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SW Michigan Remembers Ali Warmly

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From the halls of Lake Michigan College where students earned scholarships in his name, to the streets of Berrien Springs where people would simply wave and say hello…Michigan's Great Southwest is feeling the collective loss of The Greatest following the death of world icon Muhammad Ali. 

He visited our studios at WSJM & WIRX Radio on multiple occasions over the years, stopped for coffee routinely at Tosi's Caffe in downtown St. Joseph, chatted regularly with students at Lake Michigan College, performed magic tricks for passersby on the streets of Berrien Springs, and could often be seen picking up the mail at the Berrien Springs Post Office in his Rolls Royce. 

I reached out to a number of folks who I know knew the Champ personally and had interactions with him, to share the great stories that are being delivered all over social media today. I also have seen other posts from friends and share with you today some their stories as well.

Dr. Rick Pappas, who was President of Lake Michigan College during the time that the Ali family lived in Berrien Springs had this to say:

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Muhammad Ali's death is very sad to me.  As you know, I had a chance to get to know him and Lonnie while I was at LMC.  His sense of humor was very strong. The first time I met him, I was introduced as the new president of LMC, and he said, "You must be a lot smarter than you look."  He was great with children and took time to sign autographs until everyone had one. His courage and strength will be remembered as much as his great boxing skills. He was one of my heroes and I wish Lonnie and the family deep condolences for their loss. 

Prior to Dr. Pappas, Dr. Anne Mulder held the post of President at LMC. Here's what she shared with me today:

He came to the campus often and would sit with students and talk. There was a young couple from the area who were instrumental in establishing the scholarship which enabled us to give two awards a year. When he was in the area, he always came to the award dinner. I remember one time he was so ravaged by the disease, he was unable to talk, but that did not stop him. He captivated the audience, did magic tricks, got us all involved . . . and we left knowing we had been in the presence of greatness. I saw him on several occasions over the years. We were both Kentuckians; we both loved Benton Harbor; we believed students mattered . . . and I think in some deeply spiritual sense, our paths crossed at a time when the town and the college needed uplifting. He is a reminder for me that standing up for right even in the face of adversity is what really matters. His wife Lonnie was also a very special lady, and is a terrific woman. 

Greg Koroch was a Vice President in the administration of Lake Michigan College, and he shared this memory with me:​
 
I had the pleasure of first meeting Muhammad while planning a "Sparring for Success" fund raising event for Lake Michigan College, Southwestern Michigan College and Berrien Springs Schools.  Whenever we met he would entertain us with magic tricks. I also recall he was playful and quite a teaser, always seeming to work to get a reaction from you. What I think I remember most about him is that he always had a twinkle in his eyes and  how kind and gentle he was.
 

On his Facebook page, Bridgman Police Chief Dan Unruh shares a great tale about the Champ:

I'll never forget the night I stopped Muhammad Ali's Rolls Royce on US-31 in Berrien Springs back in 1989…..I thought he was drunk & he had his kids in the car with him. Turned out he was only tired….we stood on the side of the road for a few minutes & joked with each other, didn't have cell-phones with cameras back then to get a picture. When he said he was going home, I didn't stand in his way (lol), he shook my hand, we exchanged a couple of "jabs" & he went home….. R.I.P. Champ……GREAT man!
 
Annette Huffman tells Facebook friends of her encounter with Ali when she worked for United Parcel Service years ago:

I used to work for UPS and had a package to deliver to his place in Berrien Springs. Couldn't believe that he was the one who opened the door. I about fell over!
 
Jeff Hoover used to work for Mid-West Family Broadcasting before moving on to the big time with WGN Television in Chicago. He shares a great story of meeting the Champ:

I'll never forget meeting Muhammad Ali. I was in my early 20s working at a video store in Benton Harbor, Michigan and a customer came in and said that Muhammad Ali was outside in the parking lot. I couldn't believe it. I grabbed a pen and some paper. To me, Ali was the greatest. I ran up to him just as he was about to get in his car and asked him for an autograph. His hands were shaking. He concentrated very hard. His signature was very difficult to read but it was still Muhammad Ali's. He looked at it, crumbled it up and started again. He did this over and over for five minutes. Finally he liked what he saw and handed me his autograph and gave me one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen. His determination throughout his entire life truly inspired me and the world. Rest in peace, Champ.
 
St. Joseph Professional Photographer David Knight related a great story on his Facebook page today, too:

How amazing was it that he lived in our area for so long. I'm one of the few who never met him which always saddened me. But, like you, many of my friends did. My son met him when he came into South Bend Chocolate Ice Cream store were he worked. My wife sat behind him at a Celebration Cinema one Christmas Day. Another friend was at Bill Knapps eating and noticed Muhammad was eating there as well. Muhammad stopped by to chat and then left. When my friend went to pay for their dinner the hostess said it had already been paid – by MA. I have many more stories of his kindness and generosity.
 

