West Iron County Wall of Fame

The 1929 Stambaugh High School boys basketball team was defeated by Grand Haven in the Michigan Class B state championship game and took home the state’s Class B runner up trophy.  Stambaugh posted a 13-2 regular season record and 19-3 overall.    

In only their second year of existence, the West Iron County girls basketball team under the direction of Susan Flood (Hautala) Dziubinski won the U.P. Regional Championship and advanced to the Class B state quarter-finals where they were defeated by West Branch.  No girls basketball team at West Iron County has surpassed this feat, with only the 1986 girls also reaching the state quarterf-finals.  The ‘75 girls finished the season with an 11-3 regular season record and 14-4 overall. 

The 1977 West Iron County football team is the only football team in school history to play in a state championship game.  The Wykons were defeated by Orchard Lake St. Mary, led by Jim Paciorek, in the Pontiac Silverdome, the former home field of the Detroit Lions, in the 1977 Class C state championship game.  The Wykons posted an overall record of 10-2, winning the Great Northern Conference with a 6-1 record and beating Class A powers Marquette and Escanaba.  The Wykons defeated Shelby 17-0 in the state quarterfinals and Saginaw St. Peter and Paul 38-14 in the state semi-finals.

Harold and Marcia Bernhardt were longtime educators, historians, and civic leaders whose work helped shape the cultural and historical identity of Iron County, Michigan. Harold, a World War II Army veteran, served in eight military campaigns including Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge before earning degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin. After returning to Iron River in the 1950s, he became a teacher and coach and earned statewide recognition in 1954 when he coached the Iron River Redskins to a perfect undefeated season and was awarded the prestigious Barber Trophy. Known for his leadership in academics, athletics, and outdoor education, Harold later worked alongside Marcia to help establish the Iron County Historical Museum and promote local historical preservation efforts throughout the region.

Marcia Bernhardt devoted her life to education, historical research, and community service. Born in Williamston, Michigan, in 1926, she attended Michigan State College and later taught in Amasa, Stambaugh, and Iron River schools, influencing more than 4,000 students during her career. She became a founding member of the Iron County Historical Society and spent more than fifty years serving as curator, archivist, researcher, and author for the Iron County Museum. Marcia edited or wrote more than fifteen published books on regional and family history and helped establish the West Iron County District Library. Community members widely regarded Harold and Marcia Bernhardt as the driving forces behind preserving Iron County’s heritage and fostering appreciation for the history of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Mel Holme of Stambaugh, Michigan, was one of the Upper Peninsula’s outstanding football players of the postwar era and was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. A powerful all-state fullback at Stambaugh High School, Holme helped lead the 1949 Stambaugh football team to the prestigious Barber Trophy, awarded annually to the top high school football team in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Known for his toughness, blocking ability, and leadership on the field, he became one of the region’s most respected athletes during an era when Upper Peninsula football was gaining statewide recognition. 

Following his high school success, Holme continued his football career at the University of Minnesota, where he played fullback in the Golden Gophers’ famed single-wing offense. He served as the blocking fullback for All-American halfback Paul Giel, helping Minnesota maintain one of the nation’s strongest rushing attacks during the early 1950s. Holme’s accomplishments at both the high school and collegiate levels earned him lasting recognition as one of Iron County’s great football figures and a proud representative of Upper Peninsula athletics. 

Mel's athletic activities were not confined to football as he won three letters in basketball and was an infielder and pitcher in baseball and softball. He played for Stambaugh in the Interstate League and was a member of the softball team that won the district championship.
When Mel graduated in 1950, he ranked in the upper third of his class scholastically, was a member of the National Honor Society and president of the Student Council.

George Orchard was a lifelong leader, mentor, and advocate for youth and athletics in Iron River, Michigan. A graduate of Iron River High School, George was active in band, basketball, and track and field before enlisting in the United States Air Force at the age of 17. He proudly served his country for 23 years while raising a family with his wife, Sylvia, and their three sons. After retiring from the Air Force in 1977, George returned home to Iron River, where he dedicated himself to improving opportunities for student-athletes at West Iron County Schools and throughout the community.

