Events from the year 1944 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 ...

/ Edwin C. McLogan *

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 ...

: 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:

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 1944.

Sports

Baseball

1944 Detroit Tigers season The 1944 Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the American League with a record of 88–66, just one game behind the first place St. Louis Browns. Offseason * October 11, 1943: Rip Radcliff was ...

– The Tigers compiled an 88–66 record and finished one game behind the St. Louis Browns. The team had one of the best pitching staffs in club history. Hal Newhouser was selected as the American League Most Valuable Player after compiling a 29–9 record and leading the league with 187 strikeouts.

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 ...

finished second in the AL MVP voting after leading the league with a 2.12 earned run average, 33 complete games, and seven shutouts. The team's batting leaders included first baseman Rudy York with 18 home runs and 98 RBIs and

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 .355 batting average. * 1944

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 15–4–1 record and won the Big Ten Conference championship. Howard Wike was the team captain.

American football

1944 Detroit Lions season The 1944 Detroit Lions season was their 15th in the league. The team improved on their previous season's output of 3–6–1, winning six games. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. Schedule Note: Intra-di ...

– Under head coach Gus Dorais, the Lions compiled a 6–3–1 record and finished second in the NFL's Western Conference. Frankie Sinkwich led the team with 1,060 passing yards and 563 rushing yards. Bob Westfall added 342 passing yards and 277 rushing yards. *

1944 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1944 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1944 Big Ten Conference football season. Under seventh-year head coach Fritz Crisler, Michigan compiled a record of 8–2 (5–2 Big Ten Conference), outsc ...

– Under head coach Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents 204 to 91, finished in second place in the

Big Nine Conference The Big Nine Conference, formerly the Big Eight Conference, was a high school sports conference in Genesee County, Michigan, that ended with four high schools in 2012. History Formed in 1960 as the Big Eight Conference, the conference became th ...

, and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll. Tackle Milan Lazetich, quarterback

Joe Ponsetto Joseph Ponsetto (March 29, 1926 – November 24, 2004) was an American football player who was the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams of 1944 and 1945. Playing under head coach Fritz Crisler, Ponset ...

, and fullback

Bob Wiese Robert Lee Wiese (January 25, 1923 – November 19, 1971) was an American football player. He played college football for Fritz Crisler's University of Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1946—missing the 1945 season du ...

were selected as first-team players on the All-Big Ten Conference team. * 1944 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 6–1 record and outscored opponents 167 to 31. *

1944 Western Michigan Broncos football team The 1944 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Michigan College of Education (later renamed Western Michigan University) as an independent during the 1944 college football season. In their third 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 4–3 record and outscored their opponents, 162 to 123. * 1944 Central Michigan Chippewas football team - 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 5–2 record and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 150 to 106.

Basketball

* 1943–44

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. *

1943–44 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team The 1943–44 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate basketball during the 1943–44 season. In their sixth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines finished the s ...

– Under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines finished the season in a tie for sixth place in the

with a 12–7 record.

Dave Strack David H. Strack (March 2, 1923 – January 25, 2014) was an American athletic director for the University of Arizona and head basketball coach of the University of Michigan. He was inducted to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Early life Stra ...

was the team's acting captain and led the team in scoring with 194 points. * 1943–44 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – Under head coach Lloyd Brazil, the Titans compiled a 13–7 record.

Ice hockey

1943–44 Detroit Red Wings season The 1943–44 Detroit Red Wings season was the 18th season of the Detroit NHL franchise. The Red Wings qualified for the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Chicago Black Hawks. Offseason Regular season Final standings Record vs. op ...

– 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 26–18–6 record, finished second in the NHL, and lost to the

Chicago Black Hawks (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

in the playoffs.

Carl Liscombe Harry Carlyle Liscombe (May 17, 1914 – February 24, 2004) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings between 1937 and 1946. With Detroit he won the Stanley Cup in 1943. He also won the ...

led the team with 36 goals, 37 assists, and 73 points.

Connie Dion Joseph Conrad Étienne Dion (August 11, 1918 – November 7, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played two seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings between 1943 and 1945. One of thirteen childre ...

and Jimmy Franks were the goaltenders. * 1943–44 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – The Wolverines compiled a 5–3 record 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 ...

Other

Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He rei ...

- On November 14, in his first fight since 1942, Detroit's

defeated Johnny Davis by a knockout after 53 seconds of the first round before 7,107 spectators at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. Louis fought while on a 21-day furlough from his Army service. *

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 ...

Sam Byrd Samuel Dewey Byrd (October 5, 1906 – May 11, 1981) was an American professional baseball outfielder and professional golfer. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and on the PGA Tour. Byrd is the only person to play in both the World Series ...

won the tournament at Orchard Lake on August 6. * Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race – On July 15, the ''Manitour'', a 64-foot yawl skippered by James H. Grove, crossed the finish line first with an elapsed time of 43:08.18. The sloop ''Vitesse II'' won the racing-cruiser division.

Chronology of events

Births

* January 13 –

Larry Jaster Larry Edward Jaster (born January 13, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher between 1965 and 1972 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos and the Atlanta ...

