1957 in Michigan

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Events from the year 1957 in Michigan.

Top stories[]

The Associated Press,[1] United Press[2] and Detroit Free Press[3] each ranked the top Michigan news stories of 1957 as follows:

  • The November 1 opening of the Mackinac Bridge between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas (AP-1, UP-1, DFP-5)
  • The September 12 death of Detroit Mayor Albert Cobo and Louis Miriani taking over as the new mayor (AP-5, DFP-1)
  • The sweep of statewide offices by Democratic Party candidates in April elections (AP-2, UP-6, DFP-2)
  • The gun battle between two killers and police officers on the night of September 30 and early morning of October 1 that crossed from Indiana into Michigan and resulted in the death of a Michigan State Trooper and an Indiana State Trooper[4] (UP-2)
  • The debate over taxes and their impact on Michigan industry. The debate followed comments in April by General Motors President Harlow Curtice that high taxes were preventing the company from expanding its operations in Michigan. (AP-3, UP-3)
  • The Detroit Lions won the NFL Western Division (and ultimately the NFL Championship Game) after George Wilson replaced Buddy Parker as the team's head coach (AP-8, DFP-4)
  • The Asian flu outbreak that resulted in more than 40 deaths in Michigan in the fall (UP-4)
  • Mackie's 10-year highway program (AP-4)
  • The conviction by a jury in Muskegon of ex-convict Herman Barmore in the murder of a 12-year-old Boy Scout Peter Gorham. Gorham was shot in the wilderness as he returned from a hike in July 1955 to Camp Wabaningo, located 12 miles north of Muskegon. The trial was the longest in Muskegon County history.[5] (UP-5)
  • The state's campaign to cut highway deaths (AP-6)
  • The death on October 30 of eight members of the Carrick family in a house fire in the Upper Peninsula community of Pickford, Michigan.[6] (UP-7)
  • Mackinac County Prosecutor James J. Brown rescue of his son's life by pushing a disabled raft in Lake Huron for four hours with his chin (AP-7)
  • The October crash of a Navy space balloon near Hermansville, Michigan (UP-8)
  • The rape and murder of Mary de Caussin, a six-year-old first-grader from Ecorse Township, Michigan, in mid-June 1957[7]
  • The arrest in Texas of Anna and Floyd Thorpe of St. Clair Shores on charges of embezzling state funds (AP-9 [tie])
  • The plunge of Dick and Doris Robbins, a sister and brother from Detroit, over Tahquamenon Falls (AP-9 [tie])

Office holders[]

State office holders[]

Gov. G. Mennen Williams

Mayors of major cities[]

Patrick V. McNamara
Gerald Ford and Elizabeth II

Federal office holders[]

  • U.S. Senator from Michigan: Patrick V. McNamara (Democrat)
  • U.S. Senator from Michigan: Charles E. Potter (Republican)
  • House District 1: Thaddeus M. Machrowicz (Democrat)
  • House District 2: George Meader (Republican)
  • House District 3: August E. Johansen (Republican)
  • House District 4: Clare Hoffman (Republican)
  • House District 5: Gerald Ford (Republican)
  • House District 6: Charles E. Chamberlain (Republican)
  • House District 7: Robert J. McIntosh (Republican)
  • House District 8: Alvin Morell Bentley (Republican)
  • House District 9: Robert P. Griffin (Republican)
  • House District 10: Elford Albin Cederberg (Republican)
  • House District 11: Victor A. Knox (Republican)
  • House District 12: John B. Bennett (Republican)
  • House District 13: Charles Diggs (Democrat)
  • House District 14: Louis C. Rabaut (Democrat)
  • House District 15: John Dingell Jr. (Democrat)
  • House District 16: John Lesinski Jr. (Democrat)
  • House District 17: Martha Griffiths (Democrat)
  • House District 18: William Broomfield (Republican)

Population[]

In the 1950 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 6,421,000 persons, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1960, the state's population had grown 22.8% to 7,823,194 persons.

Cities[]

The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 40,000 based on 1950 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1940 and 1960 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1950
Rank
City County 1940 Pop. 1950 Pop. 1960 Pop. Change 1950-60
1 Detroit Wayne 1,623,452 1,849,568 1,670,144 −9.7%
2 Grand Rapids Kent 164,292 176,515 177,313 0.5%
3 Flint Genesee 151,543 163,143 196,940 20.7%
4 Dearborn Wayne 63,589 94,994 112,007 17.9%
5 Saginaw Saginaw 82,794 92,918 98,265 5.8%
6 Lansing Ingham 78,753 92,129 107,807 17.0%
7 Pontiac Oakland 66,626 73,681 82,233 11.6%
8 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 54,097 57,704 82,089 42.4%
9 Bay City Bay 47,956 52,523 53,604 2.1%
10 Jackson Jackson 49,656 51,088 50,720 −0.7%
11 Battle Creek Calhoun 43,453 48,666 44,169 −9.2%
12 Muskegon Muskegon 47,697 48,429 46,485 −4.0%
13 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 29,815 48,251 67,340 39.6%
14 Royal Oak Oakland 25,087 46,898 80,612 71.9%
15 Warren Macomb 23,658 42,653 89,246 109.2%

Counties[]

