Alumni Video Channel
All Videos from, about, produced or filmed by Okemos Alumni and our Okemos experience growing up.
Send us what you've got, and we'll post it!
Okemos High School Inducts Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016 -
Produced by Meridian Township's HOMTV, Mayara Sanchez, posted to YouTube September 28, 2016
"Amongst Okemos High School's legendary coaches, successful teams and individual athletes, the Okemos 
Athletic Hall of Fame added 11 new faces and three new teams to its list on Thursdsay, September 22, 2016. Some were going back to Okemos and reconnecting with familiar faces they haven't seen in years. Others never left. Either way, all inductees recognized the value of being a part of varsity athletics at Okemos High School.
"The class of 2016 includes Travis Badder, Allison (Ianni) Cironi (volleyball), Paul Cryderman (boys basketball), Lauren Dudley (water polo), Dree Look (softball and girls basketball), Amelia Marsh (girls swimming), Dan Putnam (football), Nichole Schiro (girls soccer), Aarom Smith (boys soccer), coaches Larry Cockroft (baseball) and John Picone (boys soccer), the 1981 state champions girls basketball team and the back-to-back, 1981 and 1982, state champions boys basketball team. Full article: http://homtv.net/index.asp?view=news&.."
Byron Johnson class of 1968, plays key board in this YouTube recorded live at PaLeo Cafe in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, posted June 24, 2009 by Randy Magnus.
The Okemos Channel is a collection of YouTube videos curated by Matt Ottinger.
Bob Bratzler, class of 1964, shares a picture, names of the 1963-64 Okemos High School Symphonic Band, Donald S. Mueller, conductor, and one of the musical selections from our 1964 Spring Concert. Our band was outstanding, receiving the highest ratings at the Michigan band competition almost every year. Note that the band numbered some 125 instrumentalists....impressive participation given only 500 students in the entire high school at the time.
Click here to listen to the overture, Universal Judgment, performed by the OHS Symphonic Band at their 1964 Spring Concert.
V
era Meyer, class of 1968 plays the Glass Armonica (aka Harmonica) in Harvard Square, Boston, July, 2005. The instrument, an invention of Benjamin Franklin, was quickly banned after its inception. It was said to provoke insanity. The unique harmonics have also been said to import theraputic powers. It is also known as the "Glass Armonica". See also Vera's YouTube channel.
Joe Woodruff, former classmate and coach, shared the following link to his YouTube channel in the Facebook group Okemos Football Alumni, Family & Friends.
"To all my old players or teammates. Over the past couple years I’ve been asked about putting old Okemos game films on You Tube. I finally was able to start the process. I will be uploading games as my schedule allows (we are still playing this season). I have films from 1987-1994. I have all the varsity and some JV teams. The videos have 3-4 games on each video. There are Wide and Tight Views. The 1994 Games are Up. Below is a link that should get you to the videos. Message me if you have questions or need hard copies of them. Enjoy!"
https://www.youtube.com/@joewoodruff1171
Bruce Baker class of 1973 Bonsai Channel on YouTube
"I first saw bonsai at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA in 1977. Within 10 years I had won many awards for my collected and carved bonsai trees, including Best of Show at the Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Along the way I have taught at dozens of bonsai clubs, demonstrated at major bonsai conventions, authored numerous articles and a regular column on bonsai, and served on boards such as the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society, Bonsai Association of Michigan, Bonsai Clubs International, and the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. Much of what fueled my love of bonsai was the kindness, experience and intelligence of so many great friends and mentors, including, most notably, Jack Wikle and Jerry Meislik. I’ve also been privileged to know and learn from many great professionals including John Naka, Vaughn Banting, Chase Rosade, Dan Robinson, and Bill Valavanis, just to name a few. This channel is to showcase my current work."
Okemos High School: The Pirates Of Penzance
Posted Februrary 19, 2018 by Mr. Bombjoy (Luke Sandel, married to Kristy Gerard Sandel class of 1996.)
"Okemos, Michigan, USA"
Kinawa Middle School, Okemos: The Gift Of The Toys (Cast B)
Posted February 19, 2018 by Mr. Bombjoy (Luke Sandel, married to Kristy Gerard Sandel class of 1996.)
