Lee Middleton is no stranger to Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame inductions.
This time, however, he will get the spotlight to himself.
Middleton was a key contributor on two basketball teams that have already been enshrined with some of the great
sports teams and figures in Flint-area history. He was on the 1949-50 Flint Junior College team that was inducted in 2011. Ten years earlier, he and his Pfeiffer’s Beer basketball teammates from 1957-58 were honored by the hall.
Now, at the age of 87, his exploits have landed him in the hall as an individual honoree.
Middleton is amazed that he is still regarded that highly after so many years have passed since his playing days. “Listen, after 65 years?” he said. “That’s absolutely unbelievable that I’m still alive. I’m 87. I might be the oldest
inductee of all time.
“Obviously, there have been some great athletes honored. I certainly know a lot of them. Of course, when I say I
know a lot of them, I know a lot of the older ones. I know of the later inductees by reputation through the media.” Middleton played basketball at Flint Central, earning All-State in 1947. Coach Dick Evans called him the best player
he turned out at Central.
“That’s the year Flint Northern won the state championship,” Middleton said. “We did beat them one game, but they
won the state championship. They were obviously a good team. It was a very competitive league, no question about
that.”His achievements at Central earned him a basketball scholarship to Michigan State University, but he never wound up playing a game for the Spartans’ varsity squad. He played on the freshman team in 1947-48 back when freshmen weren’t eligible to play on the varsity. Middleton was forced to drop out of MSU before his sophomore year. One year later, he wound up at Flint Junior College where he helped put the program on the map four years after it was discontinued because of World War II.
The Bears won the Michigan Junior College Athletic Conference championship with a 13-1 record, 14-2 overall. It was Middleton’s basket with three seconds left off a steal by Bill Hackett that allowed FJC to clinch the title with a 92-91 double overtime victory over Benton Harbor. Middleton was voted the MJCAC’s Most Valuable Player and honorary team captain.
