Ralph H. Burde

Year Inducted: 1987

Even in his Little League days Ralph was a big man, hitting numerous home runs out of the Little League Parks throughout Port Huron.  His all-star team finished second in the state.

At Port Huron High he lettered in football, wrestling and track.  In football he was All-conference, honorable mention All-State and voted the outstanding Defensive Player of the Year as middle guard.  He made All-Conference as a heavyweight wrestler, was Regional Champion and finished third in the state meets.  He was a shot-putter in track.

In 1969 Ralph was a football All-Conference defensive tackle at Central Michigan University, and in 1970 became CMU’s first ever Academic All-American in any sport when he received that honor in football.   As a wrestler at CMU, he was Michigan AAU Open Champion in 1968, Conference runner-up in 1969 and Conference Champion in 1970, all as a heavyweight.

In 1971 Ralph won the inaugural “Dan Rose Award” as the outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year at CMU.

His professional career as a Michigan educator has seen Ralph serve as a teacher, coach and athletic director at Kent City, Assistant High School Principal at Lowell, Secondary School Principal at Manton and Superintendent of Schools at Posen and Newaygo.