George’s impact on West Iron County athletics and youth programs spanned decades. He volunteered and coached cross country, track and field, and volleyball, helping establish the first girls cross country and volleyball programs at WIC. He also played a key role in developing the all-weather track at Nelson Field and helped organize the original “Rodeo Run” road race. Known for his love of running, George competed in races and marathons across the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin, including the Boston Marathon. More importantly, he inspired generations of athletes through his leadership, mentorship, and dedication to helping young people succeed both on and off the field.

Dale A. Safford was a respected educator, historian, and community volunteer whose lifelong commitment to Iron River, Michigan, left a lasting impact on Iron County. Born in Chicago in 1950 and raised in Midland, she earned degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan before beginning a career in education. Safford worked as a high school librarian in Iron Mountain and later at West Iron County High School from 1991 until her retirement in 2007. Known for her dedication to students, she carefully assembled newspaper and activity portfolios for graduating seniors and became a strong advocate for literacy, local history, and public education throughout the region. 

Beyond her work in education, Safford became widely known in Iron River as the community’s “Cemetery Lady” for her annual historical cemetery walking tours that highlighted local legends, veterans, pioneers, and notable families. She served as treasurer and active member of numerous organizations, including the Iron County Genealogical Society, Lee LeBlanc Audubon Society, Beechwood Historical Society, and Wesley United Methodist Church. Safford also cataloged local gravesites on FindAGrave and supported organizations such as the Iron County Museum, the West Iron District Library, and local youth sports programs. Proud of her adopted hometown, she became one of Iron County’s most recognizable local historians and preservation advocates, remembered for her enthusiasm, community spirit, and deep knowledge of the area’s heritage. 

Elmer “Swede” Anderson-A 1941 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Anderson was a lifelong resident of Gaastra, where he served as mayor. He was a veteran of World War II and served as a member of the former Stambaugh Township School Board. His baseball expertise extended to being a pitcher for several local teams and gained him tryouts with the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns. Anderson helped to bring back baseball to West Iron County High School and served as head coach of the Wykon baseball team for over 14 years, leading the Wykons to three Western U.P. League championships and coaching several league all-stars. He also served the West Iron County Schools as a custodian and bus driver. Anderson passed away in 2007 at age 83.

Jim Cederna-A 1969 graduate of West Iron County High School, Cederna was an All U.P. football player and went on to win four football letters as a linebacker for Central Michigan University.  Cederna then went on to an international business career in various companies, serving in capacities such as COO, President, Board of Directors member, and Chairman/CFO. In 2003, Cederna formed his own Cederna International, Inc., based back in his hometown of Iron River. His firm has provided best business practices to more than 100 different CEO’s and Presidents. He was also able to facilitate the startup of Global Response North in Iron River, resulting in 75 new jobs in the local area. Cederna was also instrumental in the formation of the Recreation Association of Iron County.

Steve Contardi-A 1963 graduate of Stambaugh High School, Contardi went on from a stellar athletic career at Stambaugh to being a member of the Northern Michigan University tennis team and later as an inductee to the NMU Hall of Fame. Contardi then began a long career in tennis in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area, where he serves as the operating partner at The Club at Harper’s Point and has served as TV tennis commentator. He has served on the Kings School District Board of Education and raised more than $1.5 million through a telethon for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Contardi is a member of the Midwest USPTA, Cincinnati Tennis, and Kings High School Halls of Fame, and was also chosen as an inductee to the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. 

Albert Holm-A 1962 graduate of Iron River High School, Dr. Albert Holm went on to attend the California Institute of Technology and then received his PH.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin. Holm then went on to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to help operate the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-2 satellite, gaining the first ultraviolet observations of a supernova. Holm then went on to work on the International Ultraviolet Explorer and then started work on the famous Hubble Space Telescope in 1983. He then served as Branch Chief for Data Processing and Archive Services until his retirement in 2010. Holm has been a frequent summer visit to the Iron River area, presenting lectures on astronomical topics here.

