Fun Facts

East Lansing

Famous Faces from EL

Spencer Abraham, former U.S. senator and secretary of energy under President George W. Bush.
Amy (Taran) Astley, editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue magazine.
Timothy Busfield, director and Emmy Award-winning actor, known for his roles on various television series such as "thirtysomething" and "The West Wing." Busfield is also known for his roles in movies, including Arthur Poindexter in "Revenge of the Nerds I and II" and Mark in "Field of Dreams."
Sam Green, filmmaker whose documentary, "The Weather Underground," was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003.
Christopher Klewicki, Grammy-winning songwriter.
Greg Latterman, founder of Aware Records.
Todd Martin, tennis player, ranked #3 in the world at the peak of his career.
Ryan Miller, goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres.
Taylor Nichols, actor who appeared in "Last Days of Disco" and "Barcelona."
Larry Page, CEO and co-founder of Google, Inc.
Ben Poquette, NBA basketball player from 1978 to 1987.
Susan May Pratt, actress who starred in several films including "10 Things I Hate about You" and "Center Stage."
Larisa Spielberg, U.S. pairs figure skating bronze medalist in 2000.
The Verve Pipe, post-grunge band.

Points of Pride

The East Lansing Film Festival is the largest film festival in the state of Michigan.
The population of East Lansing was 46,525 at the time of the Census 2000.
Forest Akers Golf Course (West Course) is considered one of the best public golf courses in Michigan. The West Course has been redesigned to extend the length of the course to over 7,000 yards and add new rye fairway grass and bunkers.
SET is a card game phenomenon invented in 1974 by former Michigan State University population geneticist Marsha J. Falco.
The first school district in East Lansing was founded in 1903. Preceding the founding of the City by several years, the district demonstrated the paramount importance of education.
The Michigan State Medical Society building at Abbott and Saginaw was designed by Minuro Yamasaki. Yamasaki also designed the World Trade Center.
The streetcar line from Lansing was extended along Michigan Avenue to Harrison Road in 1894. The line stopped short of campus to keep "troublemakers" away. Later, service to campus was added for the "comfort" of female students.
The area surrounding Ardson Road and Grand River Avenue was once Lansing Country Club's first golf course.
East Lansing was a "dry" town until a public referendum changed the City's charter in November 1968.
Michigan's only venomous snake, Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (also known as the Mississauga rattler), is native to this area.
Twitchells Dry Cleaners, an East Lansing business which has remained at the same location since the 1920's. It remains the City's oldest operating business to this day.

Historical Houses Still Standing Today

437 Abbott Rd. was home to Warren Babcock, East Lansing's second mayor.
504 Abbott Rd. was the residence of Newell Avery McCune, the pastor of Peoples Church from 1917 to 1948.
221 Center St. was the first residence of Edward R. Blair, the first supervisor of the City of East Lansing when it was incorporated in 1907.
415 Clifton Blvd. was the home of Murray Delos VanWagoner, a civil engineer and state highway commissioner who also served a two-year term as governor of Michigan, 1941-1942.
202 Collingwood Drive was the brief residence of Rollo May, considered by some to be one of the most influential American existential psychoanalysts of the 20th Century.
120 Cowley Ave. was the residence of John H. Cowley, East Lansing's first Justice of the Peace. He later lived at 1140 Michigan Ave.
243 W Grand River Ave. was the residence of Linda Eoline Landon, the first female instructor at Michigan Agricultural College, and its "beloved librarian" beginning in 1891. She lived there until moving to 447 Grove St.
1107 W Grand River Ave. was home to Howard James Stoddard, founder of the Michigan National Bank in 1941.
334 N Hagadorn Road is the City's oldest house. This 1849 Bigelow-Kuhn-Thomas house was actually outside the City limits until East Lansing expanded its borders in 1958.
319 Hillcrest Ave. was the residence of Benjamin A. Faunce, who held several city offices, including mayor of East Lansing from 1929-1931. He later lived at 335 Hillcrest.
335 Hillcrest Ave. was the home of Jacob Schepers, a local realtor who held several city offices. Schepers was East Lansing's fourth mayor from 1914-1918.
415 M.A.C. was originally located at 110 W. Grand River Avenue and was the home of Chester D. Woodbury who was a Lansing businessman and one of the developers of the Oakwood subdivision. However, before moving to M.A.C. this house was also located at 323 Ann Street.
720 Michigan Ave. is the location of the present-day Harrison Roadhouse. The address has served as the White Star gas station, an auto repair shop, an auto dealership, a public works facility and a Shell gas station.
526 Sunset Lane was home to C. B. Collingwood, who was postmaster of the Michigan Agricultural College and was on the committee to write the City's charter. He was later a Circuit Court judge for Ingham County. He built this mansion in 1904.

