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The ‘unofficial groundskeeper’

Kingsford renames press box for late Art Viens

By MARGUERITE LANTHIER, Staff writer 3 min read

KINGSFORD -- A dedication ceremony will take place before Kingsford High School's varsity football game Thursday to officially name the press box after the late Art Viens.

After Viens passed away on Sept. 18, 2025, at the age of 89, discussion began about adding his name to the press box. Viens helped design the box and was very involved in Kingsford athletics.

It was officially approved in the spring and the name placed on the press box just before the U.P. track finals, using letters donated by a local business.

Superintendent Aaron Yonke, who has only been the superintendent since June 2025, admits he didn't have as much contact with Viens so many of his predecessors did. He had conversations with former administrators and athletic directors and he then he broached a topic with the board.

"They all said that this would be a great honor. There's no one more involved than Art," Yonke said.

Viens was the unofficial groundskeeper, making a nightly trek from his home across the street to check the facilities and make sure all the doors where locked and the area secured. He and his wife, Shirley, would do volunteer work on the grounds, removing weeds and cleaning.

"He was someone that was always looking out for the best interests of the school district," Yonke said, noting that Viens often left detailed lists for superintendents. He would even keep track of enrollment at other U.P. schools.

"I was talking with Chris Hartman, our athletic director. He's getting ready for the fall sports season. He goes, 'You know what, I just realized, this is the first time that a Kingsford High School athletic director in 30 years has to coordinate and get workers ready.' Art did all that. And that's just a fraction of what he did to get that ready," said Yonke. "Art would coordinate all of the workers. Who's gonna run the scoreboard? Who's going to run the PA system? Who's going to be the statistician? Who's gonna run programs? Who's gonna run the rosters? Just the impact that someone has. Art loved that press box."

Yonke joked out that his master key is number two -- number one was given to Viens. He was considered an unpaid member of the staff, he said.

"We were talking about how to highlight the 100th year of Kingsford through high school here. But there's notes on that. Art counted every single pine tree in the south side of the practice building. There's 102. He was always there, he's still there," Yonke said.

In addition to the help he provided the sports department, Viens was instrumental in nominating some of the first inductees for the Breitung Township Schools Achievement Hall of Fame that was created in 2024.

"He was an a mission to get people he felt he knew should be nominated," said his nephew, Scott Jauquet.

Jauquet wrote the letter nominating his uncle for hall and Viens also received letters from several former administrators and athletic directors.

Viens and William Cummings were in the inaugural class in October 2024.

Viens' dedication to the school continued with his funeral, as he requested the high school band play the school fight song. He and his wife also created a scholarship for Kingsford graduates.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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