John F. McLean

John McLean was the star of the first Menominee Football team, scoring the first touchdown ever for the then Crimson against their furture crosstown rival Marinette. McLean entered the University of Michigan in 1897 where he was a member of the football and track teams. McLean was a member of Michigan's first-ever 10 win season. He excelled in the high hurdles on the Wolverine track and field team, taking first place in the Western Intercollegiate championships in 1898, 1899 and 1900, also taking first place in the broad jump in 1898.

His success then led him to the USA Olympic team that competed in the 1900 Paris Games, becoming the first Michigan athlete ever to do so. He participated in four events, with his best finish coming in the 110 hurdles. McLean took over as the Knox College (Illinois) football coach in 1901 and finished his coaching career as head coach at the University of Missouri.

Jack Streidl

Jack Streidl, a 1936 graduate of Menominee High School, was a 167 pound tackle on a team that went 11-4-1 during his two years on the varsity. He starred at tackle on both offense and defense at Western Michigan University and was part of the last undefeated season at WMU in 1941. He also was a standout boxer and wrestler during his time there. He enlisted in the Navy on December 7, 1941 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After World War II ended he went to Plainwell, Michigan and became athletic director, head football coach, head basketball coach, and head track coach from 1946-1950, when he was called back into active service during the Korean War.

Returning to Plainwell in 1953 he resumed his coaching duties as AD and coach. Streidl led Plainwell to a 202-102-9 record during his 40 years as football coach, which garnered an induction into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. In 1973 he was named the Michigan High School Coaching Association Coach of the Year. As track coach he led his teams to 11 league championships. In 1975 the football field at Plainwell was renamed Streidl Field in his honor.

Mary Agnes Wall

Mary Agnes Wall at one time was recognized as the greatest golfer ever to come out of the Upper Peninsula. A 1936 graduate of Menominee High School, Wall went on to compete in the U.P. Ladies Golf Association Championships where she won four titles in four years. She was ranked number 2 in the State of Michigan in 1942 and 1945, winning championships in 1947 and 1948. This was followed up by three state crown three times four runner up finishes.

Between 1940 and 1953 she competed against some of the most notable golfers of the era, including Patty Berg, Mildred "Babe" Didrickson Zaharias, Polly Riley, Betty Jameson, Dorothy Kirby, and Anne Quast. She was able, in many instances on the golf course with other notables, to shoot her way past the early rounds and into the quarter and semi finals.

During World War II she worked with the Red Cross in Hawaii. She worked at a golf course in North Carolina for a long time before passing away in 1983. She is enshrined in the Upper Peninsula Sports Halll of Fame.

Mike Shatusky

Mike Shatusky will long rank as one of Menominee High School's revered athletes who later attained stardom at the University of Michigan. He was the quarterback as a sophomore and junior, and as a senior he was shifted to halfback where he earned all-state honors. In the M&M game of 1947 he returned a kickoff 85 years for a touchdown. He played in the annual North-South All-Star game. He was the team's punter, often kicked extra points, and played safety on defense.

Shatusky was also a three-year starter in basketball and the second leading scorer his senior year. He was a sprinter in track, high jumped and long jumped. He also earned letters in tennis and golf. He played for the Menominee Hornets after high school and was then drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He was 26 years old when he began his collegiate career at Michigan. He played extensively during his freshman year and started every game in his sophomore season. He coached high school football for eight years and served as a high school principal for 20 years.

Suffering a stroke in 1992 he never quit working for mankind. He organized a golf tournament called "Strokes for Strokes", a benefit that helped stroke victims. He was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.

Ronald "Satch" Englund

Ronald "Satch" Englund was a standout athlete in high school. Playing the end position, he was a member of Menoninee's undefeated squad in 1952. He also completed in basketball and track where he won the U.P. pole vaulting championship in 1953. That same year he was awarded the Barbara Silverthorn Trophy as Menominee High School's outstanding athlete. He later played for the M&M Hornets of the Wisconsin State Football League.

Following high school Englund entered the Army where his service took him to Korea. Returning home, he played independent basketball and softball. Satch was coaching Pop Warner football when head coach Ken Hofer recruited him to coach the line for Menominee High in 1975, a position he held for 29 seasons, being named Michigan High School Assistant Coach of the Year twice. His coaching experience dates back to the 1950's when he mentored young athletes from both public and parochial elementary schools and in 1974 he began a girls' program at Menominee Catholic Central Grade School. From 1990 through 2005 Satch's Marinette Catholic Central High School's girls' teams won six Wisconsin Private School State Championships. Satch was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Fran Mellinger

Fran Mellinger coached Menominee High School's track and field teams for fifteen years, winning three U.P. Class A-B titles and five regional titles. A 1952 graduate of Stephenson High School, where he was a four year starter at quarterback, he sailed the Great Lakes for the Pittsburg Steamship Division. The was followed by a two-year hitch in the Army, including sixteen months in Korea. Another year of sailing the Great Lakes followed. In 1956 he began his college career at Western Michigan University where he majored in inducstrial arts with a physical education minor.