"Okemos, Michigan, USA"
HOMTV: Michigan Sesquicentennial / Meridian Township Parade
Posted March 12, 2018 by Mr. Bombjoy (Luke Sandel, married to Kristy Gerard Sandel class of 1996.)
"Hosted by Jill Buchanan and Ben Stark. Parade coverage on Central Park Dr."
Okemos High School: The Real Inspector Hound / The Actor's Nightmare 1995
Posted February 19, 2018 by Mr. Bombjoy (Luke Sandel, married to Kristy Gerard Sandel class of 1996.)
"Okemos, Michigan, USA"
1993-1994 Okemos High School Bandit VHS (Michigan, USA)
Posted March 12, 2018 by Mr. Bombjoy (Luke Sandel, married to Kristy Gerard Sandel class of 1996.)
"Video yearbook from 93-94, Okemos High School"
All-of-us Express Children's Theatre (ACT): Raggedy Ann & Andy, 1992
Posted March 12, 2018 by Mr. Bombjoy (Luke Sandel, married to Kristy Gerard Sandel class of 1996.)
"Kinawa Middle School, Okemos, MI 1:05:20 - Post-production party"
Schmidt's Lady Okemos Michigan 
Posted January 1, 2024 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"You can't drive by without checking to see what's up with the Schmidt's Lady. She was the iconic symbol of the grocery store, Schmidt's Supermarket, where many of us in Okemos, Michigan grew up shopping with Mom and Dad in our childhood. It brings back so many memories of family.
"The running store, Playmakers, resurrected our symbol of Okemos some decade ago, getting the neon to glow over Grand River once again. Sometimes parts of it do not light up for awhile but Playmakers has been diligent in trying to keep the Schmidt's Lady shining for all to see. Thank you, Playmakers!"
Teachers Celebrated at Okemos High's Class of 73 50th Reunion (Summer 2023)
Posted October 30, 2023 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"Many of our beloved teachers at Okemos High School were celebrated by the Class of 73 at their 50th Anniversary Reunion at the University Club in East Lansing, Michigan on August 26, 2023. Several are pictured in this yearbook photo. You'll see them and more teachers from that era in the video. This year, 2023, also marked the 100th Anniversary of Okemos High School."
Okemos High 48864 Trophy Rescue - Part 1 (Summer 2023)
Posted December 2, 2023 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"Okay...you've probably have seen an animal rescue, whale rescue, helicopter rescue...perhaps even a rescue of a damsel in distress...but a trophy rescue?
"Follow 2003 Okemos High grad, Henry, as he makes a daring rescue of hundreds of valuable trophies in the nick of time.
"Trophies; soccer, football, tennis, swimming...moments away from the dumpster...so many, many trophies won through sweat, grit and blood by the many superstar athletes and debaters at Okemos High since the dawn of time...they were overflowing everywhere in the school.
"The price of greatness, right?
This is the first episode. Hopefully I can finish the next with Rod Ellis of the Okemos High Alumni Association who rescued hundreds also and has made them available on its web site."
Okemos High 48864 Trophy Rescue - Part 2 (Summer 2023) 
Posted January 18, 2024 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"Were you a sports hero at Okemos High? Did your team win a trophy? Chances are that your trophy might be with the Okemos Alumni Association now. This summer Okemos High gave away most of the trophies for individuals, league and regional titles for won by teams through Okemos history up to 2018. Sports success at Okemos meant hundreds and hundreds of trophies with no place to display or store them after a point. Okemos High kept many of the state championship trophies however.
"The Okemos Alumni Association picked up trophies from the high school that were left after individuals had a chance to pick up theirs. For those athletes who were not able to get to the high school, Rod Ellis and Lj Winkel have photographed and listed them. It's possible that you can locate your team trophy on the Okemos Alumni web site."
Our Beloved Mrs. Bowker's Birthday Party
Posted April 1, 2023 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"A lot of love, hugs and smiles from former Okemos students and teachers, friends and neighbors for Mrs. Marilyn Bowker's on her 90th birthday. This video, at 14 minutes, includes the hugs, several interviews and the birthday song."
