Gus Macker Basketball is proud to present the 30 Greatest Mackers of All Time. This honor was given in conjunction with our 25th Anniversary in 1998 when the first 25 were inducted. Five (5) new members were inducted at our 30th Anniversary in 2003. The years of support these people have brought to the Gus Macker Tournament is greatly appreciated. This is our opportunity to recognize their achievements and award this level of accomplishment.
Each of these 30 share certain characteristics

• Left a memorable mark on the history of Gus Macker Basketball

• Had an impact on the success of Gus Macker Basketball

• Loyal to Gus Macker ideals

• Represents the spirit of Gus Macker

• Achieved unprecedented accomplishment with Gus Macker Basketball

• DICK AND BONNIE MCNEAL - Mom and Dad Macker
  
• CRAIG ANDERSON - The first dominant (and tallest) driveway player in Lowell. Nicknamed "Skinny Mulligan". His teams won the first three (3) Macker Tournaments ever held ( 1974-1976). Currently working for the Peace Corps in South Africa.
• CLA AVERY - Former Lowell resident currently the Local Macker Tournament Organizer in Roswell, New Mexico. First person to organize and hold a tournament outside of Lowell.
• RUSS BARTZ - Longtime Macker player with Parini's Pasta Palace. Played in and won the first-ever Toilet Bowl Championship in Lowell. Currently employed in Kentwood school system.
• DICK, NOLA and LANCE BRYAN - Longtime personal friends of Dick & Bonnie McNeal. Dick and Nola have been behind-the-scenes since the beginning -cooking hotdogs, selling t- shirts, and numerous other tasks. Dick's expertise in the early years was hand-painting the designs on the backboards, while Nola loaded up her Mustang convertible with hot dog buns (sometimes more than was needed). Lance grew up with the tournament. ..actually buying his first wallet in the early years and entertaining top players at the family pool.
• LAURIE BYRD - The Queen of the Macker" is a dominant top women's' player going back to Lowell and continuing today. Her teams won ten ( 10) T op Women's' Division Championships. Currently playing professionally in the ABL.
• CHIPPEWA PRIDE - First dominant Top Men's' Division team in Lowell. Team consisted of Val Bracey (G.R. Union H.S. I CMU), Tim Bracey (G.R. Creston I EMU), Leon Guydon (Battle Creek H.S. I CMU). The team was coached by a very young Tom Crean -currently the top assistant coach at Michigan State. Tom Cream is currently the head basketball coach at Marquette University.
• STEVE DOYLE AND GEOFF STORMZAND - Representing the Original Macker Advisory Council. Both grew up in the Macker neighborhood in Lowell. Steve- nicknamed "Baby Dawk" -was the original shooter of the do-or -die shot in the Macker driveway. Jeff - nicknamed "Stormy" or "Iceman" -sent the letter to Sports Illustrated that resulted in "the article"
• THE FRANKOVICH FAMILY- "The Frankies" are Macker Maniacs that have travelled to numerous Macker Tournaments from their hometown of Sharon, Pennsylvania. Hosted a Macker in Sharon for a few years. One of their traditions was to make a basket on every hoop prior to the tournament starting (incl. the 200+ courts at the 5,500+ team Belding Macker).
• ORLOE AND MARY ANN GWATKIN - "Big supporters of the Macker and neighbors of the McNeals in Lowell. Had the first-ever rented portajohn in their backyard. Orloe, who passed away a few years ago, was pictured with his mailboxes in the Sports Illustrated article. Mary Ann continued to judge the Miss Macker Contests in Belding for many years.
• NED HENLEY AND DAVE VANKEULEN - "Ned and his neighbor". Played back in the driveway in Lowell and continue to play today. Ned played at Ferris State and is a former teacher at Lowell. Dave played at Forest Hills Northern and Aquinas College.
• KIPP AND KITA JONES - Dominant Top Division players from the team "Above the Rim". First played in Decatur, Illinois in 1987 and have played in and won numerous tournaments since then, including two (2) Belding Championships.
• JUMPIN' JACK KELLY - Macker dunk legend from Grand Rapids. Has played in and dunked at numerous tournaments each year since mid 80's. Won the ultimate dunk championship and $10,000 cash prize at Belding tournament. Has appeared in TV commercials for McDonalds and Reebok.
• TOM LAMONDE - The "Georgia Gunner". Longtime McNeal family friend that grew up in Lowell until he moved to Georgia just prior to high school. Flew back to Lowell and Belding to play in Macker a number of times.
• STEVE LEE - "Preacher". Started playing in the Macker in Lowell in the early 80's when in junior high -still playing today. Played high school basketball at Grand Rapids Creston.
• GARY LOVE - "The Defender of Human Rights". An attorney in Grand Rapids who has represented the Macker since the 1986 lawsuit filed by Lowell neighbor Larry Isenhoff. Also helped us through the move from Lowell to Belding.
• LOUIE'S RECORDS - Dominant Top Mens' Division team from Columbus, Ohio. Players include Marvin Stevens, Karl Newman, Hank Comley and Derek Fields. Have won numerous championships, including three (3) at the Belding Macker. Marvin also won numerous dunk contests by jumping over a car.
• T.O. MATTERN - "World". One of the first 20+-year players in Macker history. Still plays in a number of tournaments. T.O. holds mandatory team practices and training sessions for weeks leading up to each tournament.
• MELVIN MCLAUGHLIN - "Sugar". Dominant Top Mens' division player since Lowell. Played at G.R. Creston and CMU. Famous for the "Hindenberg Shot" to win the 1982 championship in Lowell. Can still "light it up" today and is always "Geeked" when he takes the court at Macker. His jersey was retired from CMU in 1998.
• MISS ELIZABETH'S FAN CLUB - A 40-and-over team from San Diego, named after the famous ~ personality. Have travelled to numerous tournaments including the "promised land" in Michigan. One of the team members has a Macker shrine in his house. Team consists of Jerry Fike, Richard Paff, Ralph Mora, and Bernard Balaney.
• THE ROOT BROTHERS - Originally from Durand, Michigan. A large (very large) family that has played in numerous Mackers since the early 8O's. Team colors (and uniforms) usually of the sweet orange variety. The family (including the children of the original Roots) still plays today.
• RICK THOMSON- One of the original driveway players that played in the original 1974 tournament. Gave Scott McNeal the nickname "Gus Macker" in the 7th grade.
• DON WARSAW - One of the oldest players in Macker history (70+). Played for a number of years with his two (2) sons -Scott and Nick. Don Warsaw passed away in June 2002. A memorial fund has been set up in his name to promote Sportsmanship throughout elementary schools.
  