Stambaugh High School Football Team of 1949: Voted the best high school football team in the Upper Peninsula  by being awarded the Barber Trophy in 1949, the team was coached by future Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame inductees Willard Anderson and Ed Kukuk. The team featured All-State running back Mel Holme on the 27-man roster. Future UP Sports Hall of Famer Jerry Pangrazzi was a teammate. 

Iron River High School Football team of 1954: The 1954 team ran off a perfect 7-0 record in the tough Menominee Range Conference. The team was led by two Honorable Mention All-Americans in Eugene Tomasucci and Eddie Vergera and also featured all-UP Jerry Gallagher. 

West Iron County High School Basketball Team of 1972: Led by coach Brook Smith, the 1972 Wykons endured a tough four game stretch in the district  and regional MHSAA  tournaments to emerge as the Upper Peninsula Class B  basketball champion, beating the Iron Mountain Mountaineers led by current Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo by one point, with Izzo missing the possible game-tying free throw. The Wykons then upset Manistee in Cheboygan to advance to the state semifinal game were they fell to Muskegon Heights. 

West Iron County High School Football Team of 1974: The 1974 Wykons ran off a perfect Great Northern Conference record and finished 8-1, only losing to Ishpeming. The team was named the Class AB Team of the Year in the Upper Peninsula for the 1974 season, but competed in an era when there were not yet any MHSAA playoffs, which began statewide in 1976. Also in Class AB, the Back of the Year award went to WIC’s Bobby Tomasoski, while his teammate Ricky Erickson was named Lineman of the Year.

Jamie graduated from West Iron County H.S. in 1980. As a Wykon, he led the conference in scoring and while on Varsity, was a two-time unanimous All-U.P. First Team selection, and All-State as a senior. He continued to play basketball at UW-Stout and graduated in 1985. He then embarked on a successful coaching and administrative career that has spanned 40+ years in three countries and seven states.

As a head basketball coach, Mr. Angeli has an overall record of 221-136 (.619). He led Norway High School to a 1997 district championship. From 2004-2007, he won multiple titles in the country of Qatar and in 2005, the coveted Asian Cup. In 2016, he was named the collegiate Coach of the Year (CCNY). Jamie was an assistant coach at the Division 1 level for 12 years, most notably with UCLA Basketball from 1998-2004, reaching the NCAA tournament five times and the Sweet 16 three times.

He is the author of 20+ best-selling publications on basketball and was a featured clinician for USA Basketball and the Women’s Final Four. He is known throughout the Upper Peninsula and Northeast Wisconsin for his Basketball Camp of Champs. Currently the Associate Director of Athletics at The City College of New York, Jamie is married to Christy Tomlinson, father to Riley, Steven, Jordan, Jacob, and stepfather to Joshua.

Jay has lived much of his life in Iron River and is a 1959 graduate of Iron River High School where he participated in several sports and activities. He attended the Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis, MN, then went to work at WLDY in Ladysmith, WI for a few years before returning to Iron River and joining the WIKB radio station. During his 44 year career at WIKB, and over 30 years as the general manager, he became known for the call-in talk show Telephone Time which he created and began on January 5, 1965, continuing until his retirement in 2009.

Jay would announce at several different sporting events, including 10 years at the U.P. Championship Rodeo in Iron River, where he was also a parade grand marshal. He has worked as a football referee all over the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin. He was a manager at the Delft Theater, Plaza Cinema and Iron County Reporter, where he also had a sports column titled “Behind the Mike”. Jay served the Iron County community as president of the Kiwanis Club and president of the Jaycees.

Nick Baumgartner was born and raised in Bates Township and graduated from West Iron County High School in 2000 as an all-state athlete in 3 sports. He then played football while attending Northern Michigan University.