Okemos Road Bridge Replacement Project 2022-2023
Series of videos by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
- Beams Placed on New Okemos Bridge December 6, 2022
- Okemos Bridge Sunday Feb 12, 2023
- Our Okemos Bridge Opens! March 23, 2023
Additional information:
- Video by Dan Stephens June 23, 2023
- Video by HOMTV September 21, 2019
The Bomb Cyclone Okemos Run Dec 22 2022 
Posted December 22, 2023 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"The Bomb Cyclone made it a little dicey when I was out for my traditional pre-Christmas nighttime run as it blasted through Okemos, Michigan. You can see what old Okemos looks like just before the Bomb Cyclone hit...a nice white Christmas. I couldn't record of much of the last part of my run back home through town as I struggled to fight the minus 100 degree below zero temp and hurricane wind.180 million Americans were hit with the Bomb Cyclone."
Okemos High School Marching Band October 14 2022
Posted October 16, 2022 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"In what is supposed to be their last performance in 2022 due to cancellation of our football season for our courageous team due to injuries, our Band wasn’t just good—they were downright crazy entertaining! "
"Our musical Wolves marched, danced, chanted, strutted up the road from our high school to the gridiron through the gauntlet of cheering Okemosonians."
"The National Anthem, Dance Monkey, Take on Me, You Had a Bad Day, Never Going to Give You Up, Sweet Caroline. Okemos Fight Song. Okemos Alma Mater. Our Cheerleaders worked their magic too—Okemos faithful cheering, singing, stomping their feet."
"Thank you for a most inspirational evening. The Okemos High School Marching Band and 8th Grade Chippewa Middle School Band perform on the Okemos High School football field on October, 14, 2022."
Ingham County Poor Farm Cemetery Tour, September 18 2022
Posted September 21, 2022 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"I run and bike past the "Poor Farm" cemetery on Dobie Road in Okemos, Michigan, quite often, sometimes stopping to visit to think about the people there and what their lives were like. I jumped at the chance to attend when the Ingham County Historical Commission gave a tour of the Ingham County Poor Farm cemetery on Sunday, Sept 18, 2022. The cemetery is just south of the Ingham Rehab Services building on the east side of Dobie Road in Okemos. Five historians provided a very well researched, detailed discussion of its history and that of five of the people who are buried there. This is a pretty much unedited video of their presentation with a few shots of the cemetery dropped in. Thank you to the Commission and the historians for their hard work to research the cemetery and individuals and then share it with us."
Additional information can be found on FindAGrave.com.
Tour de Okemos 50 Miler 
Posted Tuesday, May 24, 2022
TOUR de OKEMOS STAGE 3 - 50-MILE by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"Independence Day July 4, 2021; 100-105 degrees asphalt level
"I have been trying to bike every street in Okemos over the last few years on my old school, one-gear, newspaperboy bike with coaster brakes. I go as fast as I can the whole ride with no stopping except to pull from a stash of drinks in our mailbox at mile 30-something. That will explain why my voice sounds a little overly animated, loud and breathy--I am going full-tilt for 5 HOURS.
"My ride begins around 5 thirty, ends in the dark. Wanting to get home by midnight, I had no time to pop wheelies, burn rubber, squeal tires or lay down a patch…well I did patch out our old high school parking lot, not captured on video. And I forgot my street chalk at home—I would have marked our high school lot, as our turf, for the Kewanee Gang. And finally, I did not get blasted by the 4th's fireworks nor get bit by those mean-sounding German shepherds.
"I didn’t spend much time in downtown Okemos, although I really wanted to, because it was dark and late around mile 44 by the time I got there. I will hit downtown and a lot of trails on the next big ride—that will be more exciting. My series of Okemos rides are part of training for my running, but also because I want to have a lot of fun riding every street and trail in Okemos. I want to note that I am not a cyclist and don’t enjoy little biker shorts or a helmet.
"While I have a Schwinn Continental 10-speed I prefer the Blue Bike so I can go off-road and because I missed out riding it over the years. Stolen in late high school, my bike was dumped off decades later at night in a blizzard in two feet of snow at the top of our driveway. Perhaps a morally-challenged person seeking redemption. Dad sure was surprised when he found it while shoveling.
