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Labor Leader Politicians in Michigan


  George F. Addes (1910-1990) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich.; St. Clair Shores, Macomb County, Mich. Born in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wis., August 26, 1910. Democrat. Automobile worker; secretary-treasurer of the United Automobile Workers union, 1936-47; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1944; tavern owner. Catholic. Lebanese ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers. Died, from heart failure, in Bon Secours Hospital, Grosse Pointe, Wayne County, Mich., June 19, 1990 (age 79 years, 297 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1933 to Victoria Rose Joseph; married to Gloria Saba.
  See also Wikipedia article
  William Albertson (c.1910-1972) — of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y.; Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Odessa, Russia (now Ukraine), about 1910. Communist. Candidate for New York state senate 16th District, 1932; candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 17th District, 1934; secretary-treasurer, Local 16, Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union. Indicted, along with other Communist leaders, by a federal grand jury in August, 1951; tried, in Pittsburgh, starting in November 1952, and convicted in August, 1953, under the Smith Act, of conspiring to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government; sentenced to five years in prison; the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the convictions in 1956. Expelled from the Communist Party in 1964 over claims that he served as an undercover police agent; in 1976, it was revealed that the charge was founded on a phony letter planted by the F.B.I. Died in 1972 (age about 62 years). Burial location unknown.
  Charles Edward Bartlett (b. 1887) — also known as Charles E. Bartlett — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in San Francisco, Calif., June 16, 1887. Republican. Electrician; worked for the Chicago Telephone Company, the Michigan State Telephone Company, and Detroit Edison (electric utility); member, legislative committee, Detroit Federation of Labor and Michigan State Federation of Labor; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1923-32; defeated, 1932, 1934; elected (Wet) delegate to Michigan convention to ratify 21st amendment from Wayne County 1st District 1933, but did not serve; candidate for Michigan state senate 5th District, 1936. Member, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Burial location unknown.
  Owen F. Bieber (b. 1929) — of Wyoming, Kent County, Mich. Born in Byron Center, Kent County, Mich., December 28, 1929. Son of Albert F. Bieber and Minnie (Schwartz) Bieber. Democrat. President, United Auto Workers Local 687, 1956-61; international president, 1983-95; chair of Kent County Democratic Party, 1964-67; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1996. Catholic. Member, Foresters; American Civil Liberties Union. Still living as of 2006.
  Relatives: Married, November 25, 1950, to Shirley Van Woerkom.
  Lana L. Boldi (born c.1941) — of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Mich.; Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.; Kentwood, Kent County, Mich. Born about 1941. Democrat. Automobile worker; international representative for the United Auto Workers union; member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1977; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980, 1984, 2000; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 2000; chair of Kent County Democratic Party, 2001-02. Female. Member, United Auto Workers; Urban League. Still living as of 2007.
  Edward Carey (1905-1957) — also known as Ed Carey — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa., January 2, 1905. Son of Anthony Carey and Margaret Carey. Democrat. Automobile worker; President of Local 7, and international representative, United Auto Workers; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1945-46, 1949-57 (Wayne County 1st District 1945-46, 1949-54, Wayne County 3rd District 1955-57); defeated, 1946; died in office 1957; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1952, 1956. Catholic. Member, United Auto Workers; Knights of Columbus. Died in 1957 (age about 52 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, March 24, 1939, to Beatrice Arlene Warren.
  LeeRoy Clark (1922-2002) — of Millington, Tuscola County, Mich. Born in Flint, Genesee County, Mich., August 29, 1922. Son of George Clark and Mary (Jackson) Clark. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict; auto worker at Chevrolet V-8 Engine Plant in Flint; board member, United Auto Workers Local 659; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives 84th District, 1966; member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1973. Member, NAACP; Urban League; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars. Died in Millington, Tuscola County, Mich., November 23, 2002 (age 80 years, 86 days). Interment at Pine Grove Cemetery, Arbela Township, Tuscola County, Mich.
  Relatives: Married, January 26, 1951, to Eartha Mae 'Billie' Kyles.
  William R. Copeland (1909-1992) — of Wyandotte, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Washington, Daviess County, Ind., May 8, 1909. Democrat. Rigger; president, United Mine Workers Local 12100; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1953-74 (Wayne County 6th District 1953-54, Wayne County 18th District 1955-64, 27th District 1965-74); defeated in primary, 1974, 1976. Catholic. Member, Eagles; United Mine Workers; Knights of Columbus. Died in Wyandotte, Wayne County, Mich., April 22, 1992 (age 82 years, 350 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1936 to Helen Kazmerski.
  Robert Earl Dingwell (1922-1990) — also known as Robert E. Dingwell — of Lansing, Ingham County, Mich.; Delta Township, Eaton County, Mich. Born in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., January 13, 1922. Democrat. Education representative, AFL-CIO; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1956; member of Michigan state house of representatives 58th District, 1965-66; defeated, 1954 (Ingham County 1st District), 1956 (Ingham County 1st District), 1958 (Ingham County 1st District), 1966 (58th District), 