Events from the year 1951 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 ...

G. Mennen Williams Gerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams (February 23, 1911 – February 2, 1988) was an American politician who served as the List of governors of Michigan, 41st governor of Michigan, elected in 1948 and serving six two-year terms in office. He lat ...

(

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

) *

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 ...

: John W. Connolly (Democrat)/

William C. Vandenberg William C. Vandenberg Sr. (October 3, 1884June 9, 1971) was the 49th lieutenant governor of Michigan. Early life Vandenberg was born on October 3, 1884, in Holland, Michigan. Vandenberg graduated Holland High School in 1904, and then started ...

( Republican) * Michigan Attorney General:

Stephen John Roth Stephen John Roth (April 21, 1908 – July 11, 1974) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Education and career Born on April 21, 1908, in Hungary, Roth received a Bachelor ...

Frank Millard Frank Gurnee Millard (March 1, 1892 – November 12, 1976) was an American politician and football player. __FORCETOC__ Early life and education Millard was born in Corunna, Michigan, in 1892, the son of Frank A. Millard and Emma (Gurnee) M ...

(Republican) * Michigan Secretary of State: Frederick M. Alger Jr. (Republican) * Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives:

Victor A. Knox Victor Alfred Knox (January 13, 1899 – December 13, 1976) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served six terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1965. Early life and education Knox was born on a farm i ...

(Republican) * Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court:

Mayors of major cities

* Mayor of Detroit:

Albert Cobo Albert Eugene Cobo (October 2, 1893 – September 12, 1957) was an American politician who served as mayor of Detroit from 1950 to 1957. Early and personal life Albert Cobo was born in Detroit on October 2, 1893. He married his childhood sweet ...

(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 ...

Paul G. Goebel Paul Gordon Goebel (May 28, 1901 – January 26, 1988) was an American football end who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1920 to 1922. He was an All-American in 1921 and was the team's captain in 1922. He played profession ...

* Mayor of Flint:

Paul Lovegrove Paul Lovegrove was a Michigan politician. Political life The Flint City Commission selected Lovegrove as mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide ...

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 ...

: Edwin W. Koepke/William R. Hart * Mayor of

Dearborn Dearborn may refer to: People * Dearborn (surname) ** Henry Dearborn (1751–1829), U.S. Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson, Senior Officer of the U.S. Army during the War of 1812 Places in the United States Forts * Fort Dearborn, ...

Orville L. Hubbard Orville Liscum Hubbard (April 2, 1903 – December 16, 1982) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan from 1942 to 1978. Hubbard was an effective administrator who served 15 consecutive terms while being national ...

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 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 ...

William E. Brown Jr. William Ellis Brown Jr. (May 1, 1896December 8, 1970) was a Michigan politician. Brown was born on May 1, 1896, in Lapeer, Michigan, to parents William E. Brown Sr. and Grace Brown. Brown served in the United States Army during World War I. Bro ...

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)/

Blair Moody Arthur Edson Blair Moody (February 13, 1902 – July 20, 1954), known as Blair Moody, was a journalist and Democratic U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. Background Moody was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Arthur Edson Blair Moo ...

(Democrat) * House District 1:

Thaddeus M. Machrowicz Thaddeus Michael Machrowicz (August 21, 1899 – February 17, 1970) was a United States representative from Michigan and later was a United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern Dis ...

(Democrat) * House District 2:

George Meader George Meader (September 13, 1907 – October 15, 1994) was a Republican politician from the US state of Michigan. Early life Meader was born on September 13, 1907, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and attended the public schools of various cities i ...

(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:

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. ( ; born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. He was the only president never to have been elected ...

(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:

Ruth Thompson Ruth Thompson (September 15, 1887 – April 5, 1970) was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. A lawyer by profession, she served three terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1951 to 1957. Biography Early l ...

(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:

Charles E. Potter Charles Edward Potter (October 30, 1916November 23, 1979) was a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. Early life Potter was born in Lapeer, Michigan and attended the public schools there. He received an AB degree f ...

