Events from the year 1943 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 ...

: Harry Kelly ( 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 ...

: Eugene C. Keyes (Republican) * Michigan Attorney General:

Herbert J. Rushton Herbert J. Rushton (February 14, 1877December 11, 1947) was a Michigan politician. Early life Rushton was born in Manchester, Michigan, on February 14, 1877, to parents Thomas F. and Mary Rushton. Rushton was of English and Irish descent. Edu ...

(Republican) * Michigan Secretary of State: Herman H. Dignan (Republican) * Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives:

Howard Nugent Howard Nugent (1879-1952) was a US Republican politician from Michigan who served in the Michigan House of Representatives and was the longest-tenured Speaker in its history. Nugent was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan The lieu ...

(Republican) * Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court:

Mayors of major cities

* Mayor of Detroit: Edward Jeffries (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 ...

George W. Welsh George W. Welsh was a Republican politician from Michigan who served as the 37th lieutenant governor of Michigan, in the Michigan House of Representatives including as its Speaker during the 52nd Legislature, and as the mayor of Grand Rapids, Mic ...

(Republican) * Mayor of Flint:

William Osmund Kelly William Osmund Kelly (December 10, 1909 – July 1974) was an American politician who served as mayor of Flint, Michigan. He also filled the position of President for Saint Matthew Men's Club, the Flint Bowling Association and the Michigan Cha ...

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 * ...

Ralph Crego Ralph William Crego (September 2, 1893 – May 28, 1989) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Lansing, Michigan from 1943 to 1961. Crego was born at Fife Lake, Michigan, and moved to Lansing at age 21. He attended Lansing Busines ...

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 ...

: William J. Brydges/Eric F. Wieneke

Federal office holders

* U.S. Senator from Michigan:

Homer S. Ferguson Homer Samuel Ferguson (February 25, 1889December 17, 1982) was an American attorney, professor, judge, United States senator from Michigan, Ambassador to the Philippines, and later a judge on the United States Court of Military Appeals. Educa ...

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

Rudolph G. Tenerowicz Rudolph Gabriel Tenerowicz (June 14, 1890 – August 31, 1963) was an American physician and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1943. Early life Tenerowicz ...

(Democrat)/

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: Bartel J. Jonkman (Republican) * House District 6:

William W. Blackney William Wallace Blackney (August 28, 1876 – March 14, 1963) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served eight terms in the United States House of Representatives. Early life and education Blackney was born in Clio, Michigan, a ...

(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 ...

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:

Frederick Van Ness Bradley Frederick Van Ness Bradley (April 12, 1898 – May 24, 1947) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 11th congressional district from 1939 until his death in 1947. He was a member of the Republican Party. ...

(Republican) * House District 12:

John B. Bennett John Bonifas Bennett (January 10, 1904 – August 9, 1964) was an American lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1947 to 1964. Early life and education Bennett was bo ...

(Republican) * 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 ...

(Democrat) * 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

Companies

The following is a list of major companies based in Michigan in 1943.

Sports

Baseball

1943 Detroit Tigers season The 1943 Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 78–76, 20 games behind the New York Yankees. Offseason * November 2, 1942: Johnny Welaj was drafted from the T ...

– The Tigers compiled a 78–76 record and finished in fifth place in the American League. The team's statistical leaders included

Dick Wakefield Richard Cummings Wakefield (May 6, 1921 – August 25, 1985) was a left fielder in Major League Baseball for 9 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1941, 1943–1944, 1946–1949), New York Yankees (1950), and New York Giants (1952). Wakefield was ...

with a .316 batting average, Rudy York with 34 home runs and 118 RBIs,

Dizzy Trout Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout (June 29, 1915 – February 28, 1972) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from to , most notably as a member of the Detroit Tigers team that finishe ...

with 20 wins, and

Tommy Bridges Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges (December 28, 1906 – April 19, 1968) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946. During the 1930s, he used an outstanding cu ...

with a 2.39 earned run average. * 1943

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 an 8–4 record. Don Robinson was the team captain.

American football

1943 Detroit Lions season The 1943 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League. The team finished at 3–6–1, an improvement on their previous season's output of 0–11. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the eighth con ...

– Under head coach Gus Dorais, the Lions compiled a 3–6–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Frankie Sinkwich with 699 passing yards and 266 rushing yards and Harry Hopp with 54 points scored. *

1943 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1943 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1943 Big Ten Conference football season. Fritz Crisler, in his sixth year as head coach, led the team to an 8–1 record and a tie with Purdue for the W ...

– Under head coach Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–1 record, tied with Purdue for the Big Ten Conference championship, and were ranked No. 3 in the final AP Poll. Fullback Bill Daley finished seventh in the voting for the

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

and was selected as a consensus All-American. *

1943 Central Michigan Chippewas football team The 1943 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan College of Education, later renamed Central Michigan University, as an independent during the 1943 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach ...