• ALEX WOLFF - Played in the 1984 Macker in Lowell that resulted in his 1985 Sports Illustrated article about the tournament. "The article" brought national prominence to Gus Macker that turned into the Gus Macker ALL-World Tour beginning in 1987.
• BELDING CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER - Accepted the Macker Tournament with open arms during the last-minute move from Lowell in 1987. Helped put together the '87 tournament within a couple of weeks and witnessed the 5,500+ team tournament in the early 90's. Council Members included Will Youngs, Ed Jenkins, Val Whipkey, Dan Blunt, and Ron Hughes (deceased). City Manager was John Niemela.

• RODNEY GLASSNOR - Macker dunk legend and Top Men's player. Participated in the famous dunk contest in Belding against Basil Hampton that resulted in numerous dunk offs and co-championship for Basil and Rodney. Still competes in and wins numerous Top Mens divisions throughout the Macker tour.
• CARLTON VALENTINE - Long-time Top Mens Macker player and winner of numerous Top Mens titles. Former Michigan State player that continues to play in numerous Mackers throughout the Midwest.
• RONNIE PARKER AND BILL SAUNDERS - Ronnie and Manute are former Macker employees that started their Macker careers right out of high school and continued into the new millennium. Very dedicated to the Macker philosophy of hard work and dedication, spending many hours behind-the-scenes to ensure successful events.
• THE FLYING KNUEPPEL BROTHERS - Top Men's team made up of four (4) brothers Klint, Kon, Kole and Klay Knueppel. Winners of many top Mens Divisions in various Macker cities. Noted for their numerous set plays and uncanny 3-point shooting (i.e. Princeton, Boston Celtics, etc) click here to visit Knueppel website.
• CHRIS HANKINSON - Chris The Artist is the Picasso of Gus Macker that brought the Macker Man design/logo to life. Creator of numerous player shirt designs, DQ programs, and other artwork during the 80's and 90's.
• LARRY ABBEY - Long-time Macker player and teammate of current Hall of Fame member T.O. Mattern. Playing days go back to the original driveway in Lowell and he continues to play in numerous tournaments today.