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Athlete Concentrating

JACK JOHNSON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

CATHY FINDLATER NORTH, CAA

2023 Cathy North Jack Johnson.jpg

Cathy Findlater North, CAA, is a graduate of Linden High School. She attended Hillsdale College and Western Michigan University before earning a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. While at Western Michigan, she was a varsity letter winner in field hockey, volleyball and basketball. Cathy served as a teacher and coach at Linden schools for 34 years coaching volleyball, girls and boys golf, track and basketball. She held the Linden athletic director role for seven years and has been executive director of the Flint Metro League for the past seven years.

 

Meg Seng, CMAA, athletic director at Ann Arbor Greenhills, writes, “Cathy cares deeply about the student experience and the opportunities that students are afforded. She is one who considers athletic concerns from many perspectives in order to make sound decisions for students. She is never one to seek the spotlight, but always one to get involved and make a difference. Cathy immerses herself in her commitments and readily tackles policy issues. She has willingly assumed important roles and, more importantly, she is trusted by her fellow peers and colleagues to do so.”

 

A former high school and collegiate official, Cathy spent 23 years as the Linden Educators Association president and was president of the Flint Metro League from 2012-14. She was on the president’s council for the Michigan Education Association, served on the MIAAA public relations and prize committees and was a member of the MHSAA basketball, volleyball, equity and golf committees. Cathy was named an MIGCA coach of the year, served as grand marshal for the Linden holiday parade and was coach of the first team inducted into the Linden Athletics Hall of Fame. She currently is vice chair for the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame, a member of the Douglas City Council, member of the Michigan Municipal League and mentor chair for the Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club. An avid hiker, boater and golfer, Cathy is the proud mother of Timothy, a former Linden scholar-athlete and scholarship athlete in football at the University of Michigan.

PREVIOUS JACK JOHNSON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RECIPIENTS

1983 (†) Mrs. Helen Geovanes, Secretary for MHSAA
1984 (*) Al Bush, Executive Director of MHSAA
1985 (†) Hal Schram, Free Press Sports Reporter
1986 (†) Dick Kishpaugh, Historian of HS Athletics
1987 (†) Bruce Redman, President, Redman’s Awards
1988 (*) Walt Bazylewicz, Parochial Schools Service
1989 (†) Jack Moss, Sportswriter
1990 (*) Vern Norris, Executive Director of MHSAA
1991 (*) Richard Maher, WBA Ruster Foundation
1992 (*) Dennis Kiley, AD, Jackson Schools
1993 (*) Dr. Robert Murray, Trenton Public Schools
1994 (*) Warren McKenzie, Asst. Director of MHSAA
1995 (*) Lyndon L. Cronen, First Agency Inc.
1996 (*) Robert “Doc” Stevens, B C Sports Medicine
1997 (*) Judy Hagman, ‘Mrs. A.D.’ Role Model
1998 (*) Dennis Kniola, AD, Stephensville Lakeshore
1999 (*) Jerome Cvengros, Assoc. Director of MHSAA
2000 (*) Dave Dye, WBA Ruster Foundation
2001 (*) John Dudley, ‘Mr. Swimming Meet Manager’
2002 (*) Joe Mahan, Announcer, Timer & Scorer

2003 (*) Dr. Larry Ulmer, Kalamazoo Area Schools
2004 (*) Suzanne Mart in, Asst. Director of MHSAA
2005 (*) Russ Waldo, Visual Sports Network
2005 (*) Robert a Workema, Grand Traverse Resort
2006 (*) Georg e Lovich, Exec. Director of MIAAA
2007 (*) Jean Bell, Midland Dow
2008 (*) Steve Marsh, Midland Schools
2008 (*) Bill Mick, Midland Schools
2009 (*) Hugh Matson, CAA, Saginaw Heritage
2010 (*) Bernie Larson, CAA, B.C. Pennfield
2011 (*) Dan McShannock, CAA, Midland Dow
2012 (*) Meg Seng, CMAA, Ann Arbor Greenhills
2013 (*) Jan Sander, Warren Woods
2014 (*) Ken Mohney, CMAA, Mattawan
2015 (*) Lori Hyman, CMAA, Livonia Stevenson
2016 (*) Gary Oyster, Lapeer
2017 (*) Wayne Welton, Chelsea
2018 (*) Chris Ceresa, CAA, Huron Valley
2019 (*) Tim Kluka, CAA, Allen Park Cabrini

2020 (*) John E. "Jack" Roberts, Executive Director of MHSAA

2021 (*) James Okler, CMAA, Grosse Ile

2022 (*) Brian Gordon, CAA, Royal Oak

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