Events from the year 1931 in Michigan.

Office holders

State office holders

Governor of Michigan The governor of Michigan is the head of state, head of government, and chief executive of the U.S. state of Michigan. The current governor is Gretchen Whitmer, a member of the Democratic Party, who was inaugurated on January 1, 2019, as the stat ...

Wilber M. Brucker Wilber Marion Brucker (June 23, 1894 – October 28, 1968) was an American Republican politician. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, he served as the 32nd governor of Michigan from 1931 to 1933 and as the United States Secretary of the Army betwee ...

( Republican) *

Lieutenant Governor of Michigan The lieutenant governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor. The current lieutenant governor by default is Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, who has held the office since January 1, 2019. Proce ...

: Luren D. Dickinson (Republican) * Michigan Attorney General:

Paul W. Voorhies Paul Warren Voorhies (December 17, 1875 – January 8, 1952) was a Michigan lawyer who served as Wayne County Prosecutor and Michigan Attorney General. Biography Voorhies was born in Plymouth, Michigan on December 17, 1875. He graduated from the ...

(Republican) * Michigan Secretary of State: Frank D. Fitzgerald (Republican) * Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Fred R. Ming (Republican) * Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court:

Mayors of major cities

* Mayor of Detroit: Frank Murphy (Democrat) *

Mayor of Grand Rapids This is a list of mayors of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The current mayor is Rosalynn Bliss, who was sworn into office on January 1, 2016. References {{Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat ...

: John D. Karel * Mayor of Flint:

William H. McKeighan William Henry McKeighan (July 1, 1886 – September 15, 1957) was a Michigan politician and state political boss based in Flint. Together with Detroit Mayor Ed Barnard and Grand Rapids politician-businessman Frank D. McKay form a Republican po ...

Mayor of Lansing List Lansing, Michigan, was incorporated as a city on February 15, 1859. * Hiram H. Smith, 1859 * John A. Kerr, 1860 * William H. Chapman, 1861–62 * Dr. Ira H. Bartholomew, 1863–65 * Dr. William H. Haze, 1866 * George W. Peck, 1867 * ...

: Peter F. Gray *

Mayor of Ann Arbor This is a list of mayors of Ann Arbor, Michigan, beginning with Ann Arbor's incorporation as a city on April 4, 1851. References Ann Arbor mayors, Political Graveyard website* Samuel W. Beakes, Past and Present of Washtenaw County' (Washtenaw C ...

Edward W. Staebler Edward William Staebler (December 26, 1872November 10, 1946) was a Michigan politician. Early life Edward W. Staebler was born in Lodi Township, Michigan to parents Michael and Katherine Rosina Staebler on December 26, 1872. Staebler was of Germ ...

/ H. Wirt Newkirk

Federal office holders

* U.S. Senator from Michigan:

James J. Couzens James J. Couzens (August 26, 1872October 22, 1936) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist. He served as mayor of Detroit (1919–1922) and U.S. Senator from Michigan (1922–1936). Prior to entering politics he served as vice ...

(Republican) * U.S. Senator from Michigan: Arthur Vandenberg (Republican) * House District 1:

Robert H. Clancy Robert Henry Clancy (March 14, 1882 – April 23, 1962) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Clancy was born in Detroit, Michigan, where he attended the public schools. He graduated from the literary department of the University ...

(Democrat) * House District 2: Earl C. Michener (Republican) * House District 3:

Joseph L. Hooper Joseph Lawrence Hooper (December 22, 1877 – February 22, 1934) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Hooper was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 22, 1877 and moved to Michigan with his parents, who settled in Battle Creek, Mich ...

(Republican) * House District 4:

John C. Ketcham John Clark Ketcham (January 1, 1873 – December 4, 1941) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Ketcham was born in Toledo, Ohio, and moved with his parents to Maple Grove, Michigan near Nashville, the same year. He attended the co ...

(Republican) * House District 5: Carl E. Mapes (Republican) * House District 6:

Grant M. Hudson Grant Martin Hudson (July 23, 1868 – October 26, 1955) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Hudson was born in Eaton Township, Lorain County, Ohio. He attended the common schools and graduated from Kalamazoo College, Kalamazo ...

(Republican)/

Seymour H. Person Seymour Howe Person (February 2, 1879 – April 7, 1957) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Person was born on a farm near Howell, Michigan and attended the district schools and the Howell public schools. He graduated from the law ...

