historic Village, the McGulpin Point Light, and the retired US Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinaw.

Pop Culture References

Mackinaw City is briefly mentioned in the Bob Seger song, "Roll Me Away". Bob sings, "Twelve hours out of Mackinaw City, stopped in a bar to have a brew." Kid Rock mentions Mackinaw City in What I Learned Out On The Road from the Cocky album. The majority of Kim Harrison's fourth Hollows novel, A Fistful of Charms, takes place in Mackinaw City, on the Mackinac Bridge, and on Mackinac Island

Mackinaw Island

A unique local ordinance prohibits the use of any motor vehicles on the island Mackinac Island is home to the famed Grand Hotel, where the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time was filmed. That film presents a rare exception in which motorized vehicles were allowed on the island

Mancelona

Mancelona is probably best known for its annual buck pole, an deer hunting contest that has drawn hunters from across the State

Manchester

Notable People

Former NFL Wide Receiver Nick Davis was born in Manchester and played football for Manchester High School.

Cub Koda, lead singer of Brownsville Station, best known for the 1973 hit song "Smokin' In the Boys Room", which was later covered by Mötley Crüe, graduated from Manchester High School.

David Allen, former designer and design supervisor of popular children's shows Nickelodeon's The Rugrats, Paramount's Duckman, and Lily Tomlin's Edith Ann lives in Manchester.

John Swainson, the 42nd Governor of the State of Michigan (1961–1963) as well as Justice of the Michigan State Supreme Court (1971–1975), resided in Manchester from the mid-1970s until his death in 1994. He lived on a country road in Bridgewater Township just east of the Village, in a large home that he nicknamed "The Hustings" (Husting). He was well-known in the community and many were honored to call him their friend. He could be found most mornings at the Village Bakery, sitting at a table with the men of the community, discussing politics—both national and state politics as well as matters important only in the Village! He was also very active in the Manchester Historical Society, attending meetings and delighting members and visitors alike with his charm and friendliness.

Bill Shurtliff [2], an artist perhaps best known for his popular pen and ink drawings of scenes of the campus of the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor area, has resided in Manchester since 1987. He lives in the Village and has a studio in his home. Most recently Bill's artwork has appeared as illustrations in a series of Catholic children's books authored by Dianne Ahern

Manistee

In 2000, Manistee made national headlines after a judge and jury convicted a woman for expressing privately to her mother her wish that immigrants would learn English, deeming it "insulting conduct" consisting of "fighting words" that was punishable under local ordinance. Allegations of improper procedure and irregularities in the court records appeared. Two years later (November 1, 2002) and after the defendant spent four nights in jail, the conviction was overturned by the state Court of Appeals

Notable People

Dave Campbell, baseball player and sportscaster

Byron M. Cutcheon, Civil War veteran and winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Congressman, attorney, and postmaster

Fred Green, Governor of Michigan, 1927–1931

Nels Johnson and his business of Century tower clocks

James Earl Jones, actor, first began acting at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee

Edward Kozlowski, Polish-American priest, later Bishop of Milwaukee

Michael J. Malik, Sr., developer

Harry W. Musselwhite, politician and newspaper publisher

Harriet Quimby, first licensed American aviatrix was born in nearby Arcadia Township

Herbert Schindler Jr., key transportation industry figure in the Detroit area

Olaf Swenson, fur trader, adventurer, and author

Robert Pershing Wadlow, the world's tallest man in medical history (8 feet, 11.1 inches tall) (just shy of 9 feet (2.7 m)) died at the Hotel Chippewa in Manistee on July 15, 1940

Manistique City

The first setting of the musical The Christmas Schooner.

Marlette

Notable People

Tom Wargo, professional golfer was born in Marlette

Marquette

The city of Marquette averages about 141 inches of snow per year, making it the fifth snowiest city in the United States among those cities large enough to be reported

The Roman Catholic Bishop Frederic Baraga is buried at St. Peter's Cathedral, which is the center for the Diocese of Marquette

Marquette in film and literature

The Marquette County Courthouse was used for the courtroom scenes in the film, Anatomy of a Murder. Robert Traver (John Voelker) set his novels Anatomy of a Murder (1958) and Laughing Whitefish (1965) in Marquette. The film version of Anatomy of a Murder, dramatizing an incident that happened in the area, was partly filmed in Marquette and Big Bay. Much of it was filmed in the Marquette County Courthouse in Marquette.

Traver's Danny and the Boys (1951) is a collection of short stories set in and around Marquette. Philip Caputo set his novel Indian Country (1987) in the Upper Peninsula and several scenes depict Marquette. Jim Harrison's novel True North (2005) tells about a Marquette family whose wealth is based on exploiting Upper Peninsula timber. Jeffrey Eugenides' Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Middlesex (2002) refers to Marquette by name, in addition to other locations in Michigan. A large portion of the acclaimed graphic novel Blankets, by Craig Thompson, takes place in Marquette.

Marquette was the site of many key events in the investigation of a murder in Dave Distel's The Sweater Letter, a true story of a murder that occurred near Ontonagon.

Marshall

Marshall is best known for its cross-section of 19th- and early 20th-Century architecture. It has been referred to by the keeper of the National Register of Historic Places as a "virtual textbook of 19th-Century American architecture." It is home to the one of the nation's largest National Historic Landmark Districts. There are over 850 buildings included in the Landmark.

The first railroad labor union in the U.S.,The Brotherhood of the Footboard (later renamed the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers), was formed in Marshall, Michigan, back in 1863.

The American Museum of Magic

Notable residents

John Bellairs, author

James Armstrong, national Hightone blues recording artist

Jamie Hyneman, co-host of the TV series Mythbusters

Marysville

The High School teams were MSHAA Class B Football Champions in 1986 and 1992, and Class B Volleyball State Champions consecutively from 1997 to 2004 inclusive, and again in 2006. The All-Girl Competitive Cheerleading Squad received the title of State Champions in 2003

Mason

Notable People

According to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X spent part of his childhood in Mason. He was placed in a juvenile home in Mason in 1939 and completed 8th grade at Mason High School, where historical accounts indicate he received straight-"A" grades. [7] A famous anecdote of Malcolm X's life tells of a teacher who discouraged Malcolm of his dream of becoming a lawyer because of his race. However, sources vary on whether this was a Mason teacher. Malcom was taught public speaking by Howard McCowan, a very successful lawyer in Mason.

Former Mason resident Ltc. Amos Steele was one of the (relatively) few Union soldiers to be killed during Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.[9] Steele Street and Steele Street Elementary School are named after him.

Kristin Haynie, a point guard with the Women's National Basketball Association. Haynie, a 2001 Mason High School graduate, was a 2005 first-round WNBA draft pick after leading Michigan State to the women's NCAA national championship game.

Mason is home to Dart Container Corporation, the largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers in the world. Dart is known for being vertically integrated, and is one of the largest privately-owned corporations in Michigan.

John W. Longyear, a judge and politician, moved to Mason in 1844, where he taught school and studied law.

