Ralph A. Ostling (1927–2009) was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the

Michigan House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2010 ...

, representing an area of northern Michigan from 1973 through 1992.

Biography

Ralph A. Ostling was born in 1927 in

Roscommon Roscommon (; ) is the county town and the largest town in County Roscommon in Ireland. It is roughly in the centre of Ireland, near the meeting of the N60, N61 and N63 roads. The name Roscommon is derived from Coman mac Faelchon who built ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

to Swedish parents. Ostling graduated from

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Established in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, the private normal school became a state institution and renamed Cen ...

in 1952 and earned a master's degree from

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

. He served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

in 1945 and 1946 and married Thela Dean at the end of 1947. Ostling taught and coached at his alma mater, Gerrish-Higgins High School, for 20 years and was elected Gerrish Township clerk in 1956. In 1972, Ostling won his first election to the Legislature. While in the House, he served on the Appropriations Committee, rising to serve as Republican vice chairman. Ostling served ten terms, leaving in 1992 to become a lobbyist. Ostling died in Roscommon on July 29, 2009, aged 82.The Houghton Lake Resorter
Obituary: Ralph Obituary
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Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ostling, Ralph 1927 births 2009 deaths Central Michigan University alumni Michigan State University alumni Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives 20th-century American legislators