H/T to my man Craig Barker of HSR for the reminder and as always, the epic calendar entries in the Michigan Athletics History Calendar. In 1940 the ‘Toast to Yost from Coast to Coast’ was held at Waterman Gymnasium. Fielding H. Yost was honored by a host of dignitaries – (Willie Heston, Tom Harmon and Louis Elbel to name a few) in an event that was broadcast on NBC radio around the country.
The Bentley Library has the original recording of that tribute. It’s a tad choppy in spots but well worth a listen if you have the means. The highlight for me is certainly hearing the voice of Yost as he addresses the audience. Here’s a small clip where the 69-year old Yost recalls stepping off the train in Ann Arbor for the first time:
You get a taste of his famous “Meechigan” at about 14 seconds in, which endures today thanks to Bob Ufer, Chris Fowler and TWIMFbH.
There’s much more in the event, even a speech from then-judge Willie Heston – the star of Yost’s epic Point-A-Minute squads from 1901-1904.
3 Comments
Max
Please tell me there’s audio of this:
?”But do let me reiterate the spirit of Michigan. It is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways. An enthusiasm that makes it second nature for Michigan Men to spread the gospel of their university to the world’s distant outposts. And a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours.”
DDMich
Hi Greg – In my vast “Yost Photo Collection” I have photos I can share from his playing days at West Virginia (1894-97) and Lafayette (played 1 game vs. Penn in 1896). Also as a Football Coach at Ohio Wesleyan (1897), Nebraska (1898), Kansas (1899), Stanford (1900) and San Jose State (1900). And as we all know, in 1901, he was hired by Charles Baird at Michigan serving as Head Football Coach (1901-1923 and 1925-1926) winning 6 National Championships and 10 Big Ten titles and as AD from 1921 to 1940 with his passing in 1946. I have photos from his West Virginia days to his 1946 Funeral and Casket being carried out of the Church by Oosterbaan, Goebel, Brown and others. One of the more interesting facts about Yost is that 64 of his former players and asst. coaches went on to become Head Coaches….and they say Coach Belichick has a big “coaching tree”.
Wolverwing
Nice!