The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 100,000 based on 1950 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1940 and 1960 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Counties that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1980
Rank
County Largest city 1940 Pop. 1950 Pop. 1960 Pop. Change 1950-60
1 Wayne Detroit 2,015,623 2,435,235 2,666,297 9.5%
2 Oakland Pontiac 254,068 396,001 690,259 74.3%
3 Kent Grand Rapids 246,338 288,292 363,187 26.0%
4 Genesee Flint 227,944 270,963 374,313 38.1%
5 Macomb Warren 107,638 184,961 405,804 119.4%
6 Ingham Lansing 130,616 172,941 211,296 22.2%
7 Saginaw Saginaw 130,468 153,515 190,752 24.3%
8 Washtenaw Ann Arbor 80,810 134,606 172,440 28.1%
9 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 100,085 126,707 169,712 33.9%
10 Muskegon Muskegon 94,501 121,545 129,943 6.9%
11 Calhoun Battle Creek 94,206 120,813 138,858 14.9%
12 Berrien Benton Harbor 89,117 115,702 149,865 29.5%
13 Jackson Jackson 93,108 108,168 131,994 22.0%

Sports[]

Baseball[]

Jim Bunning

American football[]

Basketball[]

Ice hockey[]

Gordie Howe

Boat racing[]

Golf[]

Chronology of events[]

January[]

  • January 1 - G. Mennen Williams was sworn in for his record fifth term as Governor of Michigan.[31]

February[]

March[]

April[]

May[]

June[]

July[]

August[]

September[]

October[]

November[]

December[]

Births[]

  • May 3 - William Clay Ford Jr., former president, CEO, and COO of Ford Motor Co., in Detroit[32]
  • May 4 - Rick Leach, U-M quarterback (1975–1978), Major League Baseball player (1981–1990), in Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • May 28 - Kirk Gibson, Major League Baseball player (1979–1995) and manager (2010–2014), 2x World Series champion, 1988 National League MVP, in Pontiac, Michigan
  • June 12 - Timothy Busfield, Emmy-winning actor (The West Wing, Thirtysomething), in Lansing, Michigan
  • July 6 - Susan Ford, daughter of Gerald Ford, author, photojournalist, and former chair of the board of the Betty Ford Center, in Washington, D.C.
  • July 30 - Clint Hurdle, Major League Baseball player (1977–1987) and manager (2002–present), National League Manager of the Year in 2013, in Big Rapids, Michigan

Gallery of 1957 births[]

Deaths[]

  • April 13 - Fred L. Crawford, Congressman from Michigan's 8th District (1935-1953), at age 69 in Washington, D.C.[33]
  • July 4 - Earl C. Michener, Congressman from Michigan (1919-1933, 1935-1951), at age 80 in Adrian, Michigan[34]
  • July 30 - Charles Bowles, Mayor of Detroit for six months in 1930, at age 73 in Detroit[35]
  • July 31 - Solanus Casey, Roman Catholic Capuchin priest and wonderworker, beatified by Pope Francis in 2017, at age 86 in Detroit[36]
  • September 12 - Albert Cobo, Mayor of Detroit (1950-1957), at 63 in Detroit[37]
  • September - William Cunningham, first Michigan football player to be recognized as first-team All-American, at age 84 in Grove City, Pennsylvania
  • October 25 - George D. O'Brien, U.S. Congressman (1937-1939, 1941-1947, 1949-1955), at age 57

Gallery of 1957 deaths[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Mackinac Bridge Ranks First in State Voting". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. January 1, 1958. p. III-9.
  2. ^ "Straits Bridge Opening Rated Top News Story of 1957". Detroit Free Press. December 30, 1957. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "One For The History Books". Detroit Free Press. December 29, 1957. p. 17.
  4. ^ "Wild 2-State Battle! Gunmen Kill Two, Then One Is Slain". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Jury Convicts Scout's Killer As Murderer". Detroit Free Press. November 24, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Eight Perish From Fire At U.P. Resort". The News-Palladium. October 30, 1957. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Vast Hunt On for Girl Killer: She Is 7th Sex Victim Since 1954". Detroit Free Press. June 14, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1957 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 71. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  10. ^ 2012 Record Book, p. 13.
  11. ^ "1957 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "1957 Michigan State Spartans Stats". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  13. ^ "1957 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "1957 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "2014 Digital Media Guide: Eastern Michigan University" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. pp. 169, 176. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 110. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  17. ^ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  18. ^ "1957 Detroit Mercy Titans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  19. ^ "Detroit Gets Pro Basketball: Zollner Signs 6-Year Olympia Pact". Detroit Free Press. February 15, 1957. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ George Puscas (October 24, 1957). "Celts Gum Up Piston Debut, 105-94". Detroit Free Press. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "1956-57 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  22. ^ "1956–57 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  23. ^ 2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 162.
  24. ^ "All-Time Accolades". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original on 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  25. ^ "1956–57 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  26. ^ "1956–57 Detroit Titans Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  27. ^ "1956–57 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  28. ^ "Michigan Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  29. ^ "Michigan Tech Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  30. ^ "Michigan State Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  31. ^ Hub M. George (January 2, 1957). "Williams Sees Taxes Rising with Expenses". Detroit Free Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Son Born To Bill Fords". Detroit Free Press. May 4, 1957. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Ex-Rep. Crawford Dies in Washington: Served State 18 Years in Congress". Detroit Free Press. April 15, 1957. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "E.C. Michener, Long-Time Adrian Congressman, Dies at 80". Detroit Free Press. July 6, 1957. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Ken McCormick (July 31, 1957). "Bowles' Rule Short, Gaudy: Ex-Mayor Served Stormy 6 Months in 1930". Detroit Free Press. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Fr. Solanus, Adviser To Thousands, Dies: Famed Priest Helped Feed Souls and Stomachs in Depression". Detroit Free Press. August 1, 1957. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Mayor Cobo Dies: Heart Attack Ends His Career at 63". Detroit Free Press. September 13, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
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