He began his teaching caree in Menominee in 1960, and became the junior varsity football coach in 1961 under then head coach John Knispel. He moved to the varsity when Ken Hofer became the head coach in 1966. In 1966 he became head track coach, where hs carved out a legacy of success until relinquishing the reigns in 1981. His record of 89-35-1 reflects his success as coach. He was also a basketball official from 1962 through 1987 and a football official from 1971 through 2004. Mellinger also started every home track meet in Menominee from 1985 through 2003 and was also a starter at many U.P. district, regional and Upper Peninsula track championship meets. In 1993 he was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame and in 2010, the high school track and field complex was named after him.

Jim Payne

Jim Payne is one of the most successful athletes ever to don the maroon and gold for Menominee High School. He has that rare distinction of having earned 15 major M letters in Maroon football, basketball, baseball, and track. Because Menominee didn't start baseball until Payne's sophomore year, he couldn't earn a baseball letter as a freshmen. He starred at quarterback and linebacker and earned all-Big Rivers Conference and all-U.P. honors at quarterback. He played linebacker and quarterback on a football scholarship at UW-Stout, later transferring to UW-Oshkosh for his final three seasons where he played linebacker and guard.

After college he played semipro ball for the Sheboygan Red Wings. He attended graduate school at the Universtiy of Lousiville. He worked in the Winnebago County juvenile court before becoming a social worker at Oshkosh West High School. A high school and collegiate football official for about 20 years, Payne has the distinction of having played in four M&M games and officiating several others.

Bob Krysiak

Bob Krysiak coached the Menominee High School Boys' basketball Team for 9 seasons, from 1963 through 1972, winning the Class B State Championship in 1967. Born and raised in Shawano, Wisconsin, he received a degree from UW-Lacrosse in 1960. He began his career in Menominee teaching Chemistry in 1962. In addition to the state title, Krysiak's teams also won GNC championships in 1968, 1969, and 1970, and were U.P. champs in 1967, 1968 and 1969. He was named U.P. Coach of the Year in 1967 and Michigan Coach of the Year in 1968. The regional championship in 1967 was also the first in school history. Krysiak's teams posted a career 122-54 record.

He was also a registered football, basketball, track, cross country, and gymnastics official for 31 years. He started every home track meet from 1963 through 1991. He started the first girls' U.P. Track finals and officiated the 1982 Class B Football Championship game. He was a gymnastics judge in Menominee from its inception until 1991. Krysiak also server as athletic director in Menominee from 1991 through 1995. He is a member of the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame and serves on its board of directors.

Joe Johnson

A graduate of Ironwood High School, Joe Johnson made a name for himself in the world of gymnastics when, as a student at Northern Michigan University, he competed in the NCAA Division II Gymnastics National Championships in 1971 and 1972, winning a 12th place individual finish. He was voted the most improved male gymnast in 1971 and the most dedicated male gymnast in 1972. For his efforts and success, he was awarded four letters. Joe also participated in the 1974 Mid-American Gymnastics Championships. Joe began teaching physical education in Menominee in 1972, assuming the job of gymnastics coach as well. Over the course of 38 seasons, Joe's gymnastics teams won seven U.P. titles and had three undefeated years in competition at individual meets. He was also named National Coach of the year by the National Federation of High School Coaches.

He also served as athletic supervisor during his 35 year teaching career. As a runner, Joe has competed in over 150 marathons. As a canoeist, he won the U.S. Canoe Association marathon National Championship 13 times and has conoed internationally as well. As a skier, he competed in the USSA Central Divison Circuit Championship, finishing 11th. Joe has been inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame.

Heather Nelson

A 1998 graduate of Menominee High School, Heather Nelson became a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, becoming the first girl to amass 1,000 points in her three years as a varsity player. She was named to the First team all Conference in 1985-86, was GNC Player of the Year in 1986-87 and 1987-88 in addition to being named to the Dream Team for those seasons as well. Heather was State of Michigan Class B All-Star Most Valuable Player in 1988 and the 3-point Champion as well. She was named to the All-State third Team in 1987 and the All-State Second Team in 1988.

In addition to being the first 1,000 point scorer for girls, she is also the current record holder for most points in a season and career, and the record holder for most points scored in a game (47) in a double overtime win against Marquette in 1987. She serves on the Board of Directors for the River Cities Community Pool and is a member of the Menominee City Council.