- 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 Chippewas compiled a 2–3 record, were shut out in all three losses, and were outscored by all opponents by a combined total of 69 to 20. * 1943 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team - Under head coach Elton Rynearson, the Hurons compiled an undefeated record of 2–0, playing two games against Wayne State and winning both games by identical 14–0 scores. *

1943 Western Michigan Broncos football team The 1943 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Michigan College of Education (later renamed Western Michigan University) as an independent during the 1943 college football season. In their second season under head coach John Gill ...

- Under head coach

John Gill John Gill may refer to: Sports *John Gill (cricketer) (1854–1888), New Zealand cricketer *John Gill (coach) (1898–1997), American football coach *John Gill (footballer, born 1903), English professional footballer *John Gill (American football) ...

, the Broncos compiled a 4–2 record and outscored their opponents, 151 to 89.

Basketball

* 1942–43 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines compiled a 10–8 record. * 1942–43

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 15-4 record. * 1942–43 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – Under head coach Lloyd Brazil, the Titans compiled a 15-5 record.

Ice hockey

1942–43 Detroit Red Wings season The 1942–43 NHL season, 1942–43 Detroit Red Wings season was the 17th season (sports), season of the Detroit NHL franchise, eleventh as the 'Red Wings.' The highlight of the Red Wings season was winning the Stanley Cup. Offseason Regula ...

– Under head 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 25-14-11 record, finished first in the NHL, and defeated the Boston Bruins, four games to zero, in the

1943 Stanley Cup Finals The 1943 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings, appearing in their third straight Finals, swept the series 4–0 to win their third Stanley Cup. Paths to the Finals Boston ...

. Sid Abel was the team captain, and the team's statistical leaders included

Mud Bruneteau Modere Fernand "Mud" Bruneteau (November 28, 1914 – April 15, 1982) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League between 1935 and 1946. He was teammates for a time with his br ...

with 23 goals and

Syd Howe Sydney Harris Howe (September 18, 1911 – May 20, 1976) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Howe played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Eagl ...

with 35 assists and 55 points.

Johnny Mowers John Thomas "Mum" Mowers (October 29, 1916 – December 7, 1995) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1940 and 1947. In 1943 he won the Vezina Trophy for allowing th ...

was the goaltender. * 1942–43 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – The team compiled a 1–10–2 record under 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 ...

. * 1942–43 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – The team compiled a 1–9 record under coach

Elwin Romnes Elwin Nelson "Doc" Romnes (January 1, 1907 – July 21, 1984) was an American ice hockey player and coach. He played professionally in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Americans from ...

Other

Chronology of events

* April 1–8 - The

took place in Detroit and Boston. The Red Wings won the series, four games to zero. * June 20–22 - The Detroit race riot of 1943 took place. The rioting began among youths at

Belle Isle Park Belle Isle Park, known simply as Belle Isle (), is a island park in Detroit, Michigan, developed in the late 19th century. It consists of Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River, as well as several surrounding islets. The U.S.-Canada border ...

on June 20, 1943; the unrest moved into the city and was exacerbated by false rumors of racial attacks in both the black and white communities. It continued until June 22. It was suppressed after 6,000 federal troops were ordered into the city to restore peace. A total of 34 people were killed, 25 of them black and most at the hands of white police or National Guardsmen; 433 were wounded, 75 percent of them black; and property valued at $2 million ($27.5 million in 2015 US dollars) was destroyed, most of it in the black area of Paradise Valley, the poorest neighborhood of the city.Dominic J. Capeci, Jr., and Martha Wilkerson, "The Detroit Rioters of 1943: A Reinterpretation"
''Michigan Historical Review,'' Jan 1990, Vol. 16 Issue 1, pp. 49-72.

Births

* January 15 - Mike Marshall, Major League Baseball pitcher (1967–1981) and 1974 Cy Young Award winner, in

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 7th congressional district. History Adrian was founded on June 18, 1826 by Addison Co ...

* February 5 - Craig Morton, NFL quarterback (1965–1982) and AFC Offensive Player of the Year (1977), in Flint * February 9 - Barbara Lewis, singer ("

Hello Stranger "Hello Stranger" is a 1963 hit single by Barbara Lewis, which spent two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart in ''Billboard'', crossing over to #3 on the pop chart. Original version "Hello Stranger" was written by Barbara Lewis herself, ...

", " Baby I'm Yours"), in Salem, Michigan * February 16 - Iris Gordy, music songwriter and producer who helped launch the careers of DeBarge, Teena Marie, and Rick James, in Detroit * March 10 -

Bruce Joel Rubin Bruce Joel Rubin (born March 10, 1943) is an American screenwriter, meditation teacher, and photographer. His films often explore themes of life and death with metaphysical and science fiction elements. Prominent among them are '' Jacob's Ladder' ...

