Games honour for USA man Mike
Ohio stalwart is chieftain
The chieftain for this year’s Crieff Highland Gathering has been announced.
And the choice celebrates the town’s longstanding relationship with its sister games in the USA.
Crieff Highland Gathering (CHG) chairman Ian Stewart said members of the Market Park event’s board of directors were delighted to bestow the honour for 2018 on Mike Mihalic.
Mike, who hails from Ohio, has a close connection to Crieff Highland Gathering dating back to 2008.
It was then that, in his capacity as president of Ohio Scottish Games, he established the twinning relationship with Crieff Highland Gathering, which he rates as one of his premier accomplishments among the many highlights during his tenure as president there.
The transatlantic relationship celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
CHG chair Ian Stewart explained: “Initially formed to support each other’s mission in the preservation of the Scottish arts it has done so much more than that with very close cross Atlantic bonds now formed between people in Scotland and the USA.”
Mike’s entrance into the world of Highland Games and Scottish-American culture occurred back in 1998 when his three daughters, Theresa, Laura Beth and Christina, became enthralled by Highland dancing and bagpipes thanks to a family trip to Ohio Scottish Games (OSG) organised by their grandmother, Pat Urquhart.
What followed was many years of dancing and piping lessons for the girls which saw Mike become more and more involved in Highland Games.
He first started as a volunteer marshal for the Highland dance competitions before progressing to become president of Ohio Scottish Mike Mihalic Games in 2003, a role he maintained for more than 10 years.
Although no longer president of OSG, Mike is still highly thought of and was given a new role as ambassador to the games.
Mike has travelled to Scotland many times as the OSG representative to attend Crieff Highland Gathering and, in turn, has hosted CHG directors at his home in the USA.
Ian Stewart added: “We are truly delighted that Mike has accepted our invitation to be chieftain of our games for 2018. He has been a great servant to not only Ohio Scottish Games but also to us here at Crieff Highland Gathering. It is fitting that in this the 10th anniversary of Ohio/Crieff, twin/sister relationship that Mike should receive this honour.
“Myself as chairman, the directors of CHG and the people of Crieff look forward to welcoming him to our town.”
Crieff Highland Gathering takes place on Sunday, August 19.
Mike has been a great servant to games