June 9th, 2007

Hosted at Jackson High School Withington Stadium

2007 Honorary Referee - Kermit Ambrose
Kermit Ambrose, 96, was a highly respected cross-country and track and field official for more than 30 years following a noteworthy coaching tenure at Birmingham Seaholm High School.  He also was instrumental in the founding of the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) in 1959 and helped run the renown Wolverine Cross-Country Camp in Northern Michigan for 21 years.

Ambrose officiated at the NCAA Indoor track championships for 23 years and was a starter at 10 state high school track championships in Michigan.  In 1995, he was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Michigan High School Athletic Coaches Association.

2007 Grand Marshal - Hayes Jones
The drive and determination that helped Hayes Jones win the men's 110-meter high hurdles in the 1964 Olympic Games has served him well during a successful business career.  He also placed third in the high hurdles in the 1960 Olympics before graduating from Eastern Michigan University in 1961 with a Bachelor fo Science degree in Education. 

After teaching in the Detroit Public Schools System for three years, he had a successful 18-year career in the airline industry, as a marketing director for the Stroh Brewing Company, and served as the Director of Economic Development and Community Affairs for Oakland County.  He was elected for a partial term for the State Representative seat in the 29th District in 2006.  The term ended on January 1, 2007.