Fernando Henderson, an Olympic swimmer for the Dominican Republic, went to Mason High School in 1984

Mattawan

Notable People

The Mattawan Little League Softball Girls, who won the Little League Softball World Series in 2006. The San Francisco Twins Noah Herron, running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League Andy Roach, professional hockey player for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League

McBain

Notable People

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman and former Central Michigan University football player Dan Bazuin is from McBain

Mecosta

Notable People

Mecosta was home to American political theorist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and fiction author Russell Kirk. Kirk resided at Piety Hill, currently the location of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal

Memphis

Memphis has a landmark called "The Thing", which has a state of Michigan historical marker noting Memphis as the home of the first automobile. The marker reads as follows: "Thomas Clegg (1863-1939) and his English-born father, John, built "The Thing," the first recorded self-propelled vehicle in Michigan (and perhaps the country) in 1884-85. The Thing, driven by a single cylinder steam engine with a tubular boiler carried in the rear, seated four. The vehicle was built in the John Clegg & Son machine shop here in Memphis. It ran about 500 miles (800 km) before Clegg dismantled it and sold the engine to a creamery. The shop was razed in 1936, just a short time before Henry Ford offered to buy it for Greenfield Village." Located on Bordman Road, east of the village limits of Memphis

Menominee

The Menominee Maroons won the state championship in its division for basketball in 1967 and football in 1998, 2006 and 2007.In the 2006 season the Maroons finished unbeaten and only allowed 38 points scored against them but their offense scored 513 point in that entire season . They beat the former Wisconsin and Minnesota Division One state champions. Menominee shares an historic football rivalry with neighbor Marinette, Wisconsin. The two were noted as hosting the oldest interstate high school rivalry in the country and it is now recognized as the third longest rivalry

Notable People

Mitchell Leisen (1898–1974), Hollywood director, art director and costumer designer

Alvin H. Nielsen (1910–1994), molecular spectroscopist (and brother of Harald Herborg Nielsen)

Harald Herborg Nielsen (1903–1973), physicist (and brother of Alvin H. Nielsen)

William Nolde (1929–1973), last American soldier killed in Vietnam

Fred Stephenson Norcross (1884–1975), University of Michigan football captain, coach Oregon State University

Doris Packer (1904–1979), actress (played Mrs. Rayburn, Theodore Cleaver's principal in the television series Leave It to Beaver)

Samuel M. Stephenson (1831–1907), member of United States House of Representatives from Michigan

Bart Stupak (1952- ), incumbent member of US House of Representatives from Michigan

Mesick

Mesick is the Mushroom Capital of the United States. To celebrate this, the town has held the Mushroom Festival every Mother's Day weekend since 1959.

Milford

Notable People

Thomas Lynch[1], poet.

Mary Jackson (1910 - 2005), actress.

Matt Wayne (1964-), animation writer

Dax Shepard (1975-), actor

Monroe

Is remembered for the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812

The childhood residence of George Armstrong Custer and other members of his family, including his wife Elizabeth Bacon and brother Boston Custer.

Monroe is also recognized as the home of the La-Z-Boy world headquarters.

The Monroe Power Plant, currently the fourth largest coal firing plant in North America, opened. At 805 feet (245 m) tall, the dual smokestacks are the visible from over 25 miles away and are among the tallest structures in the state.

Montague

Montague is home to the "World's Largest Working Weathervane" which was constructed in part by local manufacturer Whitehall Metal Studios. The weathervane is topped by the Ella Ellenwood, a lumbering Schooner that frequented White Lake transporting lumber from Montague to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The ship became infamous after it sank in a storm in 1901, and the wooden nameplate of the schooner floated back to the shores of the City of Montague, where it was found in 1902. Many people believed that the boat was coming home, and as a result the ship is frequently associated with the city.

Notable People

Nancy Fleming, Miss America 1961 is from Montague.

Montrose

Since 1972, it has held the Montrose Blueberry Festival

The book No Quitters Here: Quest for the Dome by B.M. Woodward discusses the Montrose High School Football Team's ten year winning streak from 1988 - 1998.

Notable People

Michigan's Lieutenant Governor, John D. Cherry, graduated from Hill-McCloy High School in Montrose. He was elected in 2002 as the running mate of Democrat Jennifer Granhol

Ex-major league baseball player Scott Aldred graduated from Hill-McCloy High School in 1986. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers right out of high school.

Dan "The Beast" Severn was a high school amateur wrestling sensation from Montrose, setting a national record for consecutive pins (112 over 4 years) and winning the World Junior title in 1977. He was a three-time All-American at Arizona State University, and an alternate on the 1984 Olympic team. Severn runs a wrestling school and still competes as a pro wrestler and UFC-style competitor. In addition, he has won over 90 major amateur titles, and is a black belt in judo and sombo. Severn claims instead to be from Coldwater, Michigan; the reason behind this is not known.

Morenci

Morenci is the birthplace of Tony Scheffler, a tight end for the Detroit Lions. An article about Scheffler's connection to Morenci was published in the State Line Observer.

Mount Clemens

Notable People

Rap/rock artist Kid Rock, who hails from nearby Romeo, MI, began his professional stage career as a DJ/rapper in Mt. Clemens, and it was here that he earned his nickname (from club patrons saying "look at that white kid rock")

Brian Adams, South Carolina state senator

Chauncey G. Cady, farmer and politician

Horace H. Cady, farmer and politician

Dean Cain, football player and actor

Harley High Cartter, lawyer and politician

Rickey Clark, baseball pitcher

Dick Enberg, sports announcer

Paul Feig, actor and director

Rich Froning Jr., CrossFit athlete and coach

Terrie Hall, anti-smoking activist

Rufus Wilber Hitchcock. educator, newspaper editor, and Minnesota state legislator

Ian Hornak, painter and printmaker[16][17]

Mike Ignasiak, baseball pitcher

Chuck Inglish, rapper

Connie Kalitta, drag racing driver

Scott Kamieniecki, baseball pitcher

David Kircus, football player

Arnold Klein, dermatologist for Michael Jackson

Tracy Leslie, NASCAR driver

George F. Lewis, journalist and newspaper proprietor

John Lutz, television writer and actor

Tommy Milton, racing driver

Frank Nazar, ice hockey player

Dan Nugent, football player

Lawrence B. Schook, academic

Richard A. Searfoss, astronaut

Lary Sorensen, baseball pitcher

Eric Spoutz, art dealer

Uncle Kracker, singer-songwriter

Allen Henry Vigneron, Roman Catholic bishop

Wally Weber, football player and coach

New Buffalo

Notable People

James L. Ziemer, CEO of Harley-Davidson

Dennis Farina, actor

Ronnie James Dio, musician (2)

Roger Ebert, film critic (nearby)

Louis Farrakhan, head of the Nation of Islam

Andrea Barthwell, former deputy drug czar

Steve Dahl, Chicago radio legend

Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago (Family estate located outside of town)[4]

Common, Chicago based rapper

Roger Brown, Famous Chicago Painter

New Era

New Era is the birthplace of Caldecott Medal-winning children's author Verna Aardema.

