Events from the year 1937 in Michigan.

Office holders

State office holders

* Governor of Michigan: Frank Murphy (Democrat) *

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 ...

: Thomas Read (Republican)/

Leo J. Nowicki Leo J. Nowicki (February 17, 1904 – September 5, 1990) was an American politician who served as the 41st lieutenant governor of Michigan The lieutenant governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind th ...

(Democrat) * Michigan Attorney General:

Raymond Wesley Starr Raymond Wesley Starr (August 24, 1888 – November 2, 1968) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Education and career Born in Harbor Springs, Michigan, Starr received a Bac ...

* Michigan Secretary of State: Leon D. Case (Democrat) * Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: George A. Schroeder (Democrat) * Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court:

Mayors of major cities

* Mayor of Detroit: Frank Couzens (Republican) *

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 ...

: Tunis Johnson * Mayor of Flint: Harold E. Bradshaw *

Mayor of Saginaw This is a list of mayors of Saginaw, Michigan. City of East Saginaw 1859–1889 The City of East Saginaw was incorporated in 1859 and existed until it was consolidated with the City of Saginaw in 1889 (effective 1890). The City Charter was granted ...

: Frank Marxer/Francis J. McDonald *

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 * ...

: Max A. Templeton *

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 ...

: Robert A. Campbell/

Walter C. Sadler Walter Clifford Sadler (1891–1959) was a politician and academic from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He served two terms as mayor of Ann Arbor, from 1937 to 1941, and was elected unopposed in 1939. He was on the faculty at the University of Michigan where ...

Federal office holders

* U.S. Senator from Michigan:

Prentiss M. Brown Prentiss Marsh Brown (June 18, 1889December 19, 1973) was a Democratic U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of Michigan. Biography Brown was born in St. Ignace, Michigan and attended the public schools there. He attended the Uni ...

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

George G. Sadowski George Gregory Sadowski (March 12, 1903 – October 9, 1961) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms in the United States House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Michigan from 1933 to 1939. Early life and education Sa ...

(Democrat) * House District 2: Earl C. Michener (Republican) * House District 3: Paul W. Shafer (Republican) * House District 4:

Clare Hoffman Clare Eugene Hoffman (September 10, 1875 – November 3, 1967) was a United States representative from Michigan's 4th congressional district. Background Hoffman was born in Vicksburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public s ...

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

Andrew J. Transue Andrew Jackson Transue (January 12, 1903 – June 24, 1995) was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1937 to 1939. Early life and career Tr ...

(Democrat) *

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 ...

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:

Fred L. Crawford Fred Lewis Crawford (May 5, 1888 – April 13, 1957) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Crawford was born in Dublin, Texas and attended local public schools. He went to business college at Peniel (now part of Greenville, Texas), an ...

(Republican) * House District 9:

Albert J. Engel Albert Joseph Engel (January 1, 1888 – December 2, 1959) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Biography Engel was born in New Washington, Ohio. He attended the public schools in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, and the Centra ...

(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:

John F. Luecke John Frederick Luecke (July 4, 1889 – March 21, 1952) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Luecke was born in Escanaba, Michigan to Germany, German immigrants and attended the public elementary schools. He was employed as a com ...

(Democrat) * House District 12:

Frank Eugene Hook Frank Eugene Hook (May 26, 1893 – June 21, 1982) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Hook was born in L'Anse, Michigan and graduated from L'Anse High School in 1912. He attended the College of Law of the University of Detro ...

(Democrat) * House District 13:

George D. O'Brien George Donoghue O'Brien (January 1, 1900 – October 25, 1957) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives on three separate occasions. Early life and education O'Brien was born in ...

(Republican) * House District 14:

Louis C. Rabaut Louis Charles Rabaut (December 5, 1886 – November 12, 1961) was an American lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic congressman representing Michigan's 14th congressional distr ...

(Democrat) * House District 15:

John D. Dingell Sr. John David Dingell Sr. (February 2, 1894 – September 19, 1955) was an American politician who represented Michigan's 15th congressional district from 1933 to 1955. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He was the father of the longest-serv ...

(Democrat) * House District 16:

John Lesinski Sr. John Lesinski Sr. (January 3, 1885 – May 27, 1950) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was the father of John Lesinski Jr., who succeeded him in the United States House of Representatives. Early life Lesinski was born in Erie ...

(Democrat) * House District 17:

George Anthony Dondero George Anthony Dondero (December 16, 1883 – January 29, 1968) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan. Background Dondero was born on a farm in Greenfield Township, Michigan, which has since become part of ...

(Republican)

Population

Sports

Baseball

1937 Detroit Tigers season The 1937 Detroit Tigers finished in second place in the American League with a record of 89–65. The team finished 13 games behind the New York Yankees. Their winning percentage of .578 ranks as the 15th best season in Detroit Tigers history. ...

– Under player-manager

Mickey Cochrane Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane (April 6, 1903 – June 28, 1962), nicknamed "Black Mike", was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detro ...