"I try to work up to a century every summer—20, 30, 40, 50--but have only gotten up to 62 before summers run out. I don’t plan my rides, I just go. This 50-miler took me through the streets in Okemos south of Grand River, west of Cornell and east of Hagadorn. Previous stages of the Tour included Okemos streets north up to Haslett Road and east out to Van Atta and Powell and west to Hagadorn. I usually would catch a lot of East Lansing, MSU, Haslett and Williamston on some of them. In this tour you will see 8 Okemos schools, 4 cemeteries, a couple of mean German shepherds and lots of neighborhoods. I have never recorded a ride before, but wished I had.
"I used my Phonecam, 
not a Go-Pro, which made some riding a little challenging with one hand on the wheel. I had a lot of adventures on this ride but I wasn’t rolling all the time, only an hour of the 5 hours. Important to note that I often couldn’t see what was in my view screen because of brilliant sun or darkness.
"I want to acknowledge that I was inspired to capture one of my rides by fellow Okemos alums’ Sky Tribell’s driving tours of Okemos and Mark Jay’s story of how he would think about riding his bike through old Okemos to help put himself to sleep. Don’t sweat it if you snooze off in this 50-miler, it’s mostly lovely Okemos neighborhoods on lots of asphalt roads. I hope you all have wonderful rides this summer." Joe Dzenowagis
Last Day for Miller's Ice Cream January 4, 2021
Posted January 3, 2023 by Joe Dzenowagis class of 1974
"This is an unedited, three-minute, rolling shot on January 4, 2021.
"The Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum was demolished to make way for a possible new Okemos development project. Okemos is a small town just east of the seat of the state's capitol in Lansing, Michigan.
"Many Okemos children will fondly remember Miller's Ice Cream as a the place to go with their parents for ice cream. Much of the businesses that made Okemos special and connected people with each other became less and less viable during the years of wrangling with a local hair salon for a large development project that the salon later abandoned. 
"You will see some of the other derelict buildings on the west side, once thriving businesses, that would very soon too, meet the same fate as Miller's.
"I shot much more footage of the demolition and additional footage of old Okemos on that day as well as interviewed the former owner of the Travelers Club, Jennifer Byrom. Perhaps, I can edit it and publish at a future date.
"Hopefully, we can recall fond memories of what brought many of us so much joy during our years growing up in Okemos."
A Driving Tour of Okemos Neighborhoods
Posted Wednesday, May 20, 2020 02:39 PM
In 2014, Sky Tribell class of 1969, loaded his new GoPro camera into his Jeep and created multiple videos of Okemos neighborhoods. Thanks for your work Sky! 
- the Four Corners of Downtown Okemos
- 2nd Okemos High School (open1960)
A 2017 film produced by Meridian Township's HOMTV, Deborah Guthrie, Executive Producer.
"The Lines That Define Us: Meridian Township 175 Anniversary Documentary"
Originally shown at Studio C theater outside the Meridian Mall, proceeds were donated to Meridian Historical Village.
A 2011 film produced by Meridian Township's HOMTV.
"Inside the Meridian Historical Village"
https://meridianmi.new.swagit.com/videos/86509
Produced by HOMTV - Reflections is a talk show program reflecting on Meriian Township's history with longtime residents, business owners and Township employees.
October 1, 2019 - On this episode of Reflections, host Jane Rose [Executive Director of Meridian Historical Village] speaks with author and historian Heidi Madsen about the Northwind Horse Farm owned by Sam and Nona McKinley [parents of Joan McKinley '45, grandparents to Sam '65, Jorja '65 and Tom '68 Hughes] which was located at River Avenue and Northwind Drive in Okemos and is currently a shopping plaza. This farm was home to legendary American Saddlebred Stallion, Oklahoma Peavine, which went on to sire many prize winning horses. A small gravestone still marks where Oklahoma Peavine still rests in the parking lot of the plaza. Heidi's book is "Gaited in the Great Lakes" about the American Saddlebred horse.
HOMTV provides information about Meridian Township government and events. It provides original programming each year to cable subscribers on Comcast Channel 21. HOMTV is the exclusive source of official township meetings. Meridian Township includes all of Haslett and Okemos, as well as a small percentage of East Lansing and Williamston mailing addresses. To learn more, visit our website: http://homtv.net/
Produced by HOMTV - Reflections is a talk show program reflecting on Meriian Township's history with longtime residents, business owners and Township employees.