Newaygo

Notable People

Joe Berger, lineman with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL

Jack Nitzsche, musician and arranger

Newberry

Newberry is surrounded by miles of state and national forests and is considered one of two gateways to the Tahquamenon Falls area. (The other is Paradise, approximately 40 miles to the northeast.)

Newberry was designated as the moose capital of Michigan by the state legislature, in House Resolution 2002-572 and Senate Resolution 2002-259.

It is home to the Newberry Correctional Facility, operating since 1996.

Notable People

Terry O'Quinn, who plays John Locke (Lost) on Lost, is from Newberry.

Rob Rubick, former Detroit Lion and analyst for Fox Sports Net Detroit, is from Newberry.

Len St. Jean, a former Boston Patriot, is from Newberry.(1)

Author Juventas (2)

Author Shadowgate from Novara, ITALY

North Adams

North Adams was featured in a season two episode of the sitcom Home Improvement.

Northport

Northport has gained fame for being an area where the rich and famous can live quietly and anonymously. In addition to the residents of the exclusive, gated Northport Point, chef Mario Batali lives north of town at Cathead point, and comedian and actor Tim Allen routinely spent summers in Northport until he and his wife divorced.

The second commander of the American Legion, war hero and businessman Frederic W. Galbraith, maintained a summer home in Northport during the 1910s and early 1920s. Future Pulitzer prize winning author Marquis James was among the many prominent guests at his Northport home. (The History of the American Legion" by Marquis James. Pg 192. 1923.)

Norway

Notable People

Art Van Damme, jazz musician

Omer

Though self-proclaimed through signage on US-23 as "Michigan's Smallest City," it is actually the second-smallest city in the state as of the 2000 census. The smallest city distinction as of 2000 belongs to Lake Angelus in northern Oakland County, with a population of 326

The Rifle River that intersects the city attracts thousands per year during the sucker season. Folks from all over the Midwest and Canada line the shores and engage in the sport of sucker fishing in the spring. Up until the late 1980's, Omer held an annual Sucker Festival and tournament, wherein the town would swell to some 3,000 sucker dippers and revelers. But it was eventually ended when it became too expensive for the small city to buy the insurance necessary to host it. The tournament was revived in 2008, thanks to two local sponsors

Omer received international attention on two recent occasions. The first is the story of the "cussing canoeist", the man who received a ticket under a century-old law for shouting a long stream of expletives in the presence of a woman and her two young children after he fell out of a canoe on the Rifle River. The ACLU intervened on the canoeist's behalf and got the law struck down in an appeals court.[5][6]

Onaway

Onaway is the Sturgeon Capital of Michigan.

Otsego

Notable People

Forman Brown (1901–1996), songwriter, composer, author [1]

Sid Conrad (1923–2010), TV character actor

Hon. Wilson C. Edsell, state senator, Olivet College founder, founder of first national bank in Otsego,

Tara Nulty, actor [2][3]

Phil Regan, major league baseball player

Kevin VanDam, (Professional Bass Fisher)BASS Angler of the Year (1992, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2009)graduated from Otsego High School.

Otsego is the subject of several songs by Static-X.

Otter Lake

Notable People

Marvick Morrow Nascar Sims Racer and also RRL Late model champ in Spring Series of 2010

Ovid

Notable People

Louis Filler - American social historian

Matt Prieur - Former announcer for the ASA Late Model Series

Owosso

Curwood Castle

Curwood Castle was the writing studio of the famous author James Oliver Curwood. In honor of the famous writer Owosso holds the anual Curwood Festival. The castle is now a museum that contains period antiques, and Curwood books, photos, and movie posters as well as memorabilia from the life of another one of Owosso’s native sons: Thomas E. Dewey

Located on South Washington Street, The Steam Railroading Institute includes a visitor center, passenger train cars and other rolling stock from railroads in the U. S. and Canada, and a 3.5-acre (14,000 m2) area that holds a round house. Most impressive, however, are the stream engines, including the 82,000 pound Flagg Coal Company switch engine, the 136,000 pound Mississippian (under restoration), and the 800,000 pound Pere Marquette 1225 locomotive and tender ― the largest operating steam locomotive in Michigan.

The sounds of the steam engine train heard in the hit movie The Polar Express were recorded in Owosso. Steven Spielberg’s production company filmed the sights and sounds of the Owosso-based Steam Railroading Institute’s 1225 steam engine train locomotive for the computer rendering of the movie.

Notable People

Thomas E. Dewey, lawyer, author, mob-busting District Attorney of New York City, three term Governor of New York (1942, 1946, 1950), and the Republican presidential nominee in 1944 and 1948.[15][2][3]

Alvin M. Bentley, philanthropist, foreign service officer and U. S. Congressman. Bentley was one of the five congressmen injured, on March 1, 1954, when Puerto Rican nationalist terrorists opened fire on the floor of the House of Representatives in the U. S. Capital.

Charles A. Towne, U. S. Congressman and Senator. One of the few persons to have been elected to Congress from two different states: Minnesota and, later, New York. Sam Houston and Ham Lewis were others[9][10]

William Ament, (1851–1909) controversial Congregational missionary to China (1877–1909), criticised by Mark Twain.

John Perkins, scholar, artist, author, Under Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Controller of the State of Michigan, Professor Emeritus at the University of California Berkley and system-wide, President of the University of Delaware, and former Chairman of the Board of Dunn and Bradstreet.[14][15][118]

Frederick Carl Frieseke, early American impressionist artist whose work in France won many awards in Europe and North America. Frieseke was very influential to other artists and, for several years, he and Claude Monet were next door neighbors. Frieseke’s paintings adorn the walls of many of the world’s great art museums.[16][17][18][19]

Albert Spear Hitchcock, artist, author, botanical explorer, systematic agrostologist, and co-developer of the Smithsonian Institution’s Hitchcock-Chase Collection.[22][23]

Alfred D. Hershey, bacteriologist, director of genetics research at Carnegie Institution of Washington, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, and co-winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize in medicine/physiology. Hershey, who was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1958, was also the 1958 winner of the Albert Lasker Award of the American Public Health Association, and the 1965 winner of the Kimber Genetics Award of the National Academy of Sciences.[24][25][26][27]

Lloyd R. Welch, Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern California. Dr. Welch is the developer of the Welch Bound standard and the co-developer of the Baum-Welch algorithm. Dr. Welch was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1979, and he is the recipient of the 2003 Claude E. Shannon Award – the highest honor granted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Information Theory Society.[30][31][32]

Merle Lawrence, Professor Emeritus of Otolaryngology, Physiology and Psychology at the University of Michigan, first Director of the Kresge Hearing Research Institute, and the author and co-author of several books. Dr. Lawrence was the recipient of the Award of Merit from the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, the Gold Medal Award from the American Otological Society, the Distinguished Service Award form the Princeton Class of 1938, the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Audiology, etc. Dr. Lawrence was also a highly decorated W.W.II naval aviator.[202]