, the Tigers compiled an 89-65 record and finished in second place in the American League. Second baseman

Charlie Gehringer Charles Leonard Gehringer (May 11, 1903 – January 21, 1993), nicknamed "the Mechanical Man", was an American professional baseball second baseman, coach, general manager, and team vice president, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for t ...

led the league with a .371 batting average and was selected as the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP). First baseman Hank Greenberg led the league with 184 RBIs and 104 extra base hits and finished third in the MVP voting. Four Tigers ranked among the league's top 10 in batting average: Gehringer (.371), Greenberg (.337), Gee Walker (.335), and

Pete Fox Ervin "Pete" Fox (March 8, 1909 – July 5, 1966) was an American professional baseball player from 1930 to 1946. He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, principally as a right fielder, for the Detroit Tigers from 1933 to 1940 and th ...

(.331). Roxie Lawson led the pitching staff with 18 wins, and Elden Auker led with a 3.88 earned run average. * 1937

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 16–9 record. Lyle Williams was the team captain.

American football

1937 Detroit Lions season The Detroit Lions season was their eighth in the National Football League (NFL) and fourth in Detroit. The team failed to improve on their 1936 Detroit Lions season, previous season's output of 8–4, winning only seven games, and did not q ...

– Under head coach

Potsy Clark George M. "Potsy" Clark (March 20, 1894 – November 8, 1972) was an American football and baseball player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Michigan Agricultural College, now Michigan State University, ( ...

, the Lions compiled a 7–4 record and placed second in the NFL's Western Division. The team's statistical leaders included Bill Shepherd with 297 passing yards, Dutch Clark with 468 rushing yards and 45 points scored, and

Ed Klewicki Edward Leonard Klewicki (May 6, 1912 – July 20, 1997) was an American football player. Of Polish descent, he is in the National Polish-American Hall of Fame. Klewicki was born in Pittsburgh and moved to Hamtramck, Michigan with his family at ...

with 134 receiving yards. *

1937 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1937 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1937 Big Ten Conference football season. In their ninth season under head coach Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a 4 ...

– The Wolverines compiled a 4–4 record under head coach Harry Kipke. *

1937 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1937 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1937 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled an 8–2 record and won th ...

– Under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled an 8–2 record and lost to Auburn in the

1938 Orange Bowl The 1938 Orange Bowl was a college football bowl game between the Auburn Tigers and Michigan State Spartans played at Burdine Stadium in Miami, Florida, on January 1, 1938. It was the fourth Orange Bowl, and the first held in the stadium. The Tige ...

. *

1937 Detroit Titans football team The 1937 Detroit Titans football team represented the University of Detroit as an independent during the 1937 college football season. In their 13th year under head coach Gus Dorais, the Titans compiled a 7–3 record, shut out five opponents, ...

– The Titans compiled a 7–3 record under head coach Gus Dorais. *

1937 Wayne Tartars football team The 1937 Wayne Tartars football team represented Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1937 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Joe Gembis Joseph George Gembis (September ...

– The Tartars compiled a 6–2 record under head coach

Joe Gembis Joseph George Gembis (September 29, 1907 – July 5, 1969), sometimes known by the nickname "Dynamite Joe", was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1926 to 1929 and professional fo ...

. *

1937 Central Michigan Bearcats football team The 1937 Central Michigan Bearcats football team represented Central Michigan College of Education, later renamed Central Michigan University, as an independent during the 1937 college football season. In their first season under head coach Ron ...

- Under head coach

Ron Finch Ronald W. Finch (October 19, 1902 – April 19, 1962) was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Central Michigan University from 1937 to 1946, compiling a record of 54–18–1. Finch was also the head ...

the Bercats compiled a 6–2 record. * 1937 Western State Hilltoppers football team - Under head coach Mike Gary, the Hilltoppers compiled a 5–3 record. *

1937 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team The 1937 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team represented Michigan State Normal College (later renamed Eastern Michigan University) during the 1937 college football season. In their 16th season under head coach Elton Rynearson, the Hurons ...

- Under head coach Elton Rynearson, the Hurons compiled a 5–2–1 record.

Basketball

* 1936–37

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 13–4 record. * 1936–37 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – Under head coach Lloyd Brazil, the Titans compiled an 11–5 record. *

1936–37 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team The 1936–37 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate basketball during the 1936–37 season. The team compiled a 16–4 record, and 9–3 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 16–4 record.

Johnny Gee John Alexander "Johnny" Gee, Jr. (December 7, 1915 – January 23, 1988), sometimes known as "Long John Gee" and "Whiz", was a professional baseball and basketball player. Gee played Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 19 ...

was the team captain, and John "Jake" Townsend was the team's high scorer with 191 points. * 1936–37 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 5–12 record. * 1936–37

Wayne Tartars The Wayne State Warriors are the athletic teams that represent Wayne State University, located in Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sporting competitions. The Warriors compete as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegi ...

men's basketball team – Under coach Newman Ertell, Wayne compiled a 13–4 record.