(Republican) *

House District 7 A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

Louis C. Cramton Louis Convers Cramton (December 2, 1875 – June 23, 1966) was a politician and jurist from the U.S. state of Michigan. Cramton was born in Hadley Township, Michigan and attended the common schools of Lapeer County. He graduated from Lapeer ...

(Republican)/

Jesse P. Wolcott Jesse Paine Wolcott (March 3, 1893 – January 28, 1969) was a politician and soldier from the U.S. state of Michigan. Wolcott was born to William Bradford Wolcott and Lillie Betsy (Paine) Wolcott in Gardner, Massachusetts and attended the comm ...

(Republican) * House District 8:

Bird J. Vincent Bird J. Vincent (March 6, 1880 – July 18, 1931) was a soldier and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Early life Vincent was born in Brandon Township near Clarkston, Michigan. Education Vincent attended the public schools of Oakla ...

(Republican)/

Michael J. Hart Michael James Hart (July 16, 1877 – February 14, 1951) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Hart was born in Waterloo, Quebec, Canada. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1880 and settled in James Township, Mich ...

(Democrat) * House District 9:

James C. McLaughlin James Campbell McLaughlin (January 26, 1858 – November 29, 1932) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. McLaughlin was born in Beardstown, Illinois. His parents, David and Isabella (Campbell) McLaughlin, had come from Edinburgh, Sco ...

(Republican) * House District 10:

Roy O. Woodruff Roy Orchard Woodruff (March 14, 1876 – February 12, 1953) was a politician, soldier, printer, and dentist from the U.S. state of Michigan. Woodruff was born of English and Scottish ancestry to Charles Woodruff and Electa A. (Wallace) Woodruff ...

(Republican) * House District 11: Frank P. Bohn (Democrat) * House District 12: W. Frank James (Republican) * House District 13:

Clarence J. McLeod Clarence John McLeod (July 3, 1895 – May 15, 1959) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. McLeod was born in Detroit, the son of a well-to-do Scottish father who had serve ...

(Republican)

Population

Sports

Baseball

* 1931 Detroit Tigers season – Under manager

Bucky Harris Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris (November 8, 1896 – November 8, 1977) was an American professional baseball second baseman, manager and executive. While Harris played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators and Detroit Tige ...

, the Tigers compiled a 61-93 record and finished in seventh place in the American League. The team's statistical leaders included John Stone with a .327 batting average and 10 home runs,

Dale Alexander David Dale Alexander (April 26, 1903 – March 2, 1979), nicknamed "Moose", was an American baseball player and manager. A native of Greeneville, Tennessee, Alexander played professional baseball, principally as a first baseman, for 20 years f ...

with 87 RBIs, Earl Whitehill and

Vic Sorrell Victor Garland Sorrell (April 9, 1901 – May 4, 1972), nicknamed "Lawyer" and "The Philosopher," was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. In 10 Major League seasons, Sorrell had a 92–101 record with a ...

with 13 wins each, and George Uhle with a 3.50 earned run average. * 1931

Michigan Wolverines baseball The Michigan Wolverines baseball team represents the University of Michigan in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Michigan athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games ...

season - Under head coach Ray Fisher, the Wolverines compiled a 14–9–1 record. Jack Tompkins was the team captain.

American football

1931 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1931 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1931 college football season. In their third year under head coach was Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a record of 8-1-1 record (5-1 Big Ten), outscore ...

– Under head coach Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled an 8–1–1 record and tied for the Big Ten Conference championship. Bill Hewitt was selected as the team's most valuable player. *

1931 Detroit Titans football team The 1931 Detroit Titans football team represented the University of Detroit in the 1931 college football season. Detroit outscored opponents by a combined total of 112 to 71 and finished with a 7–2–1 record in their seventh year under head ...

– The Titans compiled a 7–2–1 record under head coach Gus Dorais. *

1931 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1931 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1931 college football season. In their third season under head coach Jim Crowley, the Spartans compiled a 5–3–1 record and played ...

– Under head coach

Jim Crowley James Harold "Sleepy Jim" Crowley (September 10, 1902 – January 15, 1986) was an American football player and coach. He gained fame as one-fourth of the University of Notre Dame's legendary "Four Horsemen (American football), Four Horsemen" bac ...

