Hall of Fame Profile: Terry Carey
10/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 25, 2005
Oct. 19 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Cathy Wylie (Softball)
Oct. 20 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Shelby Root (Gymnastics)
Oct. 21 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Brian Pruitt (Football)
Oct. 24 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Gary Lee (Basketball)
Oct. 25 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Terry Carey (Football, Track, CMU Administrator)
Oct. 28 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Larry Lamphere (Baseball)
Terry Carey has had many special moments during his long career at Central Michigan University, but a 7-0 football victory over Bowling Green in 1946 will always hold a special place in his heart.
Carey scored the only touchdown in that game to give CMU the victory, but it was special for another reason. He began his playing career at CMU in 1941 as a member of the freshman football team and helped the 1942 varsity squad to a 6-0 record. Carey transferred to Bowling Green in 1943 to be a part of the Navy V-12 program and actually helped the Falcons hang a 36-0 defeat on the Chippewas that year. After spending 1944 and 1945 in the Navy, he returned to CMU in 1946 and led the Chippewas to that 7-0 victory that fall.
"The game in 1946 was a real head-knocker and I was glad I could help CMU get the victory," Carey said. "Most of the guys playing that game had just come back from the war, so they were 24 or 25 years old. It is one of the roughest games I have ever seen and it was strange to play against some of the guys who I had been playing with just a couple years before."
Carey was also a track star for the Chippewas as a sprinter. He was a part of two record-setting relay teams and finished second at a prestigious Chicago meet ahead of Olympic gold medalist Lorenzo Wright, despite tearing his hamstring seven yards from the finish.
"I was leading the race and on pace to tie the world record in that race but my hamstring gave out right before the finish," Carey said. "The conditions back then were a lot different. We ran on some pretty rough surfaces and it took a toll on the body. I am still proud to have beat an Olympic champion despite the injury."
CMU has always played a big role in Carey's life. He grew up in Mount Pleasant and actually attended the lab school at CMU until he reached high school. Carey returned to the area in 1970 to become the vice president of university relations. He remains involved by helping on football game days in the timing and scoring booth.
"This place has always played such an important role in my life and means so much to me," Carey said. "I have lots of wonderful memories about my time here and enjoy staying involved when I am in town."
In recognition of his efforts on and off the playing field, Carey will be inducted into the Central Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 28, in a ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Mount Pleasant. Tickets are $30 per person and may be purchased by contacting the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-888-FIRE-UP2. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the CMU-Toledo football game on Saturday. Also being inducted into the Hall of Fame on Oct. 28 are Larry Lamphere (baseball), Gary Lee (basketball), Brian Pruitt (football), Shelby Root (gymnastics), and Cathy Wylie (softball).
The Carey family has been a fixture at CMU as both Terry's parents attended the university in the early 1910s. His father, Joseph, is also a member of the Hall of Fame after he chaired the Faculty Athletic Committee for 20 years. They become the first father-son combo in the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame. His father headed up the geography department from 1944-56 and Carey Residence Hall is named in his honor. Terry's son, Mike, is a local businessman and is the announcer at football and basketball games.
"CMU has really always been my family's bread and butter because it has helped put food on our table for so many years," Carey said. "It has always been a prideful thing to help this university succeed because of how much it has meant to our family."
Carey also grew up in some exclusive company with families like the Warriners, Wightmans, Larzeleres, and Merrills residing on his block, while his college coaches were Ron Fitch in football and Lyle Bennett in track and field.
"It is amazing to see the type of company that I was surrounded by when I was growing up," Carey said. "Back then it was not a big deal. I am proud that my family was able to be such a strong part of CMU's tradition." In addition to his father, Terry will also join his former coaches Fitch and Bennett in the Hall of Fame.
"This is the honor of a lifetime," Carey said. "It is something that is important to me and I couldn't be more pleased."