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Bruce
McCristal, Class of 1954, literally grew up on the Michigan
State campus, rooted in the history of the University.
He went from kindergarten through college in East Lansing.
His father, Dr. King J. McCristal, served on the MSU faculty
for 24 years as a professor and department head.
Bruce graduated
from the school of business with a degree in economics.
But his real career passion was formed on campus while
working for four years as a student aide to Michigan
State’s legendary sports information director,
Fred W. Stabley. It was under Stabley’s mentoring
that McCristal developed a life-long love of the communications
profession.
He served General Motors Corporation for
30 years–heading the public relations
operations at the Cadillac Motor Car Division, GM Hughes Electronics Corporation,
and the AC Electronics Division (later Delco Electronics-Milwaukee). He was assistant
PR director at the Pontiac Motor Division. At GM’s World Headquarters,
he was director of GM worldwide employee communications; manager of divisional
relations–coordinating the public relations activities of 35 divisions;
assistant manager of GM stockholder relations; and served with the news relations,
and community relations staffs.
McCristal also had communications managerial experience with General Telephone & Electronics,
the U.S. Air Force–where he also was a pilot, and the United Community
Fund of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Since graduation, McCristal has served as chairman
and vice chairman of MSU’s
Development Fund, and on the national board of the MSU Alumni Association.
He currently is a member of the MSU Detroit Area Development Council.
McCristal
originated, produced and edited two other books–Spartan Champions
by Jack Ebling–the story of MSU’s 1987 Big Ten football championship
year and 1988 Rose Bowl victory; and Sunraycer by Bill Tuckey--the story of General
Motors’ solar car, which won the world’s first trans-continental
solar car race (across Australia) in 1987.
Bruce and his wife Sheryl have a daughter,
Carol, and son Kyle, and five grandchildren. Kyle and daughter-in-law Victoria
are MSU graduates. Bruce’s brother-in-law
Bill Klaiber and sister-in-law Kathy Klaiber also are MSU graduates. |
