 Jessie
(Great) Lakes, Jr.
2000 Greater Flint
Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: MULTIPLE SPORTS
Parent: Jessie Lakes, Sr.
Wife: Adele
Daughters: Ebony and Meko
Jessie grew up in Flint on St. John St. and Campau. He attended Fairview
Elementary, Lowell Jr. High and graduated from Flint Central in 1968.
After graduation he attended Central Michigan University, where he excelled
in football.
While attending Flint Central Jessie was a solid three sport starter
in football, wrestling and track, and earned nine varsity letters.
In football, Jessie anchored the back field as a fullback and on the
defense he played end.
Wrestling was another sport where Jessie excelled, and at 165 pounds
he climaxed his high school wrestling career with a fourth place in
the state. As a junior he was state runner up and voted MPV by his teammates.
Dean Ludwig, who coached Jessie for three years in wrestling, listed
him as one of the toughest competitors he ever coached. "One of
the finest gentlemen I have ever met and if I had a son, I would want
him to be like Jessie."
At Central Michigan University coach Roy Kramer described Jessie as
a great young man to coach. He had the ability to make the big play...to
get that extra yard when needed. It was almost impossible to tackle
Jessie one on one because of his tremendous upper leg strength, his
quickness and his determination.
Because of Jessie's greatness and his hard work ethics, he was tagged
with the name "Great Lakes."
With "Great Lakes" leading the way, the Chippewas never had
a losing season in the three years Jessie was on the varsity squad.
He was the first Michigan collegiate football player officially to rush
for more than 3,000 yards. He ran 39 times for 343 yards, scored five
touchdowns breaking Jim Podoley's record in one afternoon.
Jessie was inducted into Central Michigan University's Athletic Hall
of Fame in 1988.
Jessie resides in Mareno Valley, California.
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