Harry Burns Hutchins, President of the University of Michigan from 1910 to 1920, Professor of Law and Dean of the University of Michigan Law School, organizer of the Cornell University Law School, Director of Owosso Public Schools during 1871 and 1872.[202]

James Oliver Curwood, Conservationist and best-selling author of thirty-three novels. More than twenty movies were made of Curwood’s books and stories, including The Bear. The tourist attraction and museum now known as Curwood Castle in Owosso was built by Curwood to serve as his writing studio, and Mount Curwood (1978 ft) in Michigan’s upper peninsula was named in his honor.[47]48]

Diane Carey, author of forty-six novels including several Star Trek books, and seven New York Times Bestsellers.[49]50]

Dave Galanter, author and co-author of several Star Trek books including the Voyager book, Battle Lines, and the Next Generation duology Maximum Warp. His short story, Eleven Hours Out was included in the Tales of the Dominion War anthology.[120][121]

Gordon Graham, decorator, designer, artist, and author of children’s books.[61]

Betty Mahmoody, lecturer, advocate for the rights of women and children, and co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated, best-selling book, Not Without My Daughter: Escape from Iran. The book was the basis for the movie, Not Without My Daughter, which starred Sally Fields and Alfred Molina. In 1990, Betty was voted Most Courageous Woman of the Year and Woman of the Year in Germany.[64][65]

Robert L. Gibson, actor who appeared in TV shows of the 1970s and 1980s, including Amazing Stories, Welcome to My Nightmare, Otherworld, Highway to Heaven, etc.[70][71]

Mel Schacher, bass guitarist and a vocalist for the rock band Question Mark and the Mysterians and, later, a co-founding member, bassist and vocalist for Grand Funk Railroad – a rock band that sold twenty-five million records and had four gold albums.[78][79]

Scott Kinsey, jazz keyboardist with several groups and best known for his work with Tribal Tech. Kinsey’s work is also part of many major motion picture soundtracks.[80]

Bobbi McCaughey, the Iowa mother, and wife of Kenny McCaughey, who made international news when she gave birth to septuplets in Des Moines on November 19, 1997.[87][88]

Cora Taylor, co-founder of Owosso’s Indian Trails Bus Line. On April 19, 1914, Cora Taylor became the first women in the United States to obtain a commercial chauffeur's license.[91][92]

Vicki Witt, known as "the ultimate girl next door" and the “Holy Grail" of Playboy Playmates. Miss August 1978.[126][127]

William Graham, left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Browns from 1908 to 1910.[95][96][97]

C. Warren Thornthwaite, Professor of Climatology at Johns Hopkins University, adjunct professor at Drexel University, President of the Commission for Climatology of the World Meteorological Organization, co-author of the book Water Balance, recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Association of American Geographers, and the Cullum Medal – the highest award of the American Geographical Society. His published research on climatology is considered to be some of the most influential of the twentieth century. His life is the subject of the book, The Genius of C. Warren Thornthwaite, Climatologist-Geographer. Dr. Thornthwaite also served as a teacher at Owosso High School from 1922 to 1924.

John Tomac, bicycle racer, bicycle builder, and an icon in the mountain bike racing field. Tomac won more international mountain bike races than anyone else in the sport. He was voted the top all-around bike racer in the world in 1988, and was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1991.[103]

Chester Brewer, star athlete, coach and athletic director. Chester Brewer was a four sport star at the University of Wisconsin, and football coach at Michigan Agricultural College/Michigan State University for 1903 to 1910, 1917 and 1919 where he posted shutouts in 49 of 88 games and went undefeated in 43 straight home games. He also coached track, field, and cross country, and as baseball coach led his teams to a .564 record from 1904 to 1910, and coached the school’s basketball teams to a .736 record from 1904 to 1910. He served as athletics director and coach at the University of Missouri from 1910 to 1917, Director of Army Athletics for the U. S. War Department during 1918, served as director of athletics and professor of physical education from 1919 to1922 at MAC/Michigan State University, and held the same positions at the University of California-Davis until returning to Missouri where he served as athletics director until 1935. Brewer also coached his home town, Owosso, Michigan’s, West Side Indoor Baseball Team to win the world championship in 1905-1906.[104[105]

Bradlee Van Pelt, American football star. Bradlee Van Pelt, one of the all-time favorite quarterbacks for the Colorado State University Rams, set several records there during his years as a starter, backup quarterback for the Houston Texans of the NFL.

Bradlee Van Pelt is the son of American football star, Brad Van Pelt. Bradlee Van Pelt was born in Owosso, but spent less than one year at Owosso High School. [106][107]

Brad Van Pelt, American football star. Van Pelt was a three sport star at Michigan State University. In football, he was a two-time All American, and in 1972 he became the first defensive back to win the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top collegiate football player. Van Pelt was a first round draft pick for the NFL where he played, from 1973 through 1986, with the New York Giants, the L.A. Raiders and the Cleveland Browns. Van Pelt was named the Giants’ Player of the Decade for the 1970s , and he was selected for the Pro Bowl five years in a row from 1976 through 1980. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002, and was recently nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He died of a heart attack in Harrison, MI. on February 17, 2009.

Eve de England, poet laureate, troubadour, and organ grinder. Eve is the author of the award winning poem "Kurwood Kastle Kharacters: A Romance in Three Parts."

Jane Feltes (Golombisky), Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer of the radio and television show "This American Life." Lyman Woodard, jazz organist noted for fusing his music with Latin and Afro-Cuban-inspired rhythms. Played with his own band, The Lyman Woodard Organization, during the 70s, and his 1975 album Saturday Night Special is a detroit jazz-funk cult classic

Oxford

Eric Ghiaciuc, a football player for the New England Patriots, was born in Oxford on May 28, 1981. Other Oxford High graduates to have played in the NFL are Mike Lantry (University of Michigan / Dallas Cowboys), Chris Gambol (University of Iowa / Indianapolis Colts) and Dave Rayner (Michigan State University / Indianapolis Colts). 1964 Oxford grad Jim Bates (University of Tennessee) has been a long time NFL defensive coach (Packers, Broncos, Dolphins and Bucs) as well as being Miami's head coach for 8 games in 2004. Was once home to Brace Beemer, radio's Lone Ranger.

Paw Paw

Paw Paw has also recently gained national prominence as the site of the Great Wheelchair Ride of Ben Carpenter (2007) The story of this event was carried by most major news media organizations, including the BBC.[citation needed]

The village is the main setting for the musical Dear Edwina by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich.

Notable People

Jason Babin, national football player for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jeremy Brown, Author, Young adult author.[5]

Chris D'Arienzo, writer of the Tony Award-nominated musical Rock of Ages

Doane Harrison, film editor and producer, best-known for his long collaboration with director Billy Wilder.

Joseph Labadie, Labor leader and political activist.

Loretta Long, Actress and educator, best known as "Miss Susan" on Sesame Street.

