PHOTO (Michigan State Athletics): Charlie Wedemeyer was an all-purpose quarterback, flanker and holder.
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“Spartan Verses” was a book of poems by Michigan State’s Pat Gallinagh, an Academic All-American defensive lineman on the Spartans’ 1965 and 1966 national championship teams.
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame inducted Charlie Wedemeyer, a three-year Michigan State letterman, 1966-68, on Jan. 21 in his home state of Hawaii.
REMEMBERING CHARLIE WEDEMEYER
Feb. 19, 1946-June 3, 2010
Punahou School, Michigan State, Los Gatos High coach
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By Pat Gallinagh, Michigan State, Class of 1967
He was from the Islands, one of Hawaii’s most famous sons
Following in the footsteps of Lopes, Kenney & Apisa, some powerful Spartan guns
He came to the banks of the Red Cedar without even breaking stride
For he was a great all-around athlete with a smile a mile wide
He came to East Lansing with his high school sweetheart by his side
Charlie & Lucy would stay together until the day he died
Theirs was a love story for the ages, one to make grown men cry
They took their vow for better or worse and never uttered a mournful sigh
He was nicknamed after the Hawaiian “god of lightening” and packed a nasty punch
He played on one of State’s greatest teams confirming Duffy’s hunch
Even though he was small in stature, he was a perfect fit
For the Green & White of 66 and brother could he hit
In that fabled season, he was part on one incredibly crucial play
Catching Dick Kenney’s only pass and keeping Ohio State at bay
Though he was recruited as a quarterback, he always put the team first
When he was moved to wide receiver, he could still pass on the end reverse
He was loved by teammates but by his classmates even more
And his coaches loved the way he played no matter what the final score
As he ventured forth in life, he was guided by his character and faith
He always kept his chin up high accompanied by his steadfast mate
In his senior year he was voted State’s Most Outstanding Back
He and Berlinski ‘The Bobsey Twins” helped form a potent offensive attack
He played in the East – West Shrine game and got a hero’s welcome home
Where he starred in the Hula Bowl where he let his talents be shown
Once he found his calling, he became a high school football coach
He was destined for greatness but not through the normal approach
He is probably the most inspirational Spartan to have ever lived
Tho his ordeal was not his choosing a titanic struggle he would give
In his early 30’s he was stricken with an illness named after baseball’s Iron Man
Lou Gehrig’s disease is a merciless foe that spares no one is strikes across this land
He continued coaching even when forced to use a wheelchair
And when a tracheotomy robbed him of his voice, his players didn’t despair
He led Los Gatos HS to the California Sectional championship with Lucy at his side
Reading his lips relaying his plays which did this game decide
The Wedemeyer’s were immortalized in a documentary, books and a TV movie too
Charlie became a living legend for the decades he defied ALS’s deadly rule
He was voted as the best prep athletes of the sixties in the Aloha state
And one of Hawaii’s fifty greatest sports celebrities of this there can be no debate
His legacy will be way he faced adversary with courage and true grit
Together the Wedemeyers choose happiness over misery and didn’t know the meaning of quit
-30-
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What is a Spartan? By Pat Gallinagh
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