On July 1, Dan Beckeman officially became commissioner of the OK Conference, the largest league in the state with 41 schools and six divisions. He succeeded Dave Feenstra, who retired after being in that role since 2019.
By Scott DeCamp
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – During Dan Beckeman’s 29-year tenure as principal at Reeths-Puffer High School, he talked the talk and walked the walk.
He was a beloved, universally respected leader, and nothing was below him.
“Kids would always see me picking up things in the hallway. There’s a piece of garbage on the floor. They said, ‘I can’t believe Mr. Beckeman (is doing that),’” Beckeman recalled.
“(Beckeman would reply) ‘Of course, this is what we should all be doing, right?’ It’s the little things like that … . Having pride in what you’re doing and where you’re at.”
Beckeman “retired” in 2021 after serving in education for 39 years. The word retired is in quotes because he didn’t really retire, nor did he intend on doing so.
Beckeman, 66, remains impactful on many levels. One of his newer and more prominent roles began July 1, when he officially became commissioner of the OK Conference, the largest league in the state with 41 schools and six divisions. He carries the torch previously held by Dave Feenstra, who retired after being in that role since 2019.
“I’ve always had a desire to wake up every day with a purpose and I think I’ve been given skill sets that allow me to provide leadership and an opportunity to build interpersonal relationships with people,” Beckeman said.
“Leadership is servanthood – nothing more, nothing less. When I look at leadership, if you’re focused on serving other people, you’ll be successful. I’ve seen over time where people are chasing titles. They like the idea of being the principal, the commissioner, the president, whatever title is there. They chase after that, not understanding really what it means.”
Beckeman, who also serves as president of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board of directors, accepted his position with the OK Conference in March. He was recruited for the position with the OK Conference, for which he’s previously served as president and on the executive board.
The 1977 Whitehall High School alumnus earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Michigan State University in 1982. Beckeman began his career in education as a teacher and coach at Grant High School and he spent eight years there.
In 1990, the opportunity arose for Beckeman as assistant principal at Reeths-Puffer, a role he held for two years before being promoted to the principal position.
In 2022, Reeths-Puffer honored Beckeman by naming the high school gymnasium “Dan Beckeman Arena.”
“Dan talks to you like you’re the only person in the room, so you feel like the most important person in the room. And I think we’re ripe for that with 41 member schools (in the OK Conference) now for all of us to be heard,” said Reeths-Puffer athletic director Cliff Sandee, who served as an assistant principal under Beckeman for three years.
“I remember a first job he gave me when he hired me as an assistant principal. ‘Here’s our staff. You need to memorize each staff member’s name.’ I was like, ‘This is 77 people, none of whom I’ve met face-to-face.’ I’ll go out to breakfast with Dan or I’ll be anywhere with him and he’s still calling students that he had 35 years ago by name.”
Beckeman remains involved in his church in the youth ministry and he has been a substitute at the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Transition at Craig Campus.Beckeman and his wife of 17 years, Suzanne, enjoy long rides on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and watching sunsets from their Tommy Bahama chairs as they live near Lake Michigan.
“She’s understood what it was like to be the wife of a high school principal. I was putting in 60, 65 hours a week and going to a lot of events,” Beckeman said. “I told her, ‘You know, one thing is for certain: From the third week of August, every Friday night, through Thanksgiving (weekend), I’ll be somewhere (at a game or event) and that’ll take us right into Ford Field.’ We’ve had teams in Ford Field last year and I’m certain we will again this year. She understands that and there are times where she’s going to be able to go with me, which I look forward to as well.
“What I’m not going to do is be gone every night. I will make sure that I meet with and visit all of the schools. The first of my goals this year was a personal visit to all 41 schools, so I’ll keep a diary on visits and things like that,” Beckeman said. “I want to make sure people see me at Belding as they would see me at Rockford, see me at Thornapple-Kellogg as they would see me at Mona Shores.”
Beckeman will be serving athletic directors and principals in the OK Conference, but at the end of the day, it comes down to helping young people.
He believes that youth deserve second chances. He said they’ll make mistakes and it can be difficult for them to manage emotions, especially in the athletic arena.
“You know, he’s the perfect person for that job. Dan’s a superstar,” said Mike Mack, Beckeman’s predecessor as president of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame as well as a longtime administrator, educator, and coach at Mona Shores. “I’ve always respected him and he’s well thought of. He’s a great communicator, he’s level-headed, and he’ll always make the decision that’s best for everybody.”
Beckeman intends on serving the OK Conference for a full, four-year cycle, if not longer.
“Right when I did retire, I wasn’t ready. There’s gas in the tank. I didn’t retire – I was repurposed,” Beckeman said. “By getting involved with the OK Conference, it gives me an opportunity to sharpen my own saw about staying current with what’s going on in high schools and with kids.
