Is Tom Izzo the most famous Yooper ever?
Jun 12, 2010 | Share this | Leave a comment
Tom Izzo is certainly all over the media right now as we wait his decision to stay and coach at Michigan State or go on to the NBA to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers. There’s no doubt that the Iron Mountain native has made a permanent impact on college basketball.
But is he the most famous Yooper ever? He does have some worthy competition with friend and classmate Steve Mariucci and football legend “The Gipper”.
Tom Izzo clearly has my vote, but I will admit that I’m biased as an MSU alum. So what do you think? Please leave a comment after you vote.
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Well, if you’re into sports, you know those names. Outside of sports, how about Kelly (Clarence) Johnson or Terry O’Quinn?
I think for the general population, yes, Izzo is it. #teamizzo
I was talking to my husband about this and he knew of Mariucci ~ but wasn’t aware of the “Gipper”.. he does now.. thanks so much.
Obviously, The Gipper is the most famous of Yooper. People, at least nation-wide, know the phrase “Win one for the Gipper!” Any while it might not be in everyone’s vernacular, they certainly know what it means.
Plus, Calumet rocks, so anyone from there has to be pretty rad.
This is kind of a generation-based issue. One generation’s famous person may not be a legend to another generation. (I didn’t know the name Terry O’Quinn, for instance…)
How about John Voelker, aka Robert Traver. He wrote “Anatomy of a Murder”, a best-selling novel and huge movie in the ’60’s. Well-known in literary circles and in the fishing world for his classic “Trout Madness” and “Trout Magic” books. CBS correspondent Charles Kurault once declared him to be the greatest man he’d ever met.
Terry O’Quinn? No kidding! I didn’t know he was a Yooper. That’s really cool.
I voted “Yes” but as a huge MSU fan it’s… um… difficult to take a wider perspective on the situation. :) I was so disgusted that the Cavs fans seemed to view Tom as “just another guy.” In Spartan Nation we tend to kind of live and breathe Tom Izzo so it seems like everybody should know who he is and know everything about him… but maybe if I were from Kansas or something, I’d feel different. Luckily I’m not! :)
My dad’s from Ishpeming, so I’m also kind of partial to Glenn Seaborg even though “most famous” probably doesn’t apply: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_T._Seaborg
P.S. I want that shirt! ;-)
I’d have to say hands down after this past years events. Tom Izzo is the most recognizable Yooper around!
Ken
I can’t think of anyone who would come close to the impact Tom Izzo has had; he must be the most famous.
Jennifer, thanks for sharing about Glenn Seaborg, I had only read small bits about him before and hadn’t looked him up on Wiki before.
Kelly Johnson was also born in Ishpeming. He designed some of the most successful aircraft of the 20th century, and was the founder of the Lockheed Skunk Works. He was an incredibly gifted engineer and manager. His Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Johnson
I’d have to vote no here.
In the world of sports, I’d say it was George Gipp. He doesn’t need much of an introduction.
In the world of science, Glenn Seaborg. He has been mentioned here already and won the Nobel Prize.
In the world of entertainment, most likely John Voelker. He has already been mentioned above.
In architecture, it would be John Lautner. He studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and is considered one of his most famous fellow.
In the world of professional wrestling? None other than Mike Shaw, AKA The Bastion Booger. He umped several of my Little League baseball games and I grew up right down the road from him.
He’s definitely one of the most famous. Top 3 for sure. I’d love to win the autographed t-shirt. My dad was born in the U.P. and 90% of his family still live there. LOVE IT
Well, he may not be the most famous, but my first cousin twice-removed (my paternal grandmother’s [Johanna Bjorkbacka Puotinen] first cousin), Emil Hurja, from Crystal Falls, did make the cover of Time Magazine, the only Yooper to have done that: http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19360302,00.html.