Individuals like Pat Brady only come around every so often.

He was an exceptional athlete, a valuable coach, and a caring teacher and counselor. If you’re lucky enough to call Pat Brady a friend, you have a friend for life.

In June 2018, the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame’s board of directors unanimously voted to honor Brady by providing a scholarship in his name. The Pat Brady Community Service Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student-athlete from Saginaw County who unselfishly gave back to the community while participating in athletics and excelling in the classroom.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a college-bound male or female.

Brady attended St. Andrew High School in Saginaw where he was a three-sport standout and a high school All-American in football. He played on the Bulldogs’ undefeated football teams in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

He received full scholarship offers in football from Notre Dame, Michigan State, South Carolina, and Arizona State. Brady would play freshmen football at Michigan State before serving in the United State Navy from 1951-55. He would go on to excel in both football and baseball at Alma College.

Brady spent 30 years in secondary education as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, coach (football, baseball, and golf) and athletic director. He is one of the founding members of the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and stepped down in 2017 to spend more time with his family in northern Michigan.