Longtime Official to Receive Medal of Honor
July 31, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
South Haven's James C. McCloughan, a longtime MHSAA wrestling official and coach of multiple sports, will receive the Medal of Honor this afternoon for service in 1969 in Vietnam.
McCloughan, also a retired teacher from South Haven High School, previously received multiple Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts among a number of awards and decorations. During battle May 13-15, 1969, McCloughan risked his life to rescue and treat wounded personnel despite being wounded himself by shrapnel and small-arms fire. A combat medic with the U.S. Army, the 23-year-old McCloughan refused medical evacuation to remain with his comrades.
His rank at the time was private first class. He was discharged from the Army with the rank of specialist.
After his service, McCloughan became a dedicated educator. His bio as a 2008 inductee to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association credits him with 36 years coaching football and coaching 131 teams total from the South Haven athletic program. He also is a member of the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has served as well 25 years as an MHSAA official and is registered to continue this upcoming wrestling season.
The U.S. Army website produced a tremendous multi-media feature on McCloughan in advance of today's ceremony. To see that feature in full, click here, and watch below the Army's video that details McCloughan's service in receiving this high honor. (The photo above also is taken from the linked feature.)
Lansing Hosts 'Officiate Michigan Day II'
July 30, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
More than 800 sports officials hailing from both peninsulas and all over the state are expected to attend the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s “Officiate Michigan Day II” on August 4 at the Lansing Center to train and learn from clinicians experienced at the high school, college, national and international levels of competition.
The event is designed to benefit officials with any level of experience, veteran to beginner, with opening and closing sessions for the full group and sport-specific sessions for baseball, basketball, competitive cheer, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling.
Registration and check-in begin at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 4, with the opening general session scheduled for 9 a.m. Two-hour sport-specific sessions will be conducted in the morning and afternoon, and attendees will receive a box lunch and opportunities to attend one of five workshops during the meal period. The general closing session will conclude the event from 3:30-4 p.m.
The morning general session will be presented by newly-appointed MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl, a past NCAA Baseball College World Series umpire and longtime official in both baseball and football. The closing session will feature retired MHSAA wrestling official James C. McCloughan, who received the Medal of Honor in 2017 for his military service in Vietnam as a combat medic with the U.S. Army.
Registration remains open – those interested may sign up on the MHSAA Website. Cost to attend is $25. A full schedule including clinicians also is available at that link.
The first Officiate Michigan Day was held July 27, 2013, in Grand Rapids.