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Kevin Veale receives MHSAA award

iron Mountain High School graduate influenced by parents, teachers and coaches

KEVIN VEALE

EAST LANSING — Portland’s Kevin Veale has impacted high school students over decades in his community.

To honor his often unsung work in creating athletic opportunities, Veale along with Detroit’s Vic Michaels, Novi’s Brian Gordon and Bronson’s Jean LaClair have been named recipients of the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Allen W. Bush Award for 2019.

Veale, a 1989 Iron Mountain High School graduate, is completing his 19th year as Portland Public Schools athletic director after previously teaching and serving as the girls track & field coach and as a football assistant at the high school.

He is the son of Susan and Dennis Veale, both teachers. Dennis Veale coached for many years.

“I grew up around coaching because of that and my dad was friends with many of the coaches, so I got to see it from the inside out,” Veale said. “That experience definitely helped shape me wanting to be involved in high school athletics.”

Kevin Veale taught and coached for five years before becoming an athletic director.

“We had a lot of success in high school athletics, all of my coaches were good,” Veale said. “My dad was one of them as a basketball coach, so he was obviously a huge influence on me. I had the likes of Mr. (Tom) Clarke, Mr. (Charlie) Novara, Mr. (Rick) Olds, Mr. (Tom) Wender, and the list goes on.”

Veale was a Mountaineer teammate with John Novara, who coached Portland to a state football championship.

“We were always the team to beat in almost everything we played and I have very fond memories of being a Mountaineer,” Veale said. “We are quite successful from top to bottom at Portland High School. too. No doubt that a lot of what I learned in Iron Mountain has translated over here.”

Veale has initiated a variety of efforts during his two decades in the district, founding the high school’s coaches association, captains’ club and athletic Hall of Fame among sports-related endeavors.

He also has served as a volunteer coach for local recreation teams and given his time to assist in various community events. But his influence has stretched as well to league, regional and statewide levels.

Veale has served in leadership roles in multiple leagues over his tenure, as executive secretary for the Ingham County League in 2001-02 and then president of the Capital Area Activities Conference in 2008-09.

He’s hosted at Portland more than 100 MHSAA postseason events from the district-quarterfinal levels, while also serving on multiple MHSAA committees including assisting in selection of MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award winners.

He served as membership committee chairperson for the MIAAA in 2005-06 and has been part of its scholarship committee since 2008.

Veale earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Central Michigan University, the latter in athletic administration. He also has achieved CAA designation and was named an MIAAA Regional Athletic Director of the Year in 2010.

“Kevin has really become the face of Portland Raiders athletics after 19 years in that community,” Uyl said. “He brings a great deal of positivity and high energy to the job every day. His teams have had great success, and he’s another administrator who sees all programs being equally important.”

Al Bush served as executive director of the MHSAA for 10 years. The award honors individuals for past and continuing service to prep athletics as a coach, administrator, official, trainer, doctor or member of the media.

The award was developed to bring recognition to men and women who are giving and serving without a lot of attention. This is the 28th year of the award, with selections made by the MHSAA’s Representative Council.

“The Bush Award was created to recognize the frequent behind-the-scenes efforts that go into creating worthwhile experiences for Michigan high school athletes. But it’s impossible to not see the impacts this year’s honorees have made in their communities,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We are pleased to honor them and celebrate their work in promoting educational athletics and all of its benefits.”

Previous Allen W. Bush Award recipients with ties to the Iron Mountain area are Gildo Canale (Crystal Falls) and Jay Soderberg (Crystal Falls), 1992; Don Edens (Kingsford), 2001; Tom Smith (Crystal Falls), 2009; and Dennis Chartier (Iron Mountain), 2011.

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