(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 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 Jr. John Lesinski Jr. (December 28, 1914 in Detroit – October 21, 2005 in Dearborn) was a U.S. Congressman for seven terms from the state of Michigan. He was the son of John Lesinski Sr. He was of Polish descent. Life and career Lesinski was bo ...

(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

1951 Detroit Tigers season The 1951 Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 73–81, 25 games behind the New York Yankees. Offseason * January 20, 1951: Marv Grissom and George Vico were t ...

– Under managers Red Rolfe, the Tigers compiled a 73–81 record and finished in fifth place in the American League. The team's statistical leaders included George Kell with a .319 batting average, Vic Wertz with 27 home runs and 94 RBIs, Virgil Trucks with 13 wins, and Fred Hutchinson with a 3.68 earned run average. * 1951

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 13–10 record.

Leo Koceski Leo Robert "Bugsy" Koceski, Jr. (born January 28, 1929), also known as the "Canonsburg Comet," is a former American football halfback. He played for Michigan's undefeated national championship team in 1948 and the 1950 Big Ten championship team ...

was the team captain.

American football

1951 Detroit Lions season The 1951 Detroit Lions season was their 22nd in the league. They were 7–4–1, tied for second in the National Conference, a half game behind the Los Angeles Rams. A loss at San Francisco in the regular season finale cost the Lions the conferen ...

– Under head coach Buddy Parker, the Lions compiled a 7–4–1 record and finished in second place in the NFL National Division. The team's statistical leaders included Bobby Layne with 2,403 passing yards,

Robert Hoernschemeyer Robert James "Hunchy" Hoernschemeyer (September 25, 1925 – June 18, 1980) was an American football player. A native of Cincinnati, he played college football as a halfback for the Indiana Hoosiers football in 1943 and 1944 and as a quarterback ...

with 678 rushing yards,

Dorne Dibble Dorne Allen Dibble (April 16, 1929 – March 1, 2018) was an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions (1951, 1953–1957). He attended Michigan State. Dibble was the Lions’ third-round draft pick in 1951 after starring at Michi ...

with 613 receiving yards, and Doak Walker with 97 points scored (6 touchdowns, 43 extra points, 6 field goals). *

– Under head coach Biggie Munn, the Spartans compiled a 9–0 record and were ranked No. 2 in the final AP Poll. *

1951 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1951 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1951 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fourth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 4–5 ...

– Under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines finished in fourth place in the Big Ten Conference with a record of 4–5. * 1951 Central Michigan Chippewas football team – Under head coach Kenneth "Bill" Kelly, the Chippewas compiled a 5–3 record. *

1951 Detroit Titans football team The 1951 Detroit Titans football team represented the University of Detroit in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during 1951 college football season. The team compiled a 4–7 record (2–4 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place ...

– The Titans compiled a 4–7 record under head coach Dutch Clark. *

1951 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team The 1951 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team represented Michigan State Normal College (later renamed Eastern Michigan University) in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1951 college football season. In th ...

– Under head coach

Harry Ockerman Harry N. Ockerman (December 20, 1902 – September 30, 1979) was American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Bowling Green State University from 1935 to 1940 and at Michigan State Normal Col ...

, the Hurons compiled a 4–5 record. * 1951 Western Michigan Broncos football team – 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 4–4 record.

Basketball

* 1950–51 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Ernie McCoy, the Wolverines compiled a 7–15 record. Leo VanderKuy was the team's leading scorer with 329 points in 22 games for an average of 15.0 points per game. * 1950–51 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach Pete Newell, the Spartans compiled a 10–11 record. * 1950–51 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – The Titans compiled a 17–14 record under head coach Bob Calihan. * 1950–51

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

William Perigo William J. Perigo (September 17, 1911 – February 7, 1990) was an American basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for Western Michigan University from 1931 to 1934 and professional basketball for the Indianapolis Kautskys from ...

, the Broncos compiled a 13–9 record.

Ice hockey

1950–51 Detroit Red Wings season The 1950–51 Detroit Red Wings season was the Red Wings' 25th season. Offseason Regular season Final standings Record vs. opponents Schedule and results Playoffs Player statistics Regular season ;Scoring ;Goaltending Playoffs ...

