Melvin J. "Tubby" Myers

Year Inducted: 1977

Tubby Myers was born in Gobles, Michigan, and with his family moved to Kalamazoo when he was eight years old.  At Kalamazoo High School he became a star athlete and played four years on the school’s football, baseball and basketball squads.  As a halfback with unusual drive and pep, he led Kalamazoo High’s football team to the State Championship in 1905.

He entered Western Teacher’s College in 1907.  There he became an outstanding athlete and popular campus figure.  In his first year in College he was Captain of the football team and was re-elected Captain in his third and last year in school.  During his College football days, he was known as “Bullet” Myers and was considered one of the greatest athletes ever to attend the college.  He was listed on the all-time All western State football team.  At Western State he also was a star catcher on the College’s baseball team.  During his summer vacations he played semi-professional baseball in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and other cities.

He graduated from Western State and came to Port Huron in 1909 and pitched in with characteristic vigor and organized the athletic system in our public schools.  In his early years he was the only manual training teacher in the City and also the only public school athletic coach.  He coached football and baseball successfully and introduced basketball as a high school sport in 1915.  He served as coach and athletic director from 1909 to 1941, except for time spent in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919.  After his discharge from the army he was placed on the Reserve Officer’s list and advanced to the rank of Captain in 1932.

Tubby Myers arrival in Port Huron was a fortunate event for the City.  On the foundation he built Port Huron High School and Community College Athletic teams under his successors, have established enviable records in the state.  He was the father of our Public School Athletic program and one of the organizers of the Southeastern Michigan Athletic Association and held several offices in that organization.

Tubby Myers was a tough – and tender man.  He was admired for his energy and ability and loved by hundreds of public school children as a champion of their rights and as a friend as well as mentor.

In Port Huron he was the most respected man of his time.  He left us greatly in his debt.