“I will serve the OK Conference as long as I believe I’m giving them value and then I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I think if you do those things, you’re going to find your own personal fulfillment. It satisfies the purpose of the day that I’ve giving myself to other people.”
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – During Dan Beckeman’s 29-year tenure as principal at Reeths-Puffer High School, he talked the talk and walked the walk.
He was a beloved, universally respected leader, and nothing was below him.
“Kids would always see me picking up things in the hallway. There’s a piece of garbage on the floor. They said, ‘I can’t believe Mr. Beckeman (is doing that),’” Beckeman recalled.
“(Beckeman would reply) ‘Of course, this is what we should all be doing, right?’ It’s the little things like that … . Having pride in what you’re doing and where you’re at.”
Beckeman “retired” in 2021 after serving in education for 39 years. The word retired is in quotes because he didn’t really retire, nor did he intend on doing so.
Beckeman, 66, remains impactful on many levels. One of his newer and more prominent roles began July 1, when he officially became commissioner of the OK Conference, the largest league in the state with 41 schools and six divisions. He carries the torch previously held by Dave Feenstra, who retired after being in that role since 2019.
“I’ve always had a desire to wake up every day with a purpose and I think I’ve been given skill sets that allow me to provide leadership and an opportunity to build interpersonal relationships with people,” Beckeman said.
“Leadership is servanthood – nothing more, nothing less. When I look at leadership, if you’re focused on serving other people, you’ll be successful. I’ve seen over time where people are chasing titles. They like the idea of being the principal, the commissioner, the president, whatever title is there. They chase after that, not understanding really what it means.”
Beckeman, who also serves as president of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board of directors, accepted his position with the OK Conference in March. He was recruited for the position with the OK Conference, for which he’s previously served as president and on the executive board.
The 1977 Whitehall High School alumnus earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Michigan State University in 1982. Beckeman began his career in education as a teacher and coach at Grant High School and he spent eight years there.
In 1990, the opportunity arose for Beckeman as assistant principal at Reeths-Puffer, a role he held for two years before being promoted to the principal position.
In 2022, Reeths-Puffer honored Beckeman by naming the high school gymnasium “Dan Beckeman Arena.”
“Dan talks to you like you’re the only person in the room, so you feel like the most important person in the room. And I think we’re ripe for that with 41 member schools (in the OK Conference) now for all of us to be heard,” said Reeths-Puffer athletic director Cliff Sandee, who served as an assistant principal under Beckeman for three years.
“I remember a first job he gave me when he hired me as an assistant principal. ‘Here’s our staff. You need to memorize each staff member’s name.’ I was like, ‘This is 77 people, none of whom I’ve met face-to-face.’ I’ll go out to breakfast with Dan or I’ll be anywhere with him and he’s still calling students that he had 35 years ago by name.”
Beckeman remains involved in his church in the youth ministry and he has been a substitute at the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Transition at Craig Campus.Beckeman and his wife of 17 years, Suzanne, enjoy long rides on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and watching sunsets from their Tommy Bahama chairs as they live near Lake Michigan.
“She’s understood what it was like to be the wife of a high school principal. I was putting in 60, 65 hours a week and going to a lot of events,” Beckeman said. “I told her, ‘You know, one thing is for certain: From the third week of August, every Friday night, through Thanksgiving (weekend), I’ll be somewhere (at a game or event) and that’ll take us right into Ford Field.’ We’ve had teams in Ford Field last year and I’m certain we will again this year. She understands that and there are times where she’s going to be able to go with me, which I look forward to as well.
“What I’m not going to do is be gone every night. I will make sure that I meet with and visit all of the schools. The first of my goals this year was a personal visit to all 41 schools, so I’ll keep a diary on visits and things like that,” Beckeman said. “I want to make sure people see me at Belding as they would see me at Rockford, see me at Thornapple-Kellogg as they would see me at Mona Shores.”
Beckeman will be serving athletic directors and principals in the OK Conference, but at the end of the day, it comes down to helping young people.
He believes that youth deserve second chances. He said they’ll make mistakes and it can be difficult for them to manage emotions, especially in the athletic arena.
“You know, he’s the perfect person for that job. Dan’s a superstar,” said Mike Mack, Beckeman’s predecessor as president of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame as well as a longtime administrator, educator, and coach at Mona Shores. “I’ve always respected him and he’s well thought of. He’s a great communicator, he’s level-headed, and he’ll always make the decision that’s best for everybody.”
Beckeman intends on serving the OK Conference for a full, four-year cycle, if not longer.
“Right when I did retire, I wasn’t ready. There’s gas in the tank. I didn’t retire – I was repurposed,” Beckeman said. “By getting involved with the OK Conference, it gives me an opportunity to sharpen my own saw about staying current with what’s going on in high schools and with kids.
“I will serve the OK Conference as long as I believe I’m giving them value and then I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I think if you do those things, you’re going to find your own personal fulfillment. It satisfies the purpose of the day that I’ve giving myself to other people.”
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