They were childhood best friends and later business partners who started one of the largest freight expedited transportation companies in North America. Now, Lakeshore High School class of 81’ graduates Mike Welch and Keith Avery will share a special honor reserved for a very select group of Lakeshore graduates. The Lakeshore High School Alumni Association and Lakeshore Excellence Foundation have named Welch and Avery as their 2022 Distinguished Alumni Recipients.
Welch and Avery met in Kindergarten at Roosevelt Elementary School in Stevensville and quickly became friends. They competed in sports together throughout school, and later reconnected after college to form an expedited trucking company called Express-1. What started with just two trucks grew into a publicly traded company. Today, you can see Express-1 as “XPO” on Wall Street. After selling Express-1, Welch and Avery opened a local Honey Baked Ham franchise, and took part in various other business ventures.
LEF Photo: Keith Avery and the late Michael Welch
Welch and Avery also dedicated their time and talents to the Lakeshore school district and surrounding community. Both men served as Lakeshore Excellence Foundation trustees – Avery from 2006 to 2012 and Welch from 2012 to 2014. Welch was also a Lakeshore School Board member from 2005 to 2019, including fulfilling the role of school board Vice President from 2013 to 2019.
But it was one commonality that truly brought their families together. Both Welch and Avery were diagnosed with a rare form of Brain Cancer, known as Glioblastoma. Welch lost his battle with the disease in September of 2019. He was just 56-years-old. Avery received his diagnosis last year, and continues to undergo treatment to this day.
The Lakeshore Distinguished Alumni is chosen through a formal nomination and review process. Lakeshore Alumni Association President and Lakeshore Excellence Foundation Trustee, Chad Deja, says when the nomination for Mike and Keith was submitted by fellow Lakeshore Alum Bill Bancroft (81’) the decision to choose and recognize both men was simple.
“I’ve watched them stay in this community and raise their children, while building a very successful business, and the passion they’ve had for Lakeshore Public Schools throughout has been amazing,” says Deja. “Keith and Mike have been role models to me for over 40 years and are the true definition of Distinguished Alumni.”
Lakeshore Excellence Foundation Chair, JC Anderson agrees this unique honor is well deserved.
“What a great pair of friends, classmates, and business partners to be recognized as our Distinguished Alumni this year,” said Anderson. “They have done so much for the school and our community that this is an unusual, but very appropriate, recognition for Mike and Keith, plus their friends and family. I am both humbled and honored to take part in this celebration.”
The Lakeshore Alumni Association and Lakeshore Excellence Foundation will recognize the 2022 Lakeshore Distinguished Alumni at a special reception Friday, June 3rd, followed by an awards presentation during Lakeshore High School’s Graduation Ceremony, at 7:00 p.m., at Al Stockman Stadium in Stevensville.