Charlie Maxwell ("Old Paw Paw"), a former Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox baseball player.

Jerry Mitchell, Tony Award-winning choreographer, currently hosting Step It Up and Dance.

Don Moorhead, record breaking football player for the University of Michigan football team from 1969-1970.

A.W. Underwood, a 19th century Paw Paw native with the purported ability to set items ablaze

Abraham Wechter, master luthier of Wechter Guitars.

Derrick J. Wyatt, animation character designer for several notable cartoons.[6]

John Bonamego, NFL assistant coach formally with the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints

Pellston

Its motto is "Icebox of the Nation"; Pellston recorded the state of Michigan's record low temperature, a frigid -53°F. in 1933, and every winter is regularly called out in national weather reports, along with towns like Big Piney, Wyoming, Fraser, Colorado and International Falls, Minnesota, as one of the coldest spots in the nation.

Petoskey

Petoskey and the surrounding area are notable for being the setting of several of the Nick Adams stories by Ernest Hemingway, who spent his childhood summers on nearby Walloon Lake, as well as being the place where for Calliope, the protagonist of Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex, events take a severe and lasting turn.

Petoskey was also the location where 50,000 passenger pigeon birds were killed each day in the late 19th century, prior to their complete extinction in the early 20th century.

Petoskey is also famous for a high concentration of Petoskey stones, the state stone of Michigan.

Petoskey is the birthplace of information theorist Claude Shannon

Civil War historian Bruce Catton

The boyhood home of singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens.

Pinckney

Notable People

Chris Sabin , Total Nonstop Action Wrestling wrestler

Robert Sabuda, children's pop-up book artist and paper engineer

Glendon Swarthout, novelist and short story writer

Denny McLain, former pitcher for the Detroit Tigers

Caroline Kirkland, 19th century writer and founder of Pinckney

Pinconning

The city is locally noted for production of cheese products, especially Pinconning cheese.

Plainwell

Plainwell is the birth place of syndicated cartoonist Dave Coverly, creator of the Speed Bump comic strip

Actor Ed Gale[1][2], famous for his role as Howard the Duck in the movie of the same name.

Plymouth

The Plymouth Ice Festival, the largest and oldest ictable carving festival in North America, is held every year in Plymouth in late January. Founded in 1982 by then 25-year-old Scott Lorenz[4], the weekend-long event draws an average of 500,000 people to Plymouth each year and has helped establish ice carving as a world-class competitive event.[5][6]

Plymouth's own 'Art in the Park' is Michigan's second largest art fair. Visitors have enjoyed Plymouth Art in the Park since its inaugural event in 1980. Plymouth Art in the Park, founded, directed and managed by mother and daughter team, Dianne Quinn and Raychel Rork, is celebrating its 31st show in 2010.

Notable People

Bradley Wardell Stardock Founder, President, and CEO Margaret Dunning, philanthropist

Russell Kirk, Father of Modern Conservatism

Alex Shelley, wrestler in TNA

Michael Sturdy, poet and painter

Tom Hulce, actor

Chris Osgood, NHL player

Dan Mac Donell, Comedian

Paul Warren, professional guitar player

Katie Lorenz, Miss Illinois 2008

Port Sanilac

The Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve is a designated ship wreck preserve that is very popular with scuba divers.

Posen

Posen has a strong Polish background and is home to the Posen Potato Festival, held every year on during the first weekend after Labor Day, with potato pancakes and polka dancing

Potterville

On July 6, 1994, a lightning strike at Fox Park injured 22 beach-goers. The lightning struck the water and "walked up the beach."[4]

A rare Michigan earthquake on September 2, 1994, had its epicenter just east of the city. Measuring a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter Scale, it could be felt through most of Mid-Michigan.[1]

The city experienced a massive train derailment of 35 Canadian National railcars over Memorial Day weekend 2002. Due to leaking propane from the cars, the entire city was evacuated.[2] The cause of the derailment was found to have been a faulty rail. A second Canadian National train derailment occurred in May 2006, though no evacuation was necessary. The cause of this derailment was found to be a failed wheel bearing on the 82nd railcar

Reed City

Notable People

It is the home town of author Timothy James Bazzett.

George Bennard, American hymn composer and preacher is best known for composing the famous hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross". Bennard retired to Reed City, where he died on October 10, 1958.

Thomas D. Schall, U.S. Representative in Minnesota's 10th District (1915-1925) and U.S. Senator from Minnesota (1925-1935) born June 4, 1878.

Rochester

Notable People

Peter Vanderkaay, Olympic swimmer graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 2002. He won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 4x200 free style relay. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Vanderkaay won the bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and the gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Tommy Clufetos drummer for Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent graduated from Rochester Adams High School

Roxy Petrucci, drummer of all-female rock/metal band Vixen in the 1980s.

Paul Davis, professional basketball player graduated from Rochester High School and earned Mr. Basketball of Michigan honors in 2002. He played for Michigan State University and was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2006.

Robert Simpson Woodward, physicist and mathematician was born in Rochester, Michigan in 1849. Among many achievements, he was a professor at Columbia University, president of the American Mathematical Society, and Dean of Carnegie Institute in Washington.

Dita Von Teese, burlesque artist, model and actress.

Jason Varitek, catcher for the Boston Red Sox, was born in Rochester, Michigan on April 11, 1972. In 2005 he was named the captain of the Red Sox, the third player given the honor.

Bob Keselowski, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, and his sons Brad and Brian.

Megan Goethals, 31st Footlocker National Cross Country Champion

Aileen Wuornos (born as Aileen Pittman), infamous American serial killer, born in Rochester, Michigan.

Craig Owens, former lead singer of the band Chiodos lives in Rochester, Michigan

Rude Jude, television and radio personality, graduated from Rochester High School.

Amy Frazier, Rochester Adams High School graduate, is known for her professional tennis career that included twenty consecutive US Open appearances.

Shawn Hare, former baseball player with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers, attended Rochester Community Schools. Jay Gibbons, baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, and Baltimore Orioles, was born in Rochester.

Hal Foster (1892-1982), artist and writer of the comic strip Prince Valiant. Though born in Canada, Foster quietly lived in Rochester for a period during his work on that comic strip. Foster's superlative talents included recognition with no fewer than nine industry awards during and after his active career.

Rockford

Notable People

Dathan Ritzenhein, Olympic distance runner, former American 5k record holder

Adam Kieft, lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL

John Kiedis, father of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis

John C. Sjogren, Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II

Joe Staley, Left Tackle for the San Francisco 49ers

Julia A. Moore, American poet

Andrew Britton, Author

Rogers City

Rogers City is located on Lake Huron and is home to two salmon fishing tournaments.

The world's largest open pit limestone quarry, the Port of Calcite, is located within the city limits and is one of the largest shipping ports on the Great Lakes.