February 7, 2018 - On this episode of Reflections, host Jane Rose [Executive Director of Meridian Historical Village] speaks with Ron Wheeler class of 1969 regarding his Proctor family's rich history in Meridian Township. The specific building they discuss is the Tollgate building that had been moved multiple times to its current - and final - resting place in Meridian Village. Also to note: the Proctor farm was sold and became the site of Wardcliff school.
HOMTV provides information about Meridian Township government and events. It provides original programming each year to cable subscribers on Comcast Channel 21. HOMTV is the exclusive source of official township meetings. Meridian Township includes all of Haslett and Okemos, as well as a small percentage of East Lansing and Williamston mailing addresses. To learn more, visit our website: http://homtv.net/
Produced by HOMTV - Reflections is a talk show program reflecting on Meriian Township's history with longtime residents, business owners and Township employees.
HOMTV "Throwback Thursday" Program, where we dig into the archives of our older programs and bring them back to life. On this episode, we toss back to 20 years ago with one of Meridian Township's pioneer families and feature a "Reflections" interview back in 1996 with John Grettenberger class of 1955 interviewed by Lorry Everhardus.
HOMTV provides information about Meridian Township government and events. It provides original programming each year to cable subscribers on Comcast Channel 21. HOMTV is the exclusive source of official township meetings. Meridian Township includes all of Haslett and Okemos, as well as a small percentage of East Lansing and Williamston mailing addresses. To learn more, visit our website: http://homtv.net/
Produced by HOMTV - Reflections is a talk show program reflecting on Meriian Township's history with longtime residents, business owners and Township employees.
HOMTV "Throwback Thursday" Program, where we dig into the archives of our older programs and bring them back to life. On this episode, we take a look at a "Reflections" interview back in 1993 with Ted Wonch on Meridian Township's purchase of Wonch Park.
HOMTV provides information about Meridian Township government and events. It provides original programming each year to cable subscribers on Comcast Channel 21. HOMTV is the exclusive source of official township meetings. Meridian Township includes all of Haslett and Okemos, as well as a small percentage of East Lansing and Williamston mailing addresses. To learn more, visit our website: http://homtv.net/
Produced by HOMTV - Reflections is a talk show program reflecting on Meridian Township's history with longtime residents, business owners and Township employees.
This is a 1992 interview with Bill Hicks, developer of many of Meridian Township's developments. Meridian Mall comments begin: 7:40
HOMTV provides information about Meridian Township government and events. It provides original programming each year to cable subscribers on Comcast Channel 21. HOMTV is the exclusive source of official township meetings. Meridian Township includes all of Haslett and Okemos, as well as a small percentage of East Lansing and Williamston mailing addresses. To learn more, visit our website: http://homtv.net/
Okemos High School 1964 Pep Band Plays America's Sweethearts
Posted April 3, 2012 by Wolverine1
"Okemos School Song, America's Sweethearts, written for, and dedicated to the Okemos High School Band by JS Taylor, 1940.
"Okemos High School, Okemos, Michigan USA"
2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the Okemos class of 1965. As part of the celebration, the class toured the "new" High School built in 1961 and now a middle school. That fall, the middle school play "Annie" was scheduled. Staring Annie, was 7th grader, Olivia Terry. 50 years earlier, the class of '65 was greatly involved with the first Okemos musical, "Bye-Bye Birdie". To commemorate the occasion, Olivia performed several selections from the upcoming "Annie" and other tunes. Later that year, Rod Ellis '65 took Olivia to a sound studio and had her record those tunes. He then had the sound track put together with pictures from the performance and in the recording studio. Olivia also sang all the parts by dubbing over the chorus. Rod Ellis
Dr. Walter Schreiner, Okemos class of 1959, tells about his career odyssey through physics. Nov. 2019 Interview with David Chapman, Okemos Biology
The Okemos Alumni Association donated $10,000 to the Okemos Education Foundation as a lead match fund for Science Enrichment at Okemos Public Schools. The fund was named after much beloved and respected biology teacher, John Bjorkquist. Nov. 2017
Joel Peterson class of 1965 receives the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Okemos Education Foundation. Joel is a 1965 graduate from Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan. Joel was nominated for the award by his OHS '65 classmates. Nov. 2016