, Academy Award winning screenwriter (''

Ghost A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...

''), in Detroit * March 11 - Peter Karmanos Jr., majority owner and chief executive officer of the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL, in Detroit * April 5 - Max Gail, actor (Detective Wojciehowicz on '' Barney Miller''), in Detroit * May 13 - Mary Wells, singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s, in Detroit * June - Barbara Martin, one of the original members of The Supremes, in Detroit * June 6 - Merv Rettenmund, Major League Baseball outfielder (1968–1980), in Flint * June 30 - Florence Ballard, founding member of the Motown vocal group The Supremes, in Detroit * July 4 - Annette Beard, R&B and soul singer best known as an original member of the singing group

Martha and the Vandellas Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown. An act founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind ...

, in Detroit * July 18 - Calvin Peete, professional golfer, in Detroit * August 2 - Max Wright, actor, best known for his role as Willie Tanner on the sitcom '' ALF'', in Detroit * August 9 - Wanda Young, member and co-lead singer of the Motown singing group The Marvelettes, in Inkster, Michigan * September 2 - Rosalind Ashford, soprano R&B and soul singer, an original member of the Motown singing group

, in Detroit * September 21 - Jerry Bruckheimer, film and television producer ('' Beverly Hills Cop'', '' Flashdance'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Armageddon'', '' Black Hawk Down'', ''

Pirates of the Caribbean ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' is a Disney media franchise encompassing numerous theme park rides, a series of films, and spin-off novels, as well as a number of related video games and other media publications. The franchise originated with th ...

'' film series), in Detroit * December 26 - Fleming Williams, singer known as a member of the group

The Hues Corporation The Hues Corporation was an American pop and soul trio, formed in Santa Monica, California in 1969. They are best known for their 1974 single " Rock the Boat", which sold over 2 million copies. Group name and background Before achieving main ...

and as the lead singer on their hit "

Rock the Boat Rock the Boat may refer to: * "Rock the Boat" (The Hues Corporation song), 1974 * "Rock the Boat" (Aaliyah song), 2001 * "Rock the Boat" (Bob Sinclar song), featuring Pitbull, Dragonfly and Fatman Scoop, 2011 * ''Rock the Boat'', a 2000 televi ...

", in Flint

Deaths

* January 10 - ** George A. Schroeder, former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, at age 48 in Detroit ** Charles J. DeLand, Michigan Secretary of State (1921-1926), at age 63 in Detroit * January 15 -

Gustave Ferbert Gustave Herman Ferbert (July 22, 1873 – January 15, 1943), nicknamed "Dutch," was first a player (1893–1896) and then the head coach (1897–1899) for the University of Michigan American football team. In 1898, his Michigan team went 10–0 a ...

, player and head coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team (1893-1899) who left Ann Arbor for the Klondike Gold Rush, at age 69 in Cleveland * April 22 -

Luren Dickinson Luren Dudley Dickinson (April 15, 1859 – April 22, 1943) was an American politician. He served as the 37th governor of Michigan from 1939 to 1941. He holds the record of the oldest person to ever serve as Michigan governor, beginning at the age ...

, anti-liquor crusader and Governor of Michigan (1939-1941), at age 84 in

Charlotte, Michigan Charlotte ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County. Charlotte is in the central portion of the county, on the boundary between Eaton Township and C ...

* March 16 -

Paul Bunker Paul Delmont Bunker (May 7, 1881 – March 16, 1943) was an American football player and soldier. Bunker attended the U.S. Military Academy and became the first football player at West Point to be selected as a first-team All-American by Walter Ca ...

, Alpena native, All-American football player at West Point, and career Army officer who died as a Japanese POW, at age 61 in Formosa * May 3 - Harry Miller, race car designer, his "Miller Specials" won the Indianapolis 500 11 times, at age 67 in Detroit * May 7 -

Bill Coughlin William Paul Coughlin (July 12, 1878 – May 7, 1943), was a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Washington Senators (1901–1904) and Detroit Tigers (1904–1908). Coughlin spent his entire adult life (1899–1943) playing and coaching ...

, third baseman for the Washington Senators (1901–1904) and Detroit Tigers (1904–1908), at age 64 in Scranton, Pennsylvania * May 26 -

, President of Ford Motor Co. (1919-1943), at age 49 in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan * August 16 - Albert Benbrook, All-American lineman at Michigan (1909-1910), at age 55 in Dallas * December 14 - John Harvey Kellogg, medical doctor who ran a sanitarium with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas, and exercise, best known for the invention of corn flakes, at age 91 in

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, Michigan, Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle C ...

References

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