District News

Our Story. Our Growth. Our Impact. is a web series highlighting the rich history of Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Born in 1902—before the Titanic, the assembly line, or commercial radio—Henry “Hank” Schrump lived to see the personal computer age. Fittingly, he spent his life teaching history and coaching sports, mostly at Creston High School, where he was a fixture from its early days until his retirement.

Hank grew up in Niles, Michigan, where he starred on a high school basketball team with a 56-game winning streak and held a single-game scoring record that stood for 27 years. He earned all-state honors in both basketball and football, catching the eye of Notre Dame’s legendary coach Knute Rockne. But Hank opted for Western State Normal College (now Western Michigan University), seeking a bit more distance from home.

At Western, he captained both the basketball and baseball teams, excelling as a first baseman and pitcher. He even earned a tryout with the Chicago White Sox. Though he didn’t make the team, he found success playing semi-pro baseball in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula under an assumed name, batting cleanup for the Crystal Falls club. The team often faced barnstorming major leaguers, and Hank became a favorite among local miners who bet on his at-bats—some of which earned him a cut. "They'd bet on when I'd get a hit, and I got a piece of the action," he later recalled. The earnings were enough to buy a sports roadster—but something more meaningful called him back.

His high school sweetheart, Carrie Forrest, was ready to marry. Hank returned to Western for his teaching degree, taught briefly in Whitehall, and joined Creston High School in 1929. He and Carrie married in 1932 and raised one daughter, Yvonne. The couple remained inseparable until Carrie’s passing in 1973.

At Creston, Hank taught history and civics and coached basketball and baseball. High school baseball wasn’t officially recognized at the time, but Hank and a coalition of city coaches championed the cause. The sport was introduced in 1933 and officially sanctioned in 1938. The early days were humble—Creston’s field was a rough, grassless patch near Knapp Street, nicknamed "Rat Field." Hank lined the field, drained puddles, and scrounged for gear—often coaching without pay. But with persistent advocacy, better venues emerged: Franklin Park, Rumsey, Briggs, Valley Field, and Belknap Park all became home to City League baseball.

Hank’s dedication paid off. His teams won eight City League titles, including a dominant 32–2 run from 1943 to 1946. He retired in 1968 but remained active in athletics, especially golf—where he regularly shot in the 70s and scored two holes-in-one.

Hank Schrump lived to see the turn of the millennium, passing away in early 2000. He left behind a legacy not just of wins, but of deep commitment—to his students, his teams, and the game.

Article by GF Korreck
Sources: Leo Zainea, The Grand Rapids Press, April 15, 1982; Cathie Bloom, The Grand Rapids Press, December 3, 1992
Image: Brown and Gold, Western State Normal School, 1927 Yearbook