The freighter, SS Carl D. Bradley, home port at Rogers City, sank in Lake Michigan on November 18, 1958. There were two survivors while 33 lost their lives. 26 of the deceased were from Rogers City, with the others from nearby towns. 50th anniversary memorial activities took place in 2008

Romeo

Notable People

Kid Rock, also known as Robert Ritchie, musician (born in Romeo, lives in Brandon Township).

Frank Bowerman (December 5, 1868 – November 30, 1948) former catcher in Major League Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the New York Giants, and the Boston Doves

Edward Dana Durand (1871-1960), director of the U.S. Census from 1909-1913, was born in Romeo.

Henry Stephens (lumberman) was an early settler, a lumber baron, and had his summer home in Romeo.

Jill Ritchie, Actress and sister to Kid Rock

Saint Clair

Recently Saint Clair became home to a cross-country state champion, Addis Habetwold

The St. Clair Marching Saints received a division 1 at the MSBOA marching band festival in 2010 receiving straight A's in all categories.

Notable People

Dr. Bradbury N. Robinson, Jr. c. 1945

Archibald Bard Darragh (1840-1927), Member of Congress from 1901 to 1909, lived in St. Louis from 1870 until the time of his death. He was a banker and was elected mayor in 1893.

Edward Hartwick (1871-1918), United States Army officer, businessman and namesake of Michigan's Hartwick Pines State Park, was born and reared here.

Bradbury Robinson (1884-1949), who threw the first forward pass in football history, lived in St. Louis from September 1926 until his death in March 1949. Dr. Robinson founded the Robinson Clinic on N. East St. in 1935 and was twice elected mayor, in 1931 and 1937.

Lester "Tug" Wilson (1885-1969), who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the 1911 season, was born in St. Louis.

Jim Northrup (b. 1939), outfielder for the Detroit Tigers 1964-1974, including a major role on its World Championship 1968 team, was born in nearby Breckenridge, Michigan, then moved to St. Louis, where he graduated from high school.

Saline

The city is popular for its annual Celtic Festival, which attracts people from all over the United States and its sister cities Brecon, Wales(established 1966) and Lindenberg, Germany (established 2003). It is also the hometown of the Saline Fiddlers and Fiddlers ReStrung, two nationally renowned high school bluegrass/fiddle groups.

Saline, whose well-regarded school district is perhaps its biggest draw, was ranked the 43rd best place to live out of 1,300 rated cities in the United States in a 2005 CNN/Money Magazine poll[3], 59th in 2007's poll[4], and 63rd in 2009's CNN/Money Magazine and also made CNN/Money's list of best places to retire in 2005

Notable People

Chris Baker (football player)

Lisa Bonder

Ann Pellegreno

Rich Rodriguez

Charles Van Riper

Bryan Thao Worra

Sault St. Marie

Shipping traffic in the Great Lakes system bypasses the rapids via the American Soo Locks, the world's busiest canal in terms of tonnage passing through it, while smaller recreational and tour boats use the Canadian Sault Ste. Marie Canal. The city's downtown sits on an island, with the locks to the north, and the Sault Ste. Marie Power Canal to the south. People come from around the world to view up close the ships passing through the locks. The largest ships are 1,000 feet (300 m) long by 105 feet (32 m) wide. These are domestic carriers (called lakers) that are too large to transit the Welland Canal around Niagara Falls and thus are land-locked. Foreign ships (termed salties) are smaller.

Sault Ste. Marie is also the home of the International 500 Snowmobile Race (commonly called the I-500), which takes place annually and draws participants and spectators from all over the U.S. and Canada. The race, which was inspired by the Indianapolis 500[4], originated in 1969 and has been growing ever since.

Notable People

John Johnston (1762–1828), married to Ozhaguscodaywayquay (also known as Susan), the daughter of an Ojibwa chief; together they built a prosperous fur trading business. They were among the upper class in both the Euro-American and Ojibwa communities of the region during the late-18th and early-19th centuries.[8]

Bruce Martyn, radio and TV play-by-play announcer of the Detroit Red Wings from 1964 to 1995.

Martyn graduated from Lake Superior State University and began his radio career at WSOO.

Chase S. Osborn, Michigan's only Governor from the Upper Peninsula.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, daughter of John and Susan Johnston, recognized as the first Native American literary writer and poet, and inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2008.

Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, ethnographer and U.S. Indian agent who named many counties and places in Michigan in his official capacity; husband of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft.

Cliff Barton, former NHL player.

Sebewaing

This small community is known as the Sugar Beet Capital

Shepherd

Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival

The village has a well-attended Maple Syrup Festival the last weekend of April. The annual tradition began in 1958 and includes arts, crafts, music, food and a parade featuring the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival Queen. 2,120 gallons of syrup were produced in 2009, a new record for the town

South Haven

Noted botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey was born in South Haven. His childhood home was presented to the city in the 1930s, and is now a museum

Notable People

Liberty Hyde Bailey, cofounder of the American Society for Horticultural Science.

Daniel K. Ludwig, US shipping magnate and #1 on the first ever Forbes 400 Richest Americans (1982).

Audrey Niffenegger, American writer and author of The Time Traveler's Wife.

D'arcy Wretzky, bass player of The Smashing Pumpkins.

Kyle Gantt A.K.A Kannnonball, professional football player Indianapolis Colts 2009–Present.

Sparta

Music in Sparta

In the early to late 1960s, Sparta was home to Fenton Records, an independent record company and recording studio. The label recorded many local bands, as well as other Michigan garage bands. Due to the limited runs of the records, Fenton vinyl 45rpms are highly collectable, often selling for hundreds of dollars each. Many of the records were recently compiled on a CD called Scream Loud!!!: The Fenton Records Story (Way Back Records Spring Lake

Notable People

Jack Sprague, NASCAR driver

Winsor McCay, cartoonist, animator known for Little Nemo in Slumberland and Gertie the Dinosaur

Ed Pizunski, professional hockey player known for IHL penalty minutes record

Standish

It is home to the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility. In late 2009 the facility was considered, along with the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as the United States site for more than 220 prisoners relocated from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Many neighbors of both sites expressed concern, with opposition expressed in Michigan[5][6] and Kansas[7]. In December 2009, the detention camp was slated for relocation to Thomson, Illinois.

Stanton

The Mid-Michigan Motorplex, an NHRA-sanctioned race track, is located in Stanton

St. Joseph

Sturgis

Notable People

Actor Verne Troyer was born in Sturgis, but grew up in Centreville, Michigan.

Perle Mesta, socialite and Ambassador to Luxembourg, was born in Sturgis.

Tecumseh

Among the noteworthy events which have occurred in Tecumseh is the world famous Dynamic Kernels tithing project. A local mill owner, Perry Hayden, planted a cubic inch of wheat and donated 10% of the harvest to the church and replanted the remainder. He continued this for the following 6 years, resting on the 7th. The amount of land needed for the final crop exceeded 2,600 acres (11 km2). Henry Ford donated much of the necessary land as did many local farmers. The project received much attention including a feature in Life magazine on July 24 1944. In 2008 Tecumseh Friends Church now called Riverbend Friends Church began the Dynamic Kernels Project again. Their goal, like that of Mr. Hayden, is to inspire people to a renewed sense of what God can do in their lives. To tithe not only their money but their entire life to God's service.