, the Spartans compiled a 5–3–1 record. * 1931 Western State Hilltoppers football team - Under head coach Mike Gary, the Hilltoppers compiled a 5–2 record. *

1931 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team The 1931 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State Normal College (later renamed Eastern Michigan University) as an independent during the 1931 college football season The 1931 co ...

- Under head coach Elton Rynearson, the Hurons compiled a 3–2–1 record. *

1931 Central State Bearcats football team The 1931 Central State Bearcats football team represented Central State Teachers College, later renamed Central Michigan University, as an independent during the 1931 college football season. In their first season under head coach George Van Bib ...

- Under head coach

George Van Bibber Edward George Van Bibber (1909 – August 3, 1982) was an American football player, coach, and university professor. He served as the head football coach at Central Michigan University from 1931 to 1933 and at the University at Buffalo, University ...

the Bercats compiled a 4–3 record. * 1931 City College of Detroit football team – The City College of Detroit (later known as Wayne State University compiled a 0–6–1 record under head coach

Norman G. Wann Norman Gillespie "Happy" Wann (July 8, 1882 – July 23, 1957) was an American college football player, track athlete, coach of multiple sports, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Ottawa University in Otta ...

Basketball

* 1930–31 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach

Benjamin Van Alstyne Benjamin F. Van Alstyne (1893 – August 1972) was an American basketball coach. The Canajoharie, New York native played college basketball, baseball and football at Colgate University, graduating in 1917. Following military service and a year o ...

, the Spartans compiled a 16–1 record. * 1930–31

Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball The Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team represents Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school's team competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and are coached by Dwayne Stephens. The team last played in the NCAA ...

team – Under head coach

Buck Read Herbert William "Buck" Read (February 8, 1880 - August 15, 1970) was an American basketball coach. He was the head coach for the Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team from 1922 through 1949. He was also president of the National Associati ...

, the Broncos compiled a 14–3 record. *

1930–31 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team The 1930–31 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate basketball during the 1930–31 season. The team compiled a 13–4 record, and 8–4 against Big Ten Conference opponents. The te ...

– Under head coach

Franklin Cappon Franklin C. "Cappy" Cappon (October 17, 1900 – November 29, 1961) was an American college football and college basketball player and coach. He played football and basketball at Phillips University and the University of Michigan and coached at ...

, the Wolverines compiled a 13–4 record. * 1930–31 City College of Detroit (CCD) men's basketball team – Under coach Newman Ertell, CCD (later known as Wayne State) compiled an 11–8 record. * 1930–31 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – Under head coach Lloyd Brazil, the Titans compiled a 10–9 record.

Ice hockey

1930–31 Detroit Falcons season The 1930–31 Detroit Falcons season was the Detroit National Hockey League (NHL) franchise's fifth season of play and the first known as the Detroit Falcons. The Falcons missed the playoffs Offseason Regular season Final standings Record ...

– Under coach

Jack Adams John James Adams (June 14, 1894 – May 1, 1968) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach and general manager in the National Hockey League and Pacific Coast Hockey Association. He played for the Toronto Arenas, Vancouver Millionaire ...

, the Falcons compiled a 16–21–7 record and finished in fourth place in the National Hockey League (NHL) American Division. Ebbie Goodfellow led the team with 25 goals, 23 assists, and 48 points. Dolly Dolson was the team's goaltender. * 1930–31 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – Under head coach

Ed Lowrey Edwin James Lowrey (August 13, 1891 – November 27, 1973) was a Canadian ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre. Lowrey played for Ottawa Senators (original), Ottawa Senators, Toronto Ontarios, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Blueshirts, Hamilton Tig ...

, the Wolverines compiled a 10–5–2 record. * 1930–31 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – Under head coach Bert Noblet, the Huskies compiled a 2–7 record.

Other

* Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race – *

Michigan Open The Michigan Open is the Michigan state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Michigan section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1916 at a variety of courses around the sta ...

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

* September 16 - Collingwood Manor Massacre

October

November

December

Births

* March 9 - Sam Williams, NFL defensive lineman (1959-1967), in

Dansville, Michigan Dansville is a village in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is centered along M-36 (Michigan highway), M-36 within Ingham Township, Michigan, Ingham Township about southeast of downtown Lansing, Michigan, Lan ...

* March 25 -

Roger Zatkoff Roger Zatkoff (March 25, 1931 – November 4, 2021) was an American professional football player and businessman. A native of Hamtramck, Michigan, Zatkoff played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1950 to 1952 and was selected as ...