East Lansing Schools Points Of Pride

In 1964 East Lansing High School's football team became State Champions.
Central School was the first school built within East Lansing boundaries.
The new East Lansing High School opened at 509 Burcham Drive and was dedicated Nov 4, 1956.
The first "Pigs vs. Freaks" (area Police vs. local “long hairs”) football game was held at East Lansing High School football field.
East Lansing High School boys' varsity soccer team was Class A Champions in 1987.
Also, the boys' varsity soccer team was Division 2 State Champions in 2002.
In 2005, the boys' varsity soccer team won another Division 2 State Championship.
Also in the 2005 season the boys' varsity soccer team broke the state record for shut-outs in a season.
In 2006, the Quizbowl team won the QuizBusters Grand Championship with a 7-0 undefeated record. The team also placed 25th at the NAQT HSNCT 2006.
The East Lansing Trojans varsity football team ranks 12th on the Top Michigan High School Football Programs Since 1950 on michigan-football.com.
In 1965 the East Lansing Football team went undefeated and won the "Mythical" State Championship.
The East Lansing Public Schools boasts a diverse student population that includes students from over 60 countries with 52 languages and dialects.
At least 10 students have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists since 2002 and five students received full National Merit Scholarships in 2004.
The Hannah Community Center was East Lansing High School until 1952. In 1952 the new East Lansing High School was built.

Michigan State University

Famous Graduates of MSU

Adnan Badran, former prime minister of Jordan.
James Blanchard, former governor of Michigan.
Eli Broad, renowned Fortune 500 business leader and founder of The Broad Foundation.
Julie Aigner-Clark, founder of Baby Einstein.
John Engler, former governor of Michigan.
Richard Ford, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Independence Day.
Robert (Bob) Guiney was a contestant on the first season of "The Bachelorette." Later, he was chosen to pick his own perfect lady on the fourth season of "The Bachelor."
Anthony Heald, actor featured in "Silence of the Lambs," "The Pelican Brief" and most recently on the FOX drama "Boston Public," playing the role of assistant principal Scott Guber.
Wanda Herndon, senior vice president for Starbucks Coffee worldwide public affairs.
Donna Hrinak, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil.
Michael Budman, is the co-founder of Roots clothing company.
Wallace Jefferson, the first African American appointed chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Kay Koplovitz, founder of the USA Network.
Joanne Maguire, vice president and deputy of Lockheed Martin's Space Systems Co., which built the Hubble Telescope.
R. Drayton McLane Jr, owner of the Houston Astros baseball team.
Greg Montgomery, is a former NFL punter from (1988-1997) for three NFL teams. He was a two time winner of the Mackey Award , '92 and '94. He holds the Spartan record for the longest punt average. He was All Pro and played in the Pro Bowl while playing for the Houston Oilers.
Michael Olman, winner of two primetime Emmys for the Fox drama "24" and the Discovery Channel's "Dinosaur Planet."
Purachai Piumsombun, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Justice and former Minister of Interior of Thailand.
Debbie Stabenow, United States Senator.
James R Von Her III, founder, chairman, and CEO of Zyvex Corp, the world's first molecular nanotechnology company.
John Walters, head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Known as the "US drug czar."

