Local sports schedule
TODAY SECTION 9 FOOTBALL Burke Catholic at New Paltz, 6:30 p.m. Washingtonville at Kingston, 7 p.m. Roosevelt at Minisink Valley, 7 p.m. Marlboro at Cornwall, 7 p.m. Red Hook at Ellenville, 7 p.m. MHAL FIELD HOCKEY Taconic Hills at Kingston, 4:15 p.m. Spackenkill at Rhinebeck, 4:15 p.m. Pine Bush at CoxsackieAthens, 4:15 p.m. Ellenville at Onteora, 4:15 p.m. Red Hook at Webutuck, 4:15 p.m. Rondout at Pine Plains, 4:15 p.m. MHAL GOLF Saugerties at Wallkill, 3:30 p.m. MHAL GIRLS SOCCER Marlboro at Roosevelt, 4:15 p.m. Wallkill at New Paltz, 4:15 p.m. Red Hook at Highland, 4:15 p.m. Ellenville at Onteora, 4:15 p.m. Dover at Webutuck, 4:15 p.m. MHAL GIRLS TENNIS Wallkill at Roosevelt, 4:15 p.m. Saugerties at Onteora, 4:15 p.m. Red Hook at Spackenkill, 4:15 p.m. Marlboro at Highland, 4:15 p.m. OCIAA BOYS SOCCER O’Neill at Mount Academy, 4 p.m. OCIAA GIRLS TENNIS Monroe-Woodbury at Kingston, 4 p.m. OCIAA VOLLEYBALL Fallsburg at Mount Academy, 6 p.m. SCHOLASTIC CROSS COUNTRY Red Raider Run Invitational at Bear Mountain, 4 p.m. Springstead Invitational at Colonie Town Park, 4 p.m. NON-LEAGUE BOYS SOCCER Highland at Liberty, 4 p.m. NON-LEAGUE GIRLS SOCCER Greenville at Saugerties, 6:30 p.m. NON-LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL Saugerties at Spackenkill, 5:45 p.m. Kingston at Wallkill, 6 p.m. COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Hawk Invitational at SUNY New Paltz (vs. Alfred, 3 p.m.; vs. St. Lawrence, 5 p.m.) Hostos at SUNY Ulster, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY SECTION 9 FOOTBALL Goshen at Saugerties, 1:30 p.m. Wallkill at Monticello, 1:30 p.m. Highland at Onteora, 2 p.m. NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL Rondout at Dobbs Ferry, 1:30 p.m. MHAL BOYS SOCCER Marlboro at Red Hook, 10 a.m. SCHOLASTIC CROSS COUNTRY Washingtonville Wizard Invitational, 9 a.m. Warwick Wave Mania Invitational, 9 a.m. SCHOLASTIC GIRLS SWIMMING Hudson Valley Kickoff Classic at Newburgh (diving 9 a.m.; swimming noon) NON-LEAGUE FIELD HOCKEY Kingston at Lakeland, noon COLLEGIATE CROSS COUNTRY SUNY New Paltz at Vassar Invitational, 10 a.m. SUNY Ulster at Cobleskill, 10 a.m. COLLEGIATE FIELD HOCKEY SUNY New Paltz at Stockton, 1 p.m. COLLEGIATE MEN’S SOCCER New York University at SUNY New Paltz, noon SUNY Ulster vs. Dutchess at Lourdes, 1 p.m. COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S SOCCER SUNY New Paltz at Skidmore, 1 p.m. COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S TENNIS SUNY New Paltz at RPI, 1 p.m. COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Hawk Invitational at SUNY New Paltz (vs. Mount Saint Mary, 10 a.m.; Hamilton, 2 p.m.) SUNDAY COLLEGIATE MEN’S SOCCER Lehman at SUNY New Paltz, 3 p.m.
NBA
Billionaire Richard DeVos, co-founder of direct-selling giant Amway, owner of the Orlando Magic and father-in-law of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, died Thursday. He was 92.
Family spokesman Nick Wasmiller says DeVos died at his western Michigan home due to complications from an infection.
DeVos was born in Grand Rapids, not far from Ada, the community about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Detroit where he later lived and died.
In 1949, he and friend Jay Van Andel took $49 and invested the modest amount into manufacturer and vitamin direct-seller Nutrilite. They became independent vitamin distributors and later used the company’s person-to-person selling approach when starting Amway in Ada with an all-purpose household cleaning product.
They coined the name Amway as an abbreviation of “American Way.” Over five decades, Amway became a multibillion-dollar international corporation. Van Andel died in 2004.
“Rich and my father built this company from the ground up, and in many ways Rich was the heart and soul of Amway,” said Steve Van Andel, Amway’s chair. “His vision and spirit inspired our employees and independent business owners for more than 50 years.”
Michigan’s Republican governor described DeVos as “an incredible businessman, philanthropist and true Michigander.”
“The positive impact Rich had on our state is truly immeasurable,” Rick Snyder said Thursday. “Through successful business ventures and charitable endeavors, he created endless opportunities for residents of many different ages and backgrounds. Rich’s giving spirit is how we will always remember him, and his legacy is certain to live on forever.”
DeVos, who served as Amway’s president until 1993, also was involved in the NBA, buying the Magic from a group headed by Orlando real estate developer William duPont III in 1991.
“Mr. DeVos’ boundless generosity, inspirational leadership and infectious enthusiasm will always be remembered,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said in a statement. “Simply, he was the team’s No. 1 cheerleader and the best owner that a Magic fan could ever want for their team.”
Amway was not without controversy. The Federal Trade Commission charged in 1969 that the company was an illegal pyramid scheme, but ruled after a six-year investigation that it wasn’t.
Amway also has been controversial because of its almost evangelical zeal in promoting free enterprise, and gained attention with DeVos’ and Jay Van Andel’s high-profile participation in Republican politics. DeVos was a major supporter of the Republican Party and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the Presidential Commission on AIDS in 1987.
DeVos and his late wife, Helen, also donated to Christian churches and ministries and various other causes through their Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.
DeVos also supported Grand Valley State University in Allendale. In the 1970s, he served on its governing board. He later became president of the university’s foundation board.