He won the 2011 Winter X Games just 12 days after clavicle surgery, where 15 screws and a plate were inserted. He was also the 2017 World Champion.
Nick represented Team USA in the Winter Olympics of 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, winning the gold medal in 2022.
Nick has been a member of the U.S. National Snowboard Team for over 20 years. He uses lessons learned from his journey to try and inspire more stories like his to come out of the U.P.

Frank was born and raised in Iron River, Michigan and was a renowned athlete and educator. He was the first athlete to earn major letters in four sports at Iron River High School from 1945-1948. In 1947, he was an All State running back for the State of Michigan. He received numerous NCAA D1 scholarship offers, including Michigan, and chose to attend Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he played football and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History in 1952. Frank taught American History at Marquette University High School for 37 years and coached football and track, leading MUHS teams to seven Catholic Conference championships and five track team state championships. He also served as director of athletics and was instrumental in creating the football and soccer state playoffs for the Wisconsin Independent Schools Association (W.I.S.A.A.) for which he was honored as “Man of the Year” in 1977. Frank was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991 and the MUHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. Frank was married to his high school sweetheart, Josephine Dinco for 63 years and has four children. Frank passed away in 2022.

Yvonne was truly the pioneering force of bringing girls’ basketball as an organized sport to the West Iron County area. Over 1,000 girls had their first experience with organized basketball under “Mrs. K’s” guidance.

Mrs. Kralovec graduated from Stambaugh High School in 1958 and coached girls’ basketball for 38 years to 4th-10th graders. She was instrumental in starting the elementary and junior high girls basketball programs in the area through Iron County Community Schools.
Mrs. K was responsible for West Iron County’s original entry into the Michigan-Wisconsin Junior High Basketball League, which the Wykon 7th and 8th grade girls still play in today. Yvonne was also an avid bowler and softball player. She was married to Charles Kralovec for 47 years and raised three boys, Bill, Jim and Andy.

“Coach” Don McDonald was an athlete for Iron River, participating in football, basketball and track from 1941-1944. He started his 32 year teaching career at Bates, and after his Navy service, continued at Stambaugh. Don was head football coach at Stambaugh from 1962-1967 achieving U.P. Coach of the Year in 1963. He then coached at West Iron from 1968-1970 (17-6-1) and retired from West Iron County in 1982. He was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

Don was instrumental in establishing the “Wykon” moniker during the consolidation of Stambaugh and Iron River. He enjoyed sports officiating at the high school and collegiate levels. He was active in the community and has had a lasting effect on so many people whose lives he touched. Don passed away in 2022.

Jan Quarless (Coach Q) was an All-U.P. state honorable mention and co-captain of the 1968 Wykon Football Team. A 4-year starter and letterman, Jan was named Captain of the 1972 NMU Wildcats and graduated Cum Laude. Coach Q spent 30 years as a college football coach serving as head coach at Eastern Michigan and Southern Illinois Universities. He was an assistant coach at seven NCAA Division I universities. In 2005, he coached NFL Europe with the Rhein Fire. Throughout his career, he has coached and recruited 20 players who played in the NFL and has been a featured speaker at various coaching clinics throughout the country. Upon retirement from coaching, Jan completed his PhD, a distinction held by only a few collegiate head football coaches. He has since been inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame and the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame.

Al was born in Caspian and was a lifelong resident. He attended Stambaugh High School where he was an outstanding all-around athlete earning All-U.P. honors for the Hilltoppers football team. From 1935-1939, he attended Hillsdale College and earned nine varsity letters in basketball, baseball and football. Al captained the 1938 Hillsdale football team to an 8-0 record and was named Hillsdale’s first NAIA All-American. After teaching, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Philippines during WWII where he was seriously wounded and awarded the Purple Heart.

Al married the former Eva Ruth Dominici, and had four children, Marsha, Dennis, Sherree and Robin. He spent the remainder of his life working for the M.A. Hanna Mining Co. as a chemical analyst and was also a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Hillsdale Hall of Fame in 1999. Al was humble, kind, a great father, husband and friend. A true All-American.