Pastor presides over service for MSU football legend

By Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News From his office in CadillacÕs First Baptist Church, Pastor Mike Stambaugh recalls some of the stories that were told at Charlie ThornhillÕs memorial service in December.

Cadillac — Called Big Dog in high school, Charlie Thornhill was the first black man to be named player of the year in Roanoke, Va.

Alabama Coach Bear Bryant handed the young football player that award, then later confided that he regretted not being able to recruit him due to segregation. Instead, he suggested that Thornhill call his buddy Duffy Daugherty at Michigan State.

Thornhill became one of many black players that played for MSU, to escape the segregation of the south.

Renamed Mad Dog in college for his playing intensity, he rose to national prominence as a linebacker on MSU’s national championship teams of 1965 and 1966.

In December, 62-year-old Thornhill died unexpectedly of heart failure.

And Pastor Mike Stambaugh of Cadillac’s First Baptist Church was called upon to lead the memorial services in East Lansing.

The two men with seemingly little in common shared a precious treasure, a granddaughter born last April. Stambaugh’s daughter Katie married Thornhill’s son Josh, who also played for MSU, four years ago.

On Dec. 21, Stambaugh rushed to Lansing to comfort his daughter Katie after the death of her father-in-law.

As he sat with the family, Charlie’s widow Laureen turned to him.

“Charlie really liked you — and I can’t say that about many preachers. Would you be willing to do the service?”

And that is how, on Thursday, Dec. 28, Stambaugh found himself leading the memorial services for the former football legend.

“Even though we met only a dozen times or so, we really hit it off,” Stambaugh said, and described Charlie as “an absolute genuine person totally devoted to his family.”

Thornhill was beloved in East Lansing and was an enthusiastic Spartan fan. He also served as the Sergeant at Arms for the Michigan Senate.

Mourners first met at the grave site for a somber burial ceremony. Then about 1,000 friends and family met in the LaSalle Bank Club on the fourth level of Spartan Stadium to celebrate his life. Mourner’s entered the room overlooking the 50-yard line to the sound Thornhill’s favorite music, Motown and “Better Man” by Keb Mo.

Former teammates George Webster, Clinton Jones and Gene Washington all told stories followed by a tribute read from Bubba Smith.

“There were six pall bearers,” Stambaugh recalled. “There were four African Americans and two white guys. All six got up to give tribute and the thing that amazed me, they all talked about their brotherhood. Suddenly I’m realizing they were talking about the mid-60s, the middle of major racial tension in our country. Here’s this group of guys, white and black, saying ‘we’re brothers’ — and you could see it.”

Stambaugh said his message was based on the theme — if Charlie could come back, what would he say?

“I talked about his commitment to family and his passion for whatever he did. Without a shadow of doubt I know he would come back and tell us to be prepared to die. At 62, he was not expecting death.”

Stambaugh said it was amazing to listen to the tributes. “The love and respect they all had for Charlie was phenomenal.”

mardijo@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)

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One of the stories told about Charlie Thornhill during his memorial service, as recounted by Pastor Mike Stambaugh, described the first day of practice when he arrived at Michigan State.

All the team members met in a room and were sizing one another up. An All-American from Iowa was bragging to everyone that he could do 100 pushups in one minute and he challenged anyone to beat him. A couple guys tried and failed. One guy said, “Dog - you try it.” So Thornhill got down and did 100 pushups in 45 seconds. Then, while still in position, he looked up and said, “You think that’s something? I’m not done yet.” He motioned for the tailback to sit on his back and he did another 50. From that day on, no one messed with the Dog.