Howard O. Jensen - MCSHOF Inductee - 2010

Howard Jensen coached Ludington High's boys tennis teams for 29 years during which the Orioles won 17 conference and 14 state regional championships. His teams won 292 dual matches and lost 77, a .791 percentage. During one 12-year span, his teams were 174-5 in duals and won 12 conference and 11 state regional titles. Eight of his teams finished in the top 10 at the state finals. His players went on to play tennis at Michigan State, Central Michigan, Ferris State, Grand Valley, Michigan Tech, Northwood and Alma. As an athlete, Jensen was a two-time all-state football player and the state runnerup as a heavyweight wrestler at Ypsilanti High School. As a middle weight boxer, he made it to the finals in the Detroit Golden Gloves Tournament. He continued to box in the Army and fought Zora Foley and trained with Jimmy Ellis, both of whom went on to become highly-ranked professional heavyweights. He played college football at Memphis State and signed a contract with the New York Giants, playing four exhibition games before he decided to leave camp. He then played semi pro football in Winnipeg and Port Huron.