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59 years

It began, like most debates, with argumentation

James Menchinger’s line about the founding, and a fair description of the 59 years since.

In the fall of 1967 a group of Michigan educators met to work out how an organization of their own might help students across the state. They elected Harlow Claggett of Lansing Sexton as the first president, and with support from college forensics coaches a group of eleven settled the early direction of what became MSCI.

A professional conference has run since the late 1960s. Its location moved around northern Michigan until the organization settled its long relationship with the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in the early 1980s — and it has met there ever since.

Coaches join looking for educational support, professional company and mentorship. The Hall of Fame has been inducting members since 1979, and a plaque carrying every name hangs in the lobby of the hotel.

In 1998 the organization incorporated, and the Michigan Speech Coaches Association became Michigan Speech Coaches Incorporated. In 2014 it added the Spring Festival, an Open and a Novice IE tournament for members and their students. It held together through a pandemic that cancelled both.

Through it all, the core mission to develop, elevate and encourage speech education has always been strong.
From the organization's own history
A long library of leather-bound books lined with marble busts
Stock photograph

The turns that mattered

Sixty years, in nine moments

  1. 1967

    Founded in the fall as the Michigan Speech Coaches Association. Eleven Michigan educators settle the early direction and elect Harlow Claggett of Lansing Sexton as first president.

  2. Late 1960s

    The professional conference begins, its location rotating around northern Michigan.

  3. 1979

    The first Hall of Fame inductions. The plaque hangs in the lobby of the Grand Hotel.

  4. Early 1980s

    The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island becomes the conference's permanent home.

  5. 1998

    The organization incorporates, and the Association becomes Michigan Speech Coaches Incorporated.

  6. 2014

    The Spring Festival is created — an Open and a Novice IE tournament for members and their students.

  7. 2020

    The conference and both tournaments are cancelled. No Coach of the Year is named. The organization holds together.

  8. 2022

    In-person tournaments return, and MSCI moves its tabulation to Tabroom.com.

Every name on the three honour rolls is on the awards page — the Hall of Fame, Coach of the Year back to 2012, and the Guests of Honor.