Events from the year 1945 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)/ Vernon J. Brown (Republican) * Michigan Attorney General:

(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: 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/Harold J. Stenglein

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:

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 ...

(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 1945.

Sports

Baseball

1945 Detroit Tigers season The 1945 Detroit Tigers was the team's 45th since they entered the American League in 1901. The team won the American League pennant, then went on to win the 1945 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 3. It was the second World Seri ...

– The Tigers compiled an 88-65 record, won the American League pennant, led the league with attendance of 1,280,341, and defeated the Chicago Cubs in the

. Pitcher Hal Newhouser compiled a 25-9 record and a 1.81 earned run average and won the American League Most Valuable Player award for the second consecutive year. The team's other statistical leaders included Hank Greenberg with a .311 batting average and

Roy Cullenbine Roy Joseph Cullenbine (October 18, 1913 – May 28, 1991) was an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Browns, Washin ...

with 90 RBIs. * 1945

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 20–1 record and won the Big Ten Conference championship.

Don Lund Donald Andrew Lund (May 18, 1923 – December 10, 2013) was an American professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1945, 1947–1948), St. Louis Browns (1948) and Detroit Tigers (1949, 1952–19 ...

was the team captain.

American football

1945 Detroit Lions season The 1945 Detroit Lions season was their 16th in the league. The Lions improved on their previous season's output of 6–3–1, winning seven games. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. Fullback Bob Westfall l ...

– Under head coach Gus Dorais, the Lions compiled a 7–3 record and finished in second place in the NFL's Western Conference. The team's statistical leaders included

Chuck Fenenbock Charles Bernard Fenenbock (August 28, 1917 – August 10, 1998) was an American football player who starred in college at UCLA, and professionally in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL), the National Football League (NFL), the ...

with 754 passing yards, Bob Westfall with 234 rushing yards, and John Greene with 550 receiving yards. *

1945 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1945 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1945 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth year under head coach was Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines compiled a 7–3 record (5–1 Big Ten) an ...

– Under head coach was Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines compiled a 7–3 record and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll. *

1945 Michigan State Spartans football team The 1945 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1945 college football season. In their 12th season under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 5–3–1 record. The Spar ...

– Under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 5–3–1 record. *

1945 Detroit Titans football team The 1945 Detroit Titans football team represented the University of Detroit as an independent during the 1945 college football season. In their first season under head coach Chuck Baer, the Titans compiled a 6–3 record and outscored their oppon ...

– Under head coach Chuck Baer, the Titans outscored their opponents by a combined total of 193 to 114 and compiled a 6–3 record.

Basketball

* 1944–45 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines compiled a 12–7 record. Robert Geahan was the team's leading scorer with 136 points in 19 games for an average of 7.2 points per game. * 1944–45 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under

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 9–7 record. * 1944–45

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 an 8–10 record. * 1944–45 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – Under head coach Lloyd Brazil, the Titans compiled an 8–12 record.

Ice hockey

1944–45 Detroit Red Wings season The 1945–46 season was the Detroit Red Wings' 19th season of operation. The season saw the Wings achieve a record of 31-14-5, finishing second in the National Hockey League (NHL), qualifying the team for the playoffs. The coach and general mana ...

– Under head coach Jack Adams, the Red Wings compiled a 31–14–5 record and finished second in the NHL. The team's statistical leaders included

Joe Carveth Joseph Gordon Carveth (March 21, 1918 – August 15, 1985) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings between 1940 and 1951. He was born in Regina, ...

with 26 goals and 54 points 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 36 assists. Harry Lumley was the team's principal goaltender.

Other

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 ...

Chuck Kocsis Charles R. Kocsis (January 27, 1913 – May 30, 2006) was an American amateur golfer. Kocsis was introduced to the game as a caddie at the Phoenix Country Club, which is now Rogell Municipal Golf Course. One of fourteen children, he grew up in the ...

won the tournament at Cascade Hills Country Club in Grand Rapids. * Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race –

Chronology of events

Births

* January 29 - Tom Selleck, actor ('' Magnum, P.I.'', '' Three Men and a Baby''), in Detroit * January 29 - Donna Caponi, professional golfer, winner of four major championships, and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, in Detroit * February 26 - Mitch Ryder, musician and leader of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels ("

Devil with a Blue Dress On "Devil with a Blue Dress On" (also known as "Devil with the Blue Dress") is a song written by Shorty Long and William "Mickey" Stevenson, first performed by Long and released as a single in 1964. A later version recorded by Mitch Ryder and The ...

"), in Detroit * March 11 - Harvey Mandel, one of the first rock guitarists to use two-handed fretboard tapping, in Detroit * March 29 -

George Blaha George Blaha (born March 26, 1945) is an American broadcaster. He has been the radio and television play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons since the 1976–77 NBA season. He currently is the lead play-by-play man on Bally Sports Detroit, bu ...

, radio and television play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons since 1976, in Detroit * March 31 - Mike Bass, cornerback for Washington Redskins (1969–1975), scored their only touchdown in

Super Bowl VII Super Bowl VII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for ...

, in Ypsilanti, Michigan * May 6 -

Bob Seger Robert Clark Seger ( ; born May 6, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and The Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s, break ...

, singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist (" Night Moves", " Old Time Rock and Roll"), in Detroit * June 6 - David Bonior, U.S. Congressman (1977–2003) and whip (1991–2002), in Detroit * June 25 - Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, U.S. Congresswoman (1997–2011) and mother of Kwame Kilpatrick, in Detroit * September 13 -

Rick Wise Richard Charles Wise (born September 13, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher between and for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red ...

, Major League Baseball pitcher (1980–1982) and 2× All-Star (1971, 1973), in

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approxi ...

* November 2 -

JD Souther John David "J. D." Souther (born November 2, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He has written and co-written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles. Souther is probably best known for his songwriting abilities, especi ...

, musician, singer-songwriter (" Best of My Love", Heartache Tonight", and "

You're Only Lonely ''You're Only Lonely'' is the third album by American singer-songwriter J. D. Souther, released in 1979. The title song charted as a single on ''Billboard'', reaching No.1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "White Rhythm & Blues" was covered by Linda ...

"), and actor, in Detroit * December 17 - Ernie Hudson, actor ('' Ghostbusters'' film series,

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...

's '' Oz''), in Benton Harbor, Michigan

Gallery of 1945 births

File:DavidEBonior.jpg, David Bonior File:Ernie Hudson 2014.jpg, Ernie Hudson File:Carolyn Cheeks Kirkpatrick, official portrait, 111th Congress.jpg, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick File:Harveymandel.jpg, Harvey Mandel File:Mitch Ryder(ThKraft).jpg, Mitch Ryder File:Tom Selleck - publicity - 1980-1.jpg, Tom Selleck File:JD Souther.JPG,

Deaths

* January 31 -

Eddie Slovik Edward Donald Slovik (February 18, 1920January 31, 1945) was a United States Army soldier during World War II and the only American soldier to be court-martialled and executed for desertion since the American Civil War. Although over 21,000 Amer ...

, only American soldier to be court-martialled and executed for desertion since the American Civil War, at age 24 by execution in France * May 21 - Horace B. Carpenter, actor, film director and, screenwriter, at age 70 in Hollywood * October 3 - Truman Handy Newberry, U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1908–1909) and U.S. Senator (1919–1922), at age 80 in Detroit

References

{{Michigan year nav

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