Points of Athletic Pride

In 2004 Sparty won the Best Mascot National Championship at the Universal Cheer Association/Universal Dance Association College Nationals, becoming the first Big Ten Conference mascot to do so.
In July 2006 Sparty was one of six college mascots nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Spartan Stadium currently holds the world record for the largest ice hockey crowd in history. On October 6, 2001, a rink was constructed at the center of the stadium for Michigan State's opening season game against the University of Michigan. Dubbed "The Cold War," 74,554 fans watched No. 1 nationally ranked Michigan State and No. 4 nationally ranked U of M skate to a 3-3 tie.
Spartan Stadium is SO LOUD that Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960) used a recording of the crowd noise during the 1959 Michigan State-Notre Dame game.
The Spartan Band performed at the 1984 World Series to cheer the Detroit Tigers to victory.
Ron Mason, during his 36-year career established himself as the winning coach in college hockey history. He now serves as the Michigan State University Director of Athletics.
The Spartan Marching Band was selected by ABC Sports to record the 1995 "ABC College Football Theme Music" in June 1995.
Spartans formerly or currently in the NBA include Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Steve Smith, Scott Skiles, Jason Richardson, Mateen Cleaves, Alan Anderson and Zach Randolph.
Former Spartans on the American Football League's All-Time Team are tight-end Fred Arbanas and safety George Saimes
Spartans formerly or currently in the National Football League include Morten Andersen, Plaxico Burress, Andre Rison, Derrick Mason, Muhsin Muhammad, TJ Duckett, Flozell Adams, Julian Peterson, Charles Rogers and Bubba Smith.
Former Michigan State players in the National Hockey League include Anson Carter, Adam Hall, John-Michael Liles, brothers Kelly Miller, Kevin Miller and Kip Miller, as well as their cousin Ryan Miller.
Former Michigan State players who are currently playing or once played in Major League Baseball include Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey, Robin Roberts and Mark Mulder.
The Spartan Stadium has been ranked among the NCAA's top 20 in attendance each of the last 47 years.
Michigan State's longest home winning streak was 19 games, starting with a 33-14 homecoming victory over William & Mary on Oct. 14, 1950, and ending with a 6-0 loss to Wisconsin on Oct. 2, 1954.
Spartan Stadium is the tallest structure in East Lansing, topping Hubbard Hall South and Hubbard Hall North.

Points of Academic Pride

MSU is the only university in the country with three on-campus medical schools, graduating allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians and veterinarians.
MSU researchers developed the platinum-based compounds Cisplatin and Carboplatin, which have saved tens of thousands of lives in the treatment of certain cancers.
Historic discoveries at MSU include the research that led to the development of hybrid corn and the process still used for the homogenization of milk.
Michigan State ranks 77th in the world, according to a Shanghai Jiao Tong University study.
US News & World Report has ranked MSU's graduate-level elementary and secondary education programs number one for the past 11 years.
In US News & World Report's 2006 ranking of nuclear physics programs, MSU ranked second behind only the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The study abroad program is the largest of any single-campus university in the country, offering more than 200 programs in more than 60 countries on all continents.
John C. Holmes kept the Michigan State University Agriculture School from being a part of the University of Michigan.

Points of School Pride

Michigan State University, a member of the Big Ten Conference, is the largest educational institution in the state of Michigan and the sixth largest in the United States.
W.J. Beal Botanical Garden is claimed to be the oldest continually-maintained university botanical garden in the United States, and is open to the public without charge year round during daylight hours.
MSU was the first agricultural college in the United States, it served as a model for future land grant colleges under the 1862 Morrill Act.
Researchers in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences developed a portable field for the 1993 FIFA World Cup.
In 1997 actress Angelina Jolie completed online/correspondence courses through MSU.
In 2003 pop star Christina Aguilera also completed online/correspondence courses through MSU.
MSU's student operated college radio station, WDBM (889-FM), the Impact, was named college radio station of the year in 2004, 2005 and 2006. It was the first college radio station to broadcast in high definition.
President John A. Hannah's push to expand in the 1950s and 1960s resulted in the largest residence hall system in the United States.
Sixteen thousand students live in MSU's 23 undergraduate halls, one graduate hall and three apartment villages.
The MSU mascot, Sparty, is only worn by specially-selected students whose identities are kept private for the entire time they "are" Sparty.
When John Hannah became president of MSC in 1941, he commissioned assistant professor of art Leonard D. Jungwirth to design a statue.
Originally designed as a bronze statue, "The Spartan" had to be cast in terra cotta due to World War II rationing of bronze and other metals necessary to the war.
The Spartan is "believed to be the tallest free-standing ceramic sculpture in the world."
The terra cotta Spartan was removed from its base on May 12, 2005, during MSU's 2005 summer semester. On Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005, an unveiling of the new bronze Spartan took place.
The Rock was unearthed in 1873 near what is now the corner of Grand River Avenue (M-43) and Michigan Avenue in East Lansing, Mich. It was donated to the (Michigan) State Agricultural College by the class of 1873. The college placed The Rock in the "Sacred Space" near the modern day Beaumont Tower. The stone became a common hangout for young couples and became known as the "Engagement Rock." By the late 20th Century the rock had become better known for protest slogans than engagement photos.
Beaumont Tower is the 105-foot tower that marks the site of College Hall, the first building in America erected for instruction in scientific agriculture. It is said that a Spartan is destined to marry a sweetheart if they kiss under Beaumont Tower.
MSU's student population is 44,836, of which 35,408 are undergraduate and 9,428 are graduate and professional students.
Faculty and staff total approximately 10,500, and MSU's alumni total a staggering 389,500.