Free Press All-State — 1930s

James “Country” Davis

Miller High’s James “Country” Davis, was a second-team Detroit Free Press All-State selection in 1936.  The following year, Flint Northern’s Grady Truss is believed to be the first African-American named to the first team of a Michigan All-State squad. (Photo Courtesy Lovelle Rivers Collection)

 

1939
Class A
First Team:
Harvey Pierce, Southeastern; Earl Kelly, Flint Northern; Edwark Novak, Flint St. Mary’s; Gene Broene, Grand Rapids Christian; Paul White, River Rouge
Second Team: Frank Sabo, Southwestern (NBL); Joe Mader, Detroit Vistation; George Dalman, Holland; Chet Jurwiak, Kalamazoo St. Augustine; Russ Collins, Lansing Central
Third Team: Bill DeWitt, Grand Haven; Dick Fillbrandt, St. Joseph; Lewis Moon, Albion; John Zagers, Muskegon; Albert Anderson, Muskegon Heights
Honorable Mention (Detroit Only): Hackman, Southeastern; Wlowstowski, Northeastern; Rutherford, Denby; Couzens, Western; Edwards, Miller; Bortak, Northeastern; Czuj, Chadsey; Piche, Grosse Pointe St. Paul’s; B. Loranger, Fordson; Chady, Highland Park.

1938
First Team: John Maartens, Kalamazoo Central; Henry Piatek, Detroit Catholic Central; Carl VanDort, Holland; Stanley Paskiewicz, Saginaw Eastern; Frank Mekules, Western (NBL).

1937
First Team: Jack Newman, Grand Rapids Union; Grady Truss*, Flint Northern; Bob Osterman, Detroit St. Theresa; Melvin Peterson, Muskegon; Eugene Brogan, Lansing St. Mary’s; (*-Maybe the first African-American to be named a first-team selection on a Michigan All-State basketball team.)
Second Team: Gerald Howard, Stevensville; Charles Smith, Flint Central; James Grissen, Holland; Bill Herrmann, Central; Bill Van Vleck, Northwestern
Third Team: John Maaretens, Kalamazoo Central.

1936
First Team
Charles Pink
, Northwestern; Andrew Sabota, Flint Northern; Robert Osterman, Detroit St. Theresa; Max Dalrymple, Port Huron; Milo Sukup, Muskegon Heights
Second Team
James “Country” Davis, Miller (Harlem Globetrotter); Herbert Brogan, Lansing St. Mary’s; John Burrows, Muskegon; Grady Truss, Flint Northern; Lee Brannock, Benton Harbor
Third Team
George Hobach, Southeastern; Robert Sherman, Lansing Eastern; Robert Peckham, Kalamazoo Central; Jack Piana, Detroit St. Anthony (NBL); Robert Westfall, Ann Arbor
Honorable Mention Cade, Northeastern; Horenstein, Northern; Shidler, Northwestern; Williams, Miller; Kerr, Western; Josefiak, Hamtramck; Helmach, Grosse Pointe High; Pontone, Detroit St. Anthony.

1935
First Team
Bill Carpenter, Lansing Central, capt,; Charles Pink, Northwestern; Thomas McShannock, Muskegon; Johnny Zwier, Holland Christian; George Falkowski, Flint Northern.
Second Team
Edwin Abraham, Lansing Central; Josehp Unnton, Detroit St. Theresa (March 24, 1935–more?)

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