Locals Who Made It Big from Flint – J’s Top Five

Bob Eubanks went on to become an American television/radio personality and game show host. His family moved to California when he was young, and most of Eubanks early years were spent growing up in Pasadena. In California he became a child model, doing photo shoots for advertisers.

He is best known for his work as the game-show host of “The Newlywed Game” in the late 60s. It was Eubanks who coined the phrase, “Makin’ Whoopee” as an attempt to keep parents with young children from the need to explain the facts of life because of a television show. In 2005 Bob Eubanks received a lifetime achievement Emmy award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Tim Thomas is the most recent recipient of three of the most prestigious trophies in hockey lore. In 2011 this Davison High School graduate won the Stanley Cup as goaltender for the Boston Bruins, the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. He also played as a backup for Team USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

He played his college hockey at the University of Vermont and was later drafted by the now defunct Quebec Nordiques. He played several years in the minors and in Europe before making it to the NHL at the age of 28. Thomas is nicknamed “The Tank”.

Ingram attended school in Grand Blanc, Michigan and then transferred after his junior year to Flint Southwestern Academy. He was a four-year starter on his school’s football teams, running for 2,546 yards and 38 touchdowns in his final two seasons. He was chosen as the Saginaw Valley MVP, Player of the year, and an All-State selection. In addition to his football skills, he also ran track and was a two-time All-State track star.

He was recruited to Alabama and his team-high 12 touchdowns set the Alabama freshman school record. He helped lead Alabama to the 2009 SEC Championship while winning the Heisman Trophy that same year. In 2010 he led the Crimson Tide to the 2010 BCS National Championship. He was a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and now plays for the New Orleans Saints.

Grand Funk Railroad also known as Grand Funk was playing to packed arenas and stadiums worldwide. The critics hated them, but the audience loved them. Their name came on a play of words of the Grand Trunk Railroad that ran through Flint, Michigan. As a matter of fact, there is still a Grand trunk overpass on Fenton Road in Flint where the “TR” has been painted over with an “F” to honor “Grand Funk Railroad.

People in Flint remember their roots when they were know as “Terry Knight & The Pack”. They were a small legend in town and in 1969 Terry Knight became the bands manager. The band featured Mark Farner, Don Brewer, and Mel Schacher (from “? and the Mysterians”). In 1970 the band sold more albums than any other American band. In 1971 the broke the Beatles Shea Stadium attendance record by selling out in just 72 hours.

You get to number one by being a billionaire with an estimated current net worth of 2.4 billion dollars. Tom Gores was born in Nazareth, Israel. In 1968 the family moved to Genesee, Michigan. Gores played a variety of sports at Genesee, active in football, baseball and basketball.

He received a scholarship and attended Michigan State University, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. He spent his 20s learning the buyout business with his older brother Alec. As a global private-equity magnate, he is estimated to be the 153rd richest person in America.

In June of 2011, Tom Gores purchased the Detroit pistons and he now lives in Beverly Hills, California.