Merrill T. "Ring" Lardner

Year Inducted: 1985

Ring was starting center for Saint James Junior High School of Bay City, Michigan.  He was named to All State teams during his junior and senior years of high school.  He graduated in 1926.

Ring accepted a scholarship to the University of Detroit and started at center for three years under Coach Gus Dorais, former Notre Dame great.  This team lost only three games in three years that “Ring” played and went undefeated during the 1928 season.

Ring Lardner was named to many All American Teams following his senior year and capped his career by playing in the Northeast-Southwest All Star game held in Dallas, Texas.  This is currently known as the Cotton Bowl.  Ring was selected as the outstanding lineman of the game.

During a very busy-business career, he took an active part in local sports.   In the early 40’s he helped Lee Hart coach at Saint Stephen High School.  Later he became part owner and coach of the Port Huron Raiders, a local semi-pro football team.

Ring took an active interest in many of Port Huron’s youngsters and helped them obtain scholarships to college (Dick Schonk, Tom Tramski, and others).


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