High School Heroes

~ Joe Neely 
HIGH SCHOOL HEROES
Maurice Reese, 1953 - 2020

My wife said the boys paid homage 
by chanting his name at school - 
Reese! Reese! - 
and I tell her the story 
of Maurice running faster 
than any big man possibly could
with a shot put baton 
and cinders like sparks 
flying from his spikes, 
passing runner after runner 
at the Waterford Mott Relays
near Pontiac in 1971,
and how the astonished gasps
of every boy watching 
mingled and rose skyward,
filling the night sky.

I attended my 50th high school reunion this past weekend (Ann Arbor Huron, class of 1973), so high school heroes seemed a logical topic for this week’s post. Maurice Reese, Ann Arbor Pioneer Class of 1971, was a man amongst boys. May he Rest in Peace.

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Published by Joe Neely

5 thoughts on “High School Heroes”

  1. As a Waterford Mott grad I ran in those relays. Alas the years have erased any memory I may have had of Maurice.
    Up north until August. Hopefully we can catch up when I get back.

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