– Under head coach

Tommy Ivan Thomas Nathaniel Ivan (January 31, 1911 – June 25, 1999) was a Canadian ice hockey coach and general manager. He served as a National Hockey League (NHL) head coach for the Detroit Red Wings from 1947 to 1954 where he won three Stanley Cups, a ...

, the Red Wings compiled a 44–13–13 record, finished in first place in the National Hockey League, and lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals of the playoffs. Gordie Howe led the team with 43 goals, 43 assists, and 86 points. The team's goaltender was Terry Sawchuk. *

1950–51 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season The 1950–51 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college ice hockey during the 1950–51 NCAA men's ice hockey season. The head coach was Vic Heyliger and the team captain was Gil B ...

– Under head coach

Vic Heyliger Victor Heyliger (September 26, 1912 – October 4, 2006) was a National Hockey League center and the head coach of the University of Michigan ice hockey team. Career Born in Concord, Massachusetts, he attended the Lawrence Academy in Groton, Ma ...

, the team compiled a 22–4–1 record and won the

1951 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament The 1951 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1950–51 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the 4th such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 15 and 17, 1951, and concluded with Michigan defeating Brown 7-1. All ...

, the Wolverines' first of three consecutive NCAA hockey championships. * 1950–51 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team – Under head coach Harold Paulsen, the Spartans compiled a 6–11 record. * 1950–51 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – Under head coach

Al Renfrew Allan McNab Renfrew (December 21, 1924 – November 10, 2014) was a hockey player (left wing) at the University of Michigan in the late 1940s and a college hockey coach with Michigan Technological University (1951–1956), the University of No ...

, Michigan Tech compiled a 5–14–2 record.

Boat racing

* Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race – * APBA Gold Cup –

Golfing

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 ...

– * Motor City Open -

Other

Chronology of events

January

* January 3 - The first African-American woman to be elected to the

Michigan Legislature The Michigan Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, ...

Charline White Charline White (September 1, 1920September 7, 1959) was the first African-American woman to be elected to the Michigan Legislature. Early life White was born in Atlanta, Georgia on September 1, 1920. Sometime in 1923 she moved to Detroit, Mi ...

, was sworn into the office.

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births

* January 22 - Leon Roberts, Major League Baseball outfielder (1974–1984), in

Vicksburg, Michigan Vicksburg is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,706 at the 2020 census. The west part of the village is in Schoolcraft Township and the east part is in Brady Township. History John Vickers, the ...

* January 28 - Bob Sutton, head football coach at Army (1991-1999), in Ypsilanti, Michigan * March 16 -

Joe DeLamielleure Joseph Michael DeLamielleure ( ; born March 16, 1951) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was an All-American playing college football for the Michigan State Spartans. ...

, NFL offensive lineman (1973-1985) inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Detroit * April 8 - Mel Schacher, bassist for Grand Funk Railroad, in

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

* May 5 -

John D. Cherry John D. Cherry Jr. (born May 5, 1951) is an American politician who served as the 62nd lieutenant governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011. A Democrat, Cherry also served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, and ...

, 62nd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, in Sulphur Springs, Texas * September 10 - Gary Danielson, NFL quarterback (1976-1988), in Detroit * September 18 - Ben Carson, neurosurgeon, 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in Detroit * October 18 - Pam Dawber, actress ('' Mork & Mindy'', '' My Sister Sam''), in Detroit

Gallery of 1951 births

File:MelSchacherGFR2002.jpg, Mel Schacher File:Pam Dawber 2012.jpg, Pam Dawber

Deaths

* April 13 - Wish Egan, baseball player and scout, at age 69 in Detroit * April 18 - Arthur Vandenberg, U.S. Senator (1928-1951), at age 67 in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Gallery of 1951 deaths

File:Arthur H. Vandenberg.jpg, Arthur Vandenberg

References

{{Michigan year nav

Top stories

Office holders

State office holders

Mayors of major cities

Federal office holders

Population

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

Ice hockey

Boat racing

Golfing

Other

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births

Gallery of 1951 births

Deaths

Gallery of 1951 deaths

See also

References