A horse, Don Juan, that belonged to the General George Armstrong Custer is buried in Tecumseh, the horse having been sent to a friend living there after the General's death.

Andrew Philip Kehoe, was born and raised in Tecumseh. On May 18, 1927, Kehoe perpetrated the Bath School disaster in Bath, Michigan. Kehoe killed 44 people and himself, in the worst school violence in U.S. history.

Infamous American serial killer Henry Lee Lucas murdered his mother in Tecumseh on January 11, 1960.

Rated #93 in 2009, as one of 100 of the best small towns to live in by CNNMoney.com

Tekonsha

Tekonsha is the birthplace of Talbert Abrams, famous as the "Father of Aerial Photography."

Three Oaks

The Christmas movie Prancer, released in 1989, was filmed on location largely in the village of Three Oaks (other locations in nearby LaPorte, Indiana were also used). You will hear "Three Oaks" mentioned throughout the movie. And a sequel, Prancer Returns, was made in 2001 (filming location Uxbridge, Ontario), in which a boy comes to Three Oaks to learn about the "Prancer incident".

Three Rivers

It is the home of St. Gregory's Abbey, a Benedictine monastery of the Episcopal Church that was established in 1946.

The football and Track & Field teams have been at or near the top of the Wolverine Conference for over 40 years, winning state titles for football in 2003, second place for 2009 and for track and field in 2000 and 2002

Notable People

Neal Ball, baseball player, was the first player in Major League baseball history to pull off an unassisted triple play. He played for Three Rivers's semiprofessional team in 1902.

Blondi Bee, adult actress, grew up in Three Rivers.[citation needed]

Harry Blackstone Jr., magician, was born in Three Rivers.

Charles Collingwood, reporter and television news correspondent, was born in Three Rivers.

Joe Gherna, baseball player formerly with the Minnesota Twins, is a graduate of Three Rivers High School.[citation needed]

Matt Thornton, baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, was born in Three Rivers.

Travis Key, American football safety for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Attended Three Rivers High School.

David Armstrong, President and CEO of Armstrong International.

Traverse City

The Traverse City area is the largest producer of tart cherries in the United States.[6] Near the time of cherry harvest, the city holds an annual week-long Cherry Festival in the first full week in July, attracting approximately 500,000 visitors annually

The Traverse City Film Festival, founded by filmmaker and activist Michael Moore, takes place every summer. The six-day event presents independent films and documentaries, as well as discussion boards with directors, actors and others involved with the film industry. In 2007, the film festival acquired the historic State Theater for year round screenings

The city was also home to Clover, a Christian dance music festival, in August 2006

Notable People

Mark Brammer, Michigan State University football player who received the All-America accolade in 1978 and later played in the NFL.

Demas T. Craw, posthumous Medal of Honor winner Jeremy Davies, an actor featured in Saving Private Ryan, Solaris, Lost, and CQ.

Tom Kozelko, former NBA basketball player with the Washington Bullets

Dan Majerle, former NBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers

Barbara McGuire, polymer clay artist and prolific author

William G. Milliken, Republican Governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983

Matt Noveskey, musician in the bands Blue October and (a+) machines.

Kenny Olson, guitarist for the pop music artist Kid Rock

Carter Oosterhouse, carpenter on reality TV show Trading Spaces

Pun Plamondon, 1960s activist

Craig Thompson, cartoonist and graphic novelist best known for Blankets

Barry Watson, an actor whose credits include the television programs 7th Heaven and Samantha Who?

David Wayne, Hollywood film and Broadway theatre actor

Dallas Drake, recently retired NHL player played who last played for the Detroit Red Wings. Previously, Drake played for the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues.

Robert P. Griffin, Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1987 to 1994; United States Senator from 1966 to 1979; Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1957 to 1966. The Grand Traverse County Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice was dedicated in his honor on November 13, 2006.

Gary Hogeboom, National Football League player for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Phoenix Cardinals, and Washington Redskins after playing college football at the Central Michigan University and high school football at Northview High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Bob James, jazz musician who created the instrumental theme song Angela for the sitcom Taxi and has been sampled by numerous hip-hop artists, is a resident of Traverse City.

Suzy Merchant, basketball coach coaches for Michigan State University women's basketball.

Doug Mirabelli, MLB baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants Bunny Oakes, head football coach at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1935 to 1939, who during that period compiled a 25-15-1 (.622) record.

Pat Paulsen, Actor/comedian, owner of the Cherry County Playhouse theater during the 1970s

Kate Botello, one time host of TechTV's The Screen Savers and Extended Play now resides in Traverse City where she owns a web design company.

Michael Moore, the director of the controversial Fahrenheit 9/11 and Capitalism: A Love Story, among others, the co-organizer of the Traverse City Film Festival, and who helped fund the remodeling of the historic State Theater, lives in Torch Lake, Michigan.

Trenton

The Battle of Monguagon took place in Trenton on the site of Elizabeth Park, which is part of the Wayne County Park System/Department of Parks and Rec. and is the first county park in Michigan, designated in 1919.

Notable People

Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush lived briefly in Trenton in 1945 while Bush was stationed at nearby Naval Air Station Grosse Ile.

Bradley A. Smith, Professor of Law; Clinton appointee to the Federal Election Commission, born and raised in Trenton, and graduated Trenton High in 1976.

Mary Lynn Rajskub, comedian and actress, born and raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1989.

J.J. Putz, a relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, was raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High School 1995.

Comedian Tim Slagle was raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High in 1976.

Psychobilly frontman Jim Leedy, of the cult band Elvis Hitler, was born and raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High in 1979.

Radio host Kelly Rinne WRCJ graduated from Trenton High in 1983.

Steven Ward, a member of the 2002 Colavita Professional Cycling Team, was born and raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1990.

Donald M. Dickinson, U.S. Postmaster General under President Grover Cleveland was a resident of Trenton.

Professional wrestler Kevin Nash was born in Trenton.

Former Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Steve Avery was born in Trenton.

Former NHL player Larry DePalma was born in Trenton and is a 1983 Trenton High School graduate. In 2008, Mr. DePalma was sentenced to one year in prison for extortion.

Former Red Wing alumni and NHL defenseman Lee Norwood grew up in Trenton.

Science fiction author Sarah Zettel was raised in Trenton and is a 1984 graduate of Trenton High School.

Andy Greene, a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, was born in Trenton on October 30, 1982 and graduated from Trenton High School in 2001.

Anthony Bass, drafted on June 5, 2008 as the 165th pick in the 5th round for the San Diego Padres, born and raised in Trenton, graduated from Trenton High school in 2005.

Radio newscaster Pat Batcheller WDET-FM was born in Trenton and is a 1984 graduate of Trenton High School.