Ice hockey

1936–37 Detroit Red Wings season The 1936–37 Detroit Red Wings season was the 11th season for the Detroit franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the fifth operating as the Red Wings. In their 10th season under head coach Jack Adams, the Red Wings compiled a 25–14� ...

– 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 Red Wings compiled a 25–14–9 record, finished in first place in the National Hockey League (NHL) American Division, and defeated the New York Rangers in the

1937 Stanley Cup Finals The 1937 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers in their fifth Finals series appearance. Detroit would win the series 3–2 to win their second and second-straight Stanley Cup. Paths ...

. The team's statistical leaders included Larry Aurie with 23 goals and

Marty Barry Martin James "Goal-a-Game" Barry (December 8, 1905 – August 20, 1969) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the New York Americans, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League ...

with 27 assists 44 points and Herbie Lewis with 23 assists.

Normie Smith Norman Eugene Smith (March 18, 1908 – February 2, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Maroons and the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League. Rookie career Smith enjoyed much success in h ...

was the team's goaltender. * 1936–37 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 an 11–6–1 record. * 1936–37 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – Under head coach Bert Noblet, the Huskies compiled a 7–8–3 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 ...

- * APBA Gold Cup –

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births

* March 6 -

Ivan Boesky Ivan Frederick Boesky (born March 6, 1937) is a former American stock trader who became infamous for his prominent role in an insider trading scandal that occurred in the United States during the mid-1980s. He was charged and pled guilty to insid ...

, stock trader known for role in insider trading scandal in the mid-1980s, in Detroit * March 25 -

Tom Monaghan Thomas Stephen Monaghan (born March 25, 1937) is an American entrepreneur who founded Domino's Pizza in 1960. He owned the Detroit Tigers from 1983 to 1992. Monaghan also owns the Domino's Farms Office Park, located in the Ann Arbor Charter Town ...

, founder and owner of Domino's Pizza (1959-1998), owner of

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

(1983-1992), in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Washtenaw County. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor ...

* April 2 - Dick Radatz, Major League Baseball pitcher (1962–1969), in Detroit * April 6 - Phil Regan, Major League Baseball pitcher (1960–1972), known as "The Vulture", in Otsego, Michigan * April 14 -

Paul Kangas Paul Henry Kangas (April 14, 1937 – February 28, 2017) was the Miami-based co-anchor of the PBS television program ''Nightly Business Report'', a role he held from 1979, when the show was a local PBS program in Miami, through December 31, 2009. ...

, co-anchor of PBS' '' Nightly Business Report'' (1979-2009), in

Houghton, Michigan Houghton (; ) is the largest city and seat of government of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the Keweenaw Peninsula, Houghton is the largest city in the Copper Country region. It is the fifth-largest city in the Uppe ...

* April 16 - George Steele, professional wrestler and actor ('' Ed Wood'', in Detroit * May 4 -

Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded nu ...

, jazz double bassist, member of the Miles Davis Quintet in the early 1960s, the most recorded bassist in history, in Ferndale, Michigan * August 5 - Gordon Johncock, racing driver, 2x winner of the Indianapolis 500, in Hastings, Michigan * August 27 - Alice Coltrane, jazz pianist, organist, harpist, singer, composer, swamini, and second wife of John Coltrane, in Detroit * August 29 -

Chuck Shonta Charles Shonta (born August 29, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Boston Patriots of the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Eastern Mic ...

AFL cornerback (1960–1967), in Detroit

Gallery of 1937 births

Deaths

* January 20 - Michael Gallagher, Archbishop of Detroit (1918-1937), at age 70 in Detroit * March 7 -

Lady Baldwin Charles B. "Lady" Baldwin (April 8, 1859 – March 7, 1937) was an American left-handed pitcher. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers (1884), Detroit Wolverines (1885–1888), Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1890), and ...

, Major League Baseball pitcher (1884-1890) who won 42 games for the Detroit Wolverines in 1886, at age 77 in Hastings, Michigan * April 14 - Ned Hanlon, member of

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

who played for Detroit Wolverines (1881-1888), in

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...

* April 25 -

Clem Sohn Clements Joseph Sohn (December 7, 1910 – April 25, 1937) was an American airshow dare-devil in the 1930s from Fowler, Michigan, USA. He perfected a way of gliding through the air with a home-made wingsuit. He had himself dropped from an airpla ...

, air show daredevil, at age 26 in France * July 2-

Joe Yeager Joseph Francis Yeager (August 28, 1875 – June 29, 1937), nicknamed "Little Joe", was an American professional baseball infielder and pitcher. He played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas, Detroit Tig ...

, Major League Baseball player (1898-1908) who led the Detroit Tigers with a 2.61 ERA in 1901, in Detroit

Gallery of 1937 deaths

References

{{Michigan year nav