, NFL player (1953-1958), in Hamtramck, Michigan * June 20 - James Tolkan, actor ('' Back to the Future'' trilogy, '' WarGames'', ''

Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an a ...

''), in

Calumet, Michigan Calumet ( or ) is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, that was once at the center of the mining industry of the Upper Peninsula. Also known as Red Jacket, the village includes the C ...

* July 16 -

Mighty Igor Richard Joseph "Dick" Garza (July 16, 1931 – January 7, 2002), better known as Mighty Igor Vodik, or simply Mighty Igor, was an American professional wrestler. He is a one time American Wrestling Association World champion. As Mighty Igor, he wa ...

, professional wrestler billed as the "World's Strongest Wrestler", in

Dearborn, Michigan Dearborn is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 109,976. Dearborn is the seventh most-populated city in Michigan and is home to the largest Muslim population in the United States pe ...

* July 21 -

J. Bob Traxler Jerome Bob Traxler (July 21, 1931 – October 30, 2019), also known as J. Bob Traxler or Bob Traxler, was an American lawyer and politician from Michigan. He served ten terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 to 1993. Early ...

, U.S. Congressman (1974-1993), in

Kawkawlin, Michigan Monitor Charter Township is a charter township of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan, organized in 1869. The township's population was 10,735 as of the 2010 census and is included in the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Communities ...

* July 26 -

William L. Rowe William Leonard Rowe ( July 26, 1931 – August 22, 2015) was a professor of philosophy at Purdue University who specialized in the philosophy of religion. His work played a leading role in the "remarkable revival of analytic philosophy of religi ...

, philosopher of religion, in Detroit * August 26 - Guy Vander Jagt, U.S. Congressman (1966-1993), in Cadillac, Michigan * September 6 - Sander Levin, U.S. Congressman (1983-2013), in Detroit * October 22 - Ann Rule, true crime author (''

The Stranger Beside Me ''The Stranger Beside Me'' is a 1980 autobiographical and biographical true crime book written by Ann Rule about serial killer Ted Bundy, whom she knew personally before and after his arrest for a series of murders. Subsequent revisions of the boo ...

''), in Lowell, Michigan * December 7 - Billy Wells, NFL/AFL halfback (1954-1960), in Menominee, Michigan

Gallery of 1931 births

File:Roger Zatkoff.png,

File:J Bob Traxler.png,

File:Guy Vander Jagt.png, Guy Vander Jagt File:Sander Levin, Official Portrait.JPG, Sander Levin

Deaths

* June 13 -

Samuel William Smith Samuel William Smith (August 23, 1852 – June 19, 1931), was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was born in Independence Township and attended the common schools in Clarkston and Detroit. He began teaching school in 1869, serv ...

, U.S. Congressman (1897-1915), at age 78 in Detroit * July 18 -

, U.S. Congressman (1923-1931), at age 51 aboard a ship in the Pacific Ocean * September -

Robert R. Blacker Robert Roe Blacker (October 31, 1845September 1931) was a Canadian-born American politician and lumber baron. Early life Robert R. Blacker was born on October 31, 1845, in Brantford, Ontario in Canada. He moved to Buchanan, Michigan in Berrien ...

, Michigan Secretary of State (1891–1892), at age 86 in Santa Monica, California * October 6 -

Albert M. Todd Albert May Todd (June 3, 1850 – October 6, 1931), known as "The Peppermint King of Kalamazoo," was an American chemist, businessman, and politician from the state of Michigan. A philanthropist and advocate of public ownership of utilities, ...

, founder of the A.M. Todd Company, a world leader in the production of peppermint oil and other botanical extracts, at age 81 in

Kalamazoo, Michigan Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolit ...

* November 26 - Edmond H. Barmore, the first University of Michigan quarterback, at age 71 in Los Angeles

Gallery of 1931 deaths

File:Samuel W. Smith Men of Progress.png, Samuel W. Smith File:BirdJVincent.jpg,

File:Robert Roe Blacker (1845–1931).png,

File:Todd-Albert-M.jpg,

File:Edmond H. Barmore.png, Edmond H. Barmore

References

{{Michigan year nav

Office holders

State office holders

Mayors of major cities

Federal office holders

Population

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

Ice hockey

Other

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births

Gallery of 1931 births

Deaths

Gallery of 1931 deaths

See also

References