Hall of Fame
Luby, a native of Hamtramck and graduate of Detroit Central HS, received three varsity football letters in 1937, 1938 and 1939 and three varsity letters in track in 1938, 1939 and 1940. He also received numerals for both sports in the 1936-37 academic year. Luby played at wingback and fullback throughout most of his Tartar football career. In 1937 Luby had the best return yards day ever in Tartar history. He scored three touchdowns against Hillsdale on an 80-yard punt return, 46-yard punt return, and 47-yard interception return. No one else in Wayne's 75-season history has ever scored three special teams touchdowns in a game. Wayne won the game 65-0 over the `Dales, the most points ever scored by a Tartar team and its largest margin of victory. In 1938 against Buffalo Luby scored on a 62-yard carry from scrimmage which was then the second-longest scoring carry ever in Wayne history. Luby joins WSU Hall of Famer Nick Cherup as one of only two Wayne players ever to score a touchdown against Michigan State. Luby's touchdown came in a 34-6 loss to the Spartans in 1938. Against Michigan State in 1939 Luby finished with 60 yards rushing, two pass completions, six tackles and one interception in a 16-0 loss for Wayne. He was a short-and middle-distance tracksman at Wayne. Captaining the 1940 squad, he led Wayne's mile relay squad to first place finishes in the Penn, Illinois and Butler Relays. In Indoor track that season he led the 880 relay team to a time of 1:32.2, then the second-best Wayne time ever. One of Luby-s outstanding track achievements was breaking WSU Hall of Famer and former Olympic champion John Lewis' indoor 440 Wayne track record. Luby ran a 55.9 on Old Main's 28-lap track, breaking Lewis' 56-second record. Luby graduated in 1940 with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education, and began five-decade teaching and administrative career in the Detroit Public Schools that was only interrupted from 1943046 by World War II. He began his teaching career at the elementary level in 1940, then joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943. Stationed at an Air Force base in Sedalia, Missouri, as a first lieutenant with the Convalescent Rehabilitation program, Luby remained active in track, and won the Air Force's Octathlon Championship, tacking first in six of eight events and tied for one other. Upon his honorable discharge in 1946 Luby returned to teaching in Detroit, taking a position with Columbian Elementary. In 1951 Luby began his administrative career as assistant principal for Alger Elementary. In the late 1950's and early 1960's Luby served as a principal in various schools, then in 1962 he was promoted to division director of the Detroit Public School's Department of Health, Physical Education and Safety, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. Luby has also taught as an adjunct professor at Wayne State, University of Detroit and Mercy College. Upon retiring from Detroit, Luby joined the administrative staff at the Interlochen Center for the Arts near Travers City, Michigan. He currently holds the position of associate director of development. Luby's other athletic recognitions include induction into the Catholic Coaches' Association Sports Hall of Fame, a recognition award from the Michigan Association of Directors of Athletics and Physical Education (1976), and a nomination for the 1977 United Foundation of Detroit Sports Citizen of the Year award. Luby and his wife, Miriam, split time between homes in Detroit and Travers City. They are parents of two children, son Richard and daughter Ellen.
