Eugene “Mickey” Valesano - Class of 2020

(Wakefield)

An All-U.P. selection in high school football and basketball, Valesano helped the Cardinals to the state basketball semifinals in 1954, then led the U.P. in scoring as a senior (23.6 ppg). Also a premier sprinter, Valesano joined the U.S. Army in 1955 despite having a football scholarship offer to the University of Wyoming and a basketball scholarship offer to Furman University. He then played football at Northern Michigan University, earning NAIA third-team All-America in 1960. He was a free agent signee of the Detroit Lions in 1961. He was selected to NMU’s athletic hall of fame in 1980.