Whether it was his days as a student-athlete, a coach or a recreation player, Steve McCalmon felt right at home on the tennis court.

And his playing career and academic goals were put in motion when he enrolled in SC4 in the early 1970s.

“As a former SC4 student-athlete, I have much to be grateful for,” McCalmon said. “SC4 afforded me the opportunity to further develop the academic and athletic skills required to be successful in both disciplines at Eastern Michigan University.

“The academic and student support services at SC4 were exceptional. My professors were outstanding in their abilities to convey subject matter, tempered with compassion and awareness of the guidance needs of their students. Coaches Ruth Foley and Frank Sharp both deserve medals for their efforts in successfully coaching and managing a team of diverse young men in search of themselves and their respective futures.

“Thank you to the coaches, staff and administration of SC4, for the pivotal role you all played in assisting myself and so many others with our young personal development.”

The 1973 Port Huron Northern High School graduate played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Skippers during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.

Following his career at the college, McCalmon transferred to Eastern Michigan and played tennis for two more seasons. He held down the No. 3 singles position, along with No. 1 doubles.

McCalmon, who retired from the Port Huron Area School District in 2011, coached high school boys’ tennis at Port Huron Northern for a number of years and was an instructor at the Port Huron Tennis House for many years. He was a fixture in both singles and doubles at the annual Francis J. Robinson Memorial International Tennis Tournament, winning numerous titles throughout his career. McCalmon and his wife, Julie, live in Fort Gratiot.