, Major League Baseball pitcher (1965–1972), in Midland, Michigan * January 16 – Katherine Anderson, original member of the girl group '' The Marvelettes'', in Ann Arbor * February 6 –

Georgeanna Tillman The Marvelettes were an American girl group that achieved popularity in the early to mid-1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who ...

, original member of the girl group '' The Marvelettes'', in Inkster, Michigan * March 26 -

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...

, singer, songwriter, and actress, and the lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes, in Detroit * April 20 –

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

, NASCAR

Winston Cup Series The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. ...

driver (1979–1983), in Warren, Michigan * May 5 – Larry Brilliant, epidemiologist involved in eradicating smallpox, in Detroit * June 8 –

Ken Wilburn Kenneth Eugene Wilburn (June 8, 1944 – October 6, 2016) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Central State Marauders from 1962 to 1966 and set a career scoring record. He led the team to an Nationa ...

, professional basketball player (1966–1979), in River Rouge, Michigan * July 12 –

Denise Nicholas Denise Donna Nicholas (born July 12, 1944) is an American actress, author, and social activist. Nicholas is known primarily for her roles as high-school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series ''Room 222'' and Councilwoma ...

, actress ('' Room 222'', '' In the Heat of the Night'') and civil rights activist, in Detroit * July 14 –

Ike Kelley Dwight Allen "Ike" Kelley (born July 14, 1944) is a former American football linebacker who played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 17th round of the 1966 ...

, NFL linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles (1966–1973), in Ludington, Michigan * July 22 – Mel Daniels, professional basketball player (1967–1976) and 2× ABA MVP (1969, 1971), in Detroit * July 26 – Micki King, gold medalist in springboard diving at 1972 Summer Olympics, in Pontiac * July 31 –

Henry Akin Henry Troutt Akin Jr. (July 31, 1944 – February 16, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Morehead State Eagles men's basketball, Morehead State Eagles where he was a two-time first-team all-c ...

, professional basketball player (1966–1969), in Detroit * August 28 –

Morry Taylor Maurice Taylor Jr. (born August 28, 1944) is the President and Chief executive officer of Titan International, a tire and wheel manufacturing company. Taylor, nicknamed "the Grizz" for his bear-like gruffness, started in tool and die manufactur ...

, president and CEO of

Titan International The Titan Tire Corporation is an American tire corporation formed in 1993 by Maurice M. Taylor Jr., then owner of Titan Wheel, purchased the Dyneer Corporation, manufacturer various off-road tires. Titan is one of the largest manufacturer of of ...

, in Detroit * September 16 –

Michael McCoy Michael McCoy (born September 16, 1944, in Eaton Rapids, Michigan) is an American industrial designer and educator who has made significant contributions to American design and design education in the latter half of the 20th century. McCoy is b ...

, industrial designer and educator, in

Eaton Rapids, Michigan Eaton Rapids is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,214 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the south of Eaton Rapids Township, on the boundary with Hamlin Township, though it is politically indep ...

* September 18 – Terry Rakolta, anti-

obscenity An obscenity is any utterance or act that strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time. It is derived from the Latin ''obscēnus'', ''obscaenus'', "boding ill; disgusting; indecent", of uncertain etymology. Such loaded language can be use ...

activist who led a 1989 boycott of '' Married... with Children'', in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan * September 19 – Michael Barone, conservative political analyst, pundit and journalism, in Highland Park, Michigan * September 26 –

Doug Graber Douglas Graber (born September 26, 1944) is a former American football coach. He graduated from Wayne State University (1966) in Detroit, Michigan. He began his coaching career at St. Frances Cabrini Elementary School and High School in Allen Par ...

, American football coach, including head coach for Rutgers (1990–1995) and

Frankfurt Galaxy Two American football franchises have been referred to as the Frankfurt Galaxy: * Frankfurt Galaxy (NFL Europe), active in NFL Europe between 1991 and 2007 * Frankfurt Galaxy (ELF) The Frankfurt Galaxy is an American football team in Frankfurt, ...

(2001–2003), in Detroit * September 28 – Marcia Muller, author of fictional mystery and thriller novels (''Vanishing Point''), in Detroit * November 14 –

Tom McEvoy Thomas K. McEvoy (born November 14, 1944, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a professional poker player, author and member of the Poker Hall of Fame, 2013 inductee. He is best known for winning the 1983 World Series of Poker Main Event. Early life ...

, professional poker player and member of the Poker Hall of Fame, in Grand Rapids * December 12 – Rob Tyner, lead singer for the Detroit proto-punk band

MC5 MC5, also commonly called The MC5, is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The original line-up consisted of Rob Tyner (vocals) Wayne Kramer (guitar), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis ...

known for his rallying cry of "kick out the jams, motherfuckers" at the band's live concerts

Deaths

* April 20 - Elmer Gedeon, track and baseball player at University of Michigan, at age 27, shot down in France * December 25 - Frank Murphy, 44th

(1941-1942), at age 47, in Detroit

References

{{Michigan year nav

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