Political Quotes

“Today I rise to honor another legend in the Lansing community, Mr. James Bibbs. Mr. Bibbs has had many words written about him over the years, and almost all of them mention his distinction as the longest-tenured track-and-field coach in Michigan State University history. From 1968 to 1995, his students won 52 Big Ten titles, 26 All- American honors, three NCAA titles, and broke two world records. But those who know Coach Bibbs will tell you that it has never been about the number of titles and his own career. What has distinguished him over the years was the size of his heart and the kindness he has shown over the course of his life. From high school to AAU club teams, collegiate squads, to national and international teams, Coach Bibbs lived by the words he spoke in 2010 when he was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame: ``I just loved track and I loved to work with the youngsters.'' And yet, it almost didn't happen. After graduating as a star baseball recruit from Ecorse High School, he turned down a minor league contract offered by the Yankees to attend Eastern Michigan University. At the time, EMU didn't have a freshman baseball team, so he decided to join the track team instead. And as with the races he would win as a champion sprinter, he never looked back. Mr. Bibbs later became a teacher in Detroit before assuming the title of coach for the first time in 1959.…”