Jeff Migala is a member of the Migala Rug & Tile family in St. Joseph. His company performed work for the Ali's and Jeff tells that story, too:

About 16 years ago, I became friends with Lonnie Ali, Muhammad's wife. That led to my company doing business for her at their home in Michigan. Well, about 14 years ago, for my 40th birthday, a surprise was set up for me … I was able to spend an afternoon, one on one, with The Champ. We sat in his office talking about politics, pretty women and sports. It taught me a valuable lesson. At that time, Muhammad's mind was still sharp, witty and engaging. It just took a while for him to express it. Thank goodness for Lonnie. On several occasions, she helped clear up what I thought the champ had said to me. It was a wonderful afternoon, highlighted by a visit to his gym, complete with a full sized boxing ring, where he insisted that we climb inside. What happened next, I'll never forget. There grew a light behind his eyes that wasn't there earlier. At age 60, the ring still made him feel more alive. I cherish that memory. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Champ.
 
Whirlpool's Josh Gitlin shared a photo of a picture that Ali had created for his son Alex and a picture of the two of them together on his Facebook page saying:

The great Muhammad Ali with my son Alex Gitlin circa 1993. The picture below was drawn by Ali for Alex about 10 years later when my wife Nancy Myers Gitlin was personal trainer for his wife Lonnie Ali. Gracious and courageous, may he rest in peace.
 
Stephanie Bury was very close to the Champ on multiple occasions. She works and lives in Nashville now, but shared multiple posts today including a photo of the note he gave her one day, and several pictures of the two of them sparring. His note read simply: "Get yourself a coloring book and a box of crayons and (make) a picture for someone you love." Steph also shared her feelings:

I can't find the words but you've been in every memory today. I'm forever grateful to have shared a portion of life with you, learned from you and laughed with you. You shook up the world, Muhammad. There will never be another greater than you. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ali family.
 
Laura Kraklau is retired from the team at Lake Michigan College and a prolific professional photographer. She reminisced on Facebook today about the Champ:

I had the honor of meeting Muhammad Ali twice, once at his home in Berrien Springs when the college presented him and his wife with an award, and once when he was at the Mendel Center while attending a speech Bill Clinton was making for Economic Club. I'm so glad I was able to have those experiences. He and his wife extended such graciousness and kindness during those visits. We, in southwest Michigan, were lucky to have him as a neighbor.
 
Anne Erdman has been a long time administrator at Lake Michigan College. I asked President Bob Harrison about Ali, and he asked Anne to share some thoughts as well:

Ali was a fan of Lakeshore High School football.  He would stop by practices unannounced to encourage the players.  This was in the mid-90s. Ali was extremely generous with his personal time. Lakeshore high school student Nicholas Erdman was chosen to be one of the torch bearers for the Salt Lake Olympics.  Afterwards, Ali invited him to his Berrien Springs home for the afternoon. Nicholas was completely taken back by meeting him, but Ali worked to make him feel at ease. This included drawing pictures, telling jokes and topping the day with magic tricks including Ali "levitating."  To this day we still don't know how he did it. 
This generosity was with many.  Another local couple, Linda and George Marutz were taking a walk in Berrien Springs along the road leading to Ali's estate. He happened by, engaged them in conversation and took them to his house to join him for breakfast. 
Lonnie and he were fixtures in Southwestern Michigan from taking in their dry cleaning at Bobbie and Clem's to showing up at Celebration Cinema. They once came to see an animated movie where Ali laughed often. He made time afterwards to "pretend spar" with the children attendees. 
Ali loved sweets but wasn't supposed to eat them due to his health.  Lonnie would often stop by The Flour Shop for pastries and Klaus would slip carrot cake into the box because it was Ali's favorite.  

Congressman Fred Upton tells us that Muhammad Ali was indeed The Greatest and his impact and legacy will be felt for generations and beyond. Here are Fred's thoughts today:

His strengths and bravery in the boxing ring and with his battle with Parkinson's Disease is a testament to the human spirit. Years ago, when we were organizing the bipartisan effort to double the funding for the National Institutes of Health, Ali came to my office and we worked hand-in-glove together on a winning course forward, I was struck then by his sense of humor and his larger than life personality. He had a way with people that was remarkable. I remember calling him the night of the vote telling him the good news that we had won, making a difference for millions struggling with pain — giving them hope for a cure. He used his greatness, not just in the ring, but for another big match: 21st Century Cures. Now we have to make sure we win that title belt as well. Amey and I are sending our prayers to his wife, Lonnie, the entire Ali family, and his millions of fans and admirers worldwide. We have truly lost a legend.

As you can see, the Ali family was a significant part of the fabric in Michigan's Great Southwest for many years, with great fondness on the part of anyone and everyone who met him. I personally met him on several occasions in my role on the Lake Michigan College board of trustees, and he was a delight every single time. He will be sadly missed, and I wish nothing but the best for Lonnie and the rest of his family. Rest in Peace, Champ. You were…in fact…The Greatest!

The photo of Ali taken at his Berrien Springs, Michigan home in 1997 was provided by Oronoko Charter Township, with photo credit to Thomas Hoepker. 
 

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