Ted Kjolhede (April 12, 1923-February 24, 2008) was the son of Axel and Botilda Kjolhede, first generation Danish immigrants in Iowa. He grew up in Grant, Michigan, and graduated from Grant High School in 1941. After attending Central Michigan College, now University (CMU), for two years, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the rank of Sargent. After the war, he returned to CMU to complete his degree in Biology. He was an accomplished athlete in several sports, notably basketball. He served as captain of the CMU basketball team, 1946-1947. Following commencement, Ted taught and coached at Grand Haven High School, 1948-1953, and at Battle Creek Central High School, 1953-1955. Ted returned to CMU in 1956 as a faculty member in the Physical Education Department and as head basketball coach, a position in which he served for many years. From 1973 until his retirement in 1984, Ted served as CMU's Athletic Director. He was a member of the Athletic Coach Administration, 1941-1984, CMU basketball coach, 1956-1971, and was named national coach of the year in 1966. He loved CMU sports and continued to attend games until shortly before his demise. On December 21, 1947, Ted married Ginger Larson with whom he had four sons, Chris, Theodore, Robert, James, and a daughter, Lucinda. He was active in many aspects of the Mount Pleasant community. Marion Kraft Larson was born on July 9, 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, the daughter of Erick and Alexandra Larson, Swedish immigrants. She was delivered by Dr. C. E. Hemingway, the father of Ernest Hemingway. Marion grew up and attended elementary and high school in Oak Park, Illinois, with Ernest and Marcelline Hemingway. After they graduated from Oak Park and River Forest Township High School in 1917, Marion attended Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. She was supposed to graduate with the class of 1922 but was three credits short. Although she attended commencement, she was required to return her diploma to the university. By 1925, Marion married N. T. Larson, a clerk and had moved to Wamego, Kansas. Together they had three daughters, including Ginger. In 1972 encouraged by her college roommate, Mrs. Lucille Gossett, to attend their 50th college reunion, Marion confessed that she had not officially graduated. Lucille then encouraged Marion to contact the college and see if they would grant her the three credits in exchange for writing a paper about her memories of Ernest Hemingway and family in the context of great American writers. Marion successfully completed the paper and received her original degree, which had been housed in the school vault since 1922. Her achievement, 50 years late, was hailed in the Kansas newspapers. Marion Kraft Larson died in July 1997. (This information is from the collection.)
From the description of Collection, 1912,2008. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 610974816
