Brighton celebrates two more famous alums — a soccer superstar and a veteran

BRIGHTON — Brighton Area Schools has added two new faces to its Alumni Wall of Fame, one posthumously.

Kari Seitz, from the Class of 1988, has officiated eight tournaments for FIFA (the world governing body for soccer), four World Cups (more than any other official) and three Olympic Games (also more than any other official).

In 2016, Seitz became the Head of Women’s Refereeing for FIFA. She remains the only American ever to serve in the FIFA refereeing department.

"Seitz was responsible for leading the global development of women’s refereeing, including a four-year project to select, train, prepare the referees for the Women’s World Cup, a process which ultimately transformed the opportunities for women referees globally,” FIFA wrote in a release.

This year, Seitz was named vice president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, in charge of all refereeing.

Meanwhile, the late Charles Brady, from the Class of 1941, was honored posthumously. He was represented by family. Brady worked at the General Motors Proving Grounds. When the country entered World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, later earning the rank of captain. Brady worked as a specialist at the Norden Bombsight Project.

After the war, Brady earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and began working full-time for General Motors, where he worked for 42 years. He managed the Desert Proving Grounds and eventually the Milford Proving Grounds.

Brady later became the director of worldwide proving ground operations. In 1984, he was named vice president of current engineering and manufacturing. He died in 2010 at 87.

Both alums were inducted into the Brighton Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 11, according to BAS Superintendent Matthew Outlaw.

“This was our third class of honorees, and the speeches were truly inspiring,” Outlaw said. “Both had a long list of career accomplishments, but what stood out most was their humility and passion for service.”

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Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, of Michigan’s 49th House District presented a plaque of honor, signed by herself, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, of Michigan’s 22nd Senate District.

Nominations for next year's honorees will be accepted through the end of May 2025.

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com . Follow him on X @SalsaEvan .

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton celebrates two more famous alums — a soccer superstar and a veteran