Anthony Bass, starting pitcher for the Fort Wayne Tincaps, Single-A ball club, graduated from Trenton High School in 2005.

Zak Bagans, the host and lead investigator of the Travel Channel's paranormal series Ghost Adventures.

Author/inventor Steven J. Frey (featured on Season 2 of ABC's American Inventor), born in Trenton and graduated in 1983 from Trenton High School.

Comedian/Actor/Writer Justin Newsome who performs regularly in Los Angeles and has appeared on numerous TV shows was born and raised in Trenton.

Ubly

On February 25, 2004, a wolverine was spotted in Michigan for the first time in over 200 years near Ubly

Union City

Patricia Polacco's home, the Meteor Ridge Farm, formerly called The Plantation was built in 1859 or 1860 and served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, even receiving a personal visit from President Lincoln

Notable People

Patricia Polacco, prolific children's writer

Josh McDowell, Christian evangelist and writer

Floyd Odlum, businessman, and husband of Jacqueline Cochran, aviator

Hannah Norton, Grand Rapids Marathon Winner 2009

Orville Hubbard, Longtime Dearborn Mi Mayor

Lee Bartlett, Former Olympic Javelin record holder

Utica

The nation's largest Sam's Club is located in Utica. It offers over 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) of space

Vandalia

Vandalia hosted a station of the Underground Railroad.[3] An Underground Railroad memorial sign resides at Milo E. Barnes Park just off M-60.[4] Other locations in Penn Township, in which Vandalia is located, also were affiliated with the Underground Railroad.

Vandalia is also known as the nearest incorporated community to the defunct Rainbow Farm.

Vanderbilt

On February 9, 1934, the temperature in Vanderbilt fell to −51°F (−46°C), the coldest ever recorded in Michigan

Vermontville

Vermontville is home to the original maple syrup festival in Michigan held the last full weekend in April

Wakefield

Notable People

Walter S. Goodland, Governor of Wisconsin, practiced law in Wakefield.

Walled Lake

Resting spots along the Underground Railroad, where runaway slaves could sleep and eat, were called "depots". One of these was the Foster Farmhouse (built in 1833) in Walled Lake, which served as a refuge for those making their way to freedom in Canada.[6] The Foster Farmhouse was located on Pontiac Trail near 15 mile road until 1997, when it was moved to Riley Park in downtown Walled Lake to avoid demolition

Whitehall

Notable People

Nate McLouth, professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves and Gold Glove winner.

Ruth Thompson, first female state representative of Michigan, first female U.S. Representative from Michigan, first female on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.

Stacy Essebaggers-Shepherd, 2001 Miss Michigan and Top-10 semifinalist at the Miss America pageant.[4] Is now an 8th grade history and English teacher at Whitehall.

Jeff Delong, all-American athlete and participant in the 2008 Olympic trials

Riley Stohr, 2008-09 USA #1 Ranked Youth B Luge Athlete

Williamston

The high school's track and cross country teams are quite successful, especially in recent years. Coached by 2005 Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame inductee Paul "Coach" Nilsson, the boys track team won the state championship in 2001, 2003, and 2006. Nilsson led the boys cross country team to state championships in 2000, 2005, and 2007 Additionally, the boys team currently carries the distinction of MichTrack.org's "Best Division 3 Cross Country Team of the Decade"

The high school's quizbowl team won the Class B State Championship in 2006.

Yale

Yale is considered unofficially as the Bologna Capital of the world, in part due to its Bologna Festival. Yale bologna is sold in grocery stores throughout the area.

Ypsilanti

It was in Ypsilanti that Preston Tucker (whose family owned the Ypsilanti Machine Tool Company) designed and built the prototypes for his Tucker '48. Tucker's story was related in the film Tucker: The Man and His Dream, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

In 1979, Faz Husain was elected to the Ypsilanti city council, the first Muslim and the first native of India to win elected office in Michigan.

In the 1990s Ypsilanti became the first city in Michigan to pass a living wage ordinance.

Domino's Pizza was founded in Ypsilanti in 1960 near the campus of Eastern Michigan University.

Fay Kleinman, the internationally recognized[citation needed] painter, moved to Ypsilanti in the late 1980s with her husband, the pianist Emanuel Levenson.

Author Kurt Vonnegut has a chapter titled "Girl From Ypsilanti" in his 2005 book A Man Without a Country

Author / comic Steve Martin mentions Ypsilanti in his short story "A Public Apology" from his book Pure Drivel

Noted comic strip artist and film animation pioneer Winsor McCay received his first and only formal art training in Ypsilanti at Michigan State Normal College, now Eastern Michigan University. He is best remembered for the strip Little Nemo In Slumberland and the early cartoon Gertie the Dinosaur

Iggy Pop grew up in the Coachville trailer park on Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township (Ypsilanti) during his teenage years at the start of his music career.

Ypsilanti is the subject of Sufjan Stevens' song, "For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti", on his 2003 album Michigan.

A portrait of jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon, painted by his grandmother, Fay Kleinman, is part of the permanent art collection of the Ypsilanti District Library. Napoleon performed his first public gig as leader at the age of twelve under a tent at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, an event sponsored by WEMU radio.

The Deluxtone Rockets originated in Ypsilanti.

Noise musicians Wolf Eyes hail from Ypsilanti.

Joe Henry performed "Ypsilanti", an instrumental track included on the Loudon Wainwright III album, "Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up" (2007). It is purported that Joe Henry formerly lived in Ypsilanti.

Daniel May's 'Girl From Ypsilanti', from the Fight Club soundtrack.

The president of the Motown Alumni Association Billy J. Wilson was raised throughout the city and township. Wilson also played bass guitar for stars such as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Contours, Marv Johnson, Valerie Barrymore and the Foundation of Funk, and other superstar artists of the Motown era, along with a group titled Bigfoot. The Ypsilanti based group also had a drummer Stevie Bray that went on to produce mega star Madonna.

Musician Elvis Costello references Ypsilanti in his song "Sulphur to Sugarcane" from his 2009 album Secret, Profane & Sugarcane. The lyric goes as follows: "The women in Poughkeepsie take their clothes off when they´re tipsy / But I hear in Ypsilanti they don´t wear any panties"

Musician, author, performance artist, and puppeteer Patrick Elkins hails from Ypsilanti.

Noted harpsichord maker John Challis originated in Ypsilanti.

Singer-songwriter John Hammink performed in various acts and solo around Ypsilanti in the early 1990s.

Michael David Patterson Jr. was born on August 8, 1968 at Beyer Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He grew up in Ypsilanti, attended both Ypsilanti and Belleville high school before graduating and starting his first band. Michael aka Michael David, was the frontman in several local bands such as "Glasssoul", and "Crash". Michael is most known for his stint in Los Angeles in the north Hollywood area as the frontman for the band "50 High".

In TV An episode of the TV series "Supernatural" called "A Very Supernatural Christmas" partially takes place in Ypsilant

Zilwaukee

Zilwaukee is the hometown of former major league baseball player Al Luplow.