The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Some still call the late 1940s the greatest era in Michigan football's storied history, and John Ghindia Sr. never forgot he had been part of something special. He was a key contributor at linebacker and quarterback on Michigan's undefeated national champion- ship teams of 1947 and 1948, and played for two legends in Fritz Crisler and Bennie Oosterbaan. John V. Ghindia (Lettered 1947-49) "I played with a great bunch of guys," he said in a 2005 article. "We have a reunion every year and have a great time. The only bad thing is we keep getting older, and the reunions keep getting smaller." Mr. Ghindia passed away March 16, 2012, at the age of 86. After earning bachelor's and master's de- grees from Michigan, Ghindia proceeded to become an accomplished educator, coach and Downriver Detroit community leader. He was a math teacher for 33 years at Lin- coln Park and Ecorse High Schools, as well as Henry Ford Community College, and coached multiple sports at Wyandotte St. Patrick High School. "Everyone who knew him was honored to be in his company," said Michigan great Rick Leach, a friend of the family. "He set a very high standard for the rest of us who consider ourselves to be good 'M' Men. When someone asks you what's the defini- tion of a 'Michigan Man,' think of John V. Ghindia." After his funeral mass, his family all gath- ered in front of the church around him and sang "The Victors." George F. Ceithaml (1940-42) Once called "the smartest player I ever taught" by legendary head coach Fritz Crisler, George Ceithaml earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as captain of the 1942 team that finished No. 9 nationally. He was responsible for calling the plays in Crisler's complex single-wing offense and excelled in the role in his two seasons as a starter. Ceithaml scored the first touchdown against Notre Dame in 1942, the game that revived the series between the two storied programs. "We were so revved, we could have played two more quarters," he recalled in a 1993 interview. "The coaches never had to say a word to get us jacked up. We're Michigan, and the personal pride — the pride of beat- ing Notre Dame — was intense." Mr. Ceithaml passed away May 24, 2012, at the age of 91. IN MEMORIAM John Ghindia Sr. (shown with Bo Schembechler) was a key contributor at linebacker and quar- terback on Michigan's undefeated national championship teams of 1947 and 1948. PHOTO COURTESY GHINDIA FAMILY Though drafted by the NFL, Mr. Ceithaml entered the United States Navy upon gradu- ation and participated in the 1944 landings at Anzio Beach and D-Day at Normandy. He later served as an assistant at Michigan (and later, USC) before embarking on a business career with Investors Diversified Services, Inc., then the world's largest investment management firm. He retired as the firm's senior vice president for marketing in Min- neapolis before moving to California. James Maddock (1954-56) A Chicago native, "Jimmy" Maddock ap- peared at quarterback in all 27 games for the Wolverines in his three years as a letter win- ner. Maddock backed up Jim Van Pelt but ap- peared in all nine games in his senior season, teaming with legends such as Ron Kramer and Tom Maentz to lead the Wolverines to a 7-2 finish and No. 7 national ranking. Mr. Maddock passed away July 20, 2011, at the age of 76. Maddock saved one of his best perfor- mances for his final game in a Michigan uniform, completing 5 of 10 passes for 66 yards, catching a 23-yard pass from Bob Ptacek and scoring the Wolverines' final touchdown from inside the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter of a 19-0 victory over Ohio State. He bypassed an NFL career to open his own construction supply business, Mad- dock Industries in Chicago, running it for more than 40 years. His Michigan days were some of the best of his life, his nephew Dan Maier told the Chicago Tribune. "It was the most important formative part of his youth, and being a part of those Michi- gan teams taught him so much he applied in his business and also in the way he raised his family," Maier said. "He was very mod- est about his playing … and he played with some giants." James Lincoln (1935-36) Lincoln was a part-time starter at tackle on Harry Kipke's 1936 team and also earned a wrestling letter in 1937 before graduating and beginning his career as a public official. He served as Wayne County prosecutor and judge, was an assistant to Attorney General Frank Murphy, became a seven-year coun- cilman for the city of Detroit and even ran for mayor. Mr. Lincoln passed away July 23, 2011. Former Michigan letter winner Frank Murphy, who played for legendary U-M head coach Fielding H. Yost in 1909, is the only other individual to have a courthouse in the state of Michigan named after him. Lin- coln and Murphy were both born in Harbor Beach, Mich., and Lincoln was a pallbearer at Murphy's funeral in 1949. u THE WOLVERINE 2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW s 205