Edward R. Vandervoort Memorial Award
The Edward R. Vandervoort Memorial Award has been awarded annually by the Club since 1953 to someone who is neither a current MSU athlete nor current MSU coach; has done much to advance the status of athletic teams representing schools/colleges within his/her surrounding community, and exemplifies community encouragement for the finest things in athletic endeavors. The award is named in honor of the late Edward Vandervoort of Lansing who contributed so many fine services to athletics in the Greater Lansing area.
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2022 Recipient of the Edward R. Vandervoort Memorial Award
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Mike Garland
Michael Quentin Garland was born on May 31, 1954 and grew up in Willow Run, a township east of Ypsilanti that was formerly known as Air Force Plant 31. The area was named this because of its original purpose as a bomber plant during WWII. It has been labeled a tough place -- a segregated community -- long before the civil rights movement mixed peoples of different cultures and backgrounds. Mike grew up there with his large family but without a father. Because of this, he learned early on how to deal with tough situations, how to avoid certain ones and how to become a man at a very young age.
It’s crazy to imagine that in 1973, Mike’s college career would take him to Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula – crazy simply because, at that time, the U.P. was not necessarily considered a preferred destination for Afro-American athletes from the Detroit area. Clearly, Coach Glenn Brown at Northern Michigan U. saw something in Mike. He had a good eye!
Fast forward to 1996 when Mike arrived in East Lansing to work alongside fellow college teammate and close friend Tom Izzo. Other than for 4 years when he served as head men’s basketball coach at Cleveland State, and then as an assistant at SMU, we have been extremely fortunate to have Mike and Cynthia name the Lansing area “home”.
Mike eventually met his father, Quentin Garland, but the man was never really a part of his life. Shortly after the senior Garland died, Mike vowed to be someone who would be there for others in need. Looking back nearly 40 years, Mike has served as a father-figure, confidante, counselor and friend to countless dozens of recruits, players and young people who have needed a listening ear. Former player Cassius Winston was one who leaned heavily on Mike after his younger brother died.
During his combined 22 years at MSU, Mike wore many hats including one that had little to do with X’s and 0’s. He was the team “storyteller”, which had a huge impact on those who listened. Josh Langford once cited that “Coach Garland has so much experience in all phases of life and his stories always have a meaning to them.” His former players have used the words inspiring, authentic, real, coach, mentor, counselor, teacher, leader, irreplaceable, and “OG” to describe him.
Three children and eight grandchildren later, it is clear that Mike has kept the vow that he made as a young man growing up in the Detroit area.
The MSU Downtown Coaches Club IS the official Booster Club of the Spartan Football program, however, we know real warriors and champions when we see them. Mike is both and we are proud to present him with the 2022 Edward R. Vandervoort Memorial Award!
1953 Ernest Shassberger
1954 Ralph Young
1955 Glen "Corky" Sanford
1956 Joseph R. Gwinn
1957 Charles R. Phillips
1958 Bruce E. Anderson
1959 Herbert Kipke
1960 Jack Heppinstall
1961 Clarence W. Lock
1962 George S. Alderton
1963 Walter Graff
1964 Archie F. Ross
1965 Fred England Jr.
1966 Charles Forsythe
1967 Clarence "Biggie" Munn
1968 Oz Hartley*
1969 Dr. James S. Feurig
1970 John Garver
1971 Al Vanness
1972 Russ Sheathelm
1973 Jack Stein
1974 Ted Abrams
1975 Dick Letts
1976 Jack Hornbeck
1977 Ernest Mary
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* Awarded posthumously
1978 Duane Vernon
1979 Fred Stabley Jr.
1980 Clayton Kowalk
1981 Jim Adams
1982 Gil Haley
1983 Jack Draper
1984 Don Johnson
1985 Jim Holcomb
1986 Tom Jamieson
1987 Rev. Msgr. Jerome MacEachin
1988 A. Dean Watkins
1989 Bob Gross
1990 Bill Sharp
1991 Phil Irion
1992 Frank "Muddy" Waters
1993 Monte Story
1994 Bob Hoerner*
1995 Connie Mcauliffe
1996 John E. Demmer
1997 Cheri L. Krebs
1998 John Findley
1999 Dr. John Fuzak
2000 Kris Nicholoff
2001 Tom Chirgwin
2002 Roger Boettcher
2003 Lou Agase
2004 Jeff Smith
2005 Kellie Dean
2006 James Sinadinos
2007 Tony Noyola*
2008 Craig Stover
2009 Henry Bullough
2010 Wally Dobler
2011 Norm Gaffney
2012 Bill Demmer
2013 Dominic Carbone
2014 Richard Comar
2015 Robert "Bob" Knickerbocker
2016 Robert "Bobby" Popp
2017 Jerry Sutton
2018 John West
2019 George Perles
2020 [N/A - COVID-19]
2021 Dean Look
2022 Mike Garland
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Recipients of the Edward R. Vandervoort Memorial Award
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