Clinton Township -- Sal Malek and Dick Vitale.

What the conversations must have been like between these two exuberant, leather-lunged individuals when Malek was facilities manager of Calihan Hall at the University of Detroit Mercy during the reign of Vitale coaching the Titans basketball team.

Vitale left U-D after four successful seasons.

Malek completed 13 years at U-D in 1985 to open his own business, the Soccer Locker, in Farmington. In 1993, he was hired by then Principal Mary Ann Smith for the athletic director’s position at Livonia Ladywood High School, where, by force of personality and business acumen, he has developed the school’s athletic facilities into one of the finest in the metropolitan area.

Malek was honored as the 2011 Ed Lauer “Person of the Year” at the Catholic League’s Hall of Fame Induction June 13 at the Fern Hill Country Club in Clinton Township. CHSL Director Vic Michaels said of Malek: “He lives his life for others -- the highest honor,” acknowledging Malek’s support of athletics on both local and state levels.

Ladywood has become the site for numerous state tournament and Catholic League events including track and field, softball, soccer, volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, baseball and lacrosse.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Malek migrated with his parents to Detroit in 1964. He graduated from U-D Jesuit High School in 1967 and the University of Detroit in 1971.

“I am who I am today because of the Jesuits and the Felician Sisters,” Malek told the audience of 600 persons. He was one 19 individuals inducted into the CHSL Hall of Fame.

In the category of alumni athletes, the honorees were Fred Arbanas (Redford St. Mary 1957) and Gus Johnson (U-D Jesuit 1985). Arbanas played professional football from 1961-1970. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Super Bowl in 1967 and led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl title in 1970.

Johnson, for the past 15 years, has provided play-by-play commentary for March Madness basketball on CBS-TV.

Eight graduating college seniors who had outstanding high school and college athletic careers were inducted. They included:

Chris Colasanti (Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 2007, Penn State 2011) -- Member of Rice’s 2005 state football champions and Penn State’s 2009 Big 10 champs.

Charlie Gantt (Brother Rice 2007, Michigan State 2011) -- Also a member of the Warriors’ 2005 state championship team and of Michigan State’s 2010 Big 10 champs.

Payne Gniewek (Riverview Gabriel Richard 2007, Baylor 2011) -- An all-Big 10 golfer at Michigan State, he transferred to Baylor, where he was named to the Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll.

Kalin Lucas (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 2007, Michigan State 2011) -- He was named the 2009 Big 10 Player of the Year and team MVP in 2011.

Amy Martin (Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart Academy 2007, Holy Cross College 2011) -- she led Sacred Heart to consecutive state championships in lacrosse 2005-6-7. At Holy Cross she was 2011 team captain and goalie of the year.

Stephanie Martin (Warren Regina 2007, Central Michigan 2011) -- She was the MAC Freshman of the Year and team captain for two years at Central Michigan.

Nikki Nemitz (Regina 2007, Michigan 2011) -- She led Regina’s softball team to 2004-5-6 state championships. At Michigan, she was named to All-Big 10 first team four years in a row.

Claire Paszkiewicz (Bloomfield Hills Marian 2007, Xavier 2011) -- She led Xavier to A-10 championship runner-up titles in 2007 and 2010.

Coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame: Thomas Allen, golf coach at Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard since 1999. Robert Artymovich, founder and coach of golf at Regina since 1996. Paul Gardner, football coach at Royal Oak Shrine since 1993.

Administrators inducted: Brother Robert Carnaghi, FSC, administrator for 58 years at schools in New York, New Jersey, Kenya, Jamaica and Michigan, and currently at Warren DeLaSalle, where he serves as the school’s president. Tim Kluka, athletic director at Allen Park Cabrini since 1999, and CHSL Athletic Director of the Year in 2006.

Officials inducted: Sheila Homic, a basketball and softball official in the CHSL for more than 30 years, and Chuck Phillipson, football and basketball official for more than 20 years.

Inducted for his distinguished service was Bro. Louis Plourde, SM, ministered as support person for athletics and administration at Harper Woods Notre Dame and Pontiac Notre Dame since 1982.

Presentations were made to “Athletic Director of the Year,” Pete Donaldson, of Royal Oak Shrine; “Booster Club of the Year” to Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart Academy; and “School of the Year” to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.