Longtime Dexter Sports Manager Henry Thurston Honored Posthumously by Community

's biggest fan got some much deserved recognition Friday.

Henry Thurston, the Dreadnaughts' team manager for 47 years, was honored posthumously during halftime at the Friday at Al Ritt Field.

With Thurston’s mother, Leona Toon, in attendance, along with numerous family and friends, the packed home crowd gave Thurston a standing ovation as Dexter's new Henry Thurston Field House was dedicated in his honor.

Thurston, a member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, died in 2010 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Everybody loved Henry,” Dexter resident Louie Ceriani said. "He got along with everybody. He could talk to anybody."

Ceriani and resident Dick Ulrich helped spearhead the dedication effort.

In addition to being football manager for close to five decades, Thurston also worked at the for 46 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Sons of The American
Legion. He also acted as an altar server for .

Ceriani said he’ll never forget Thurston.

“Naming the field house after Henry is an appropriate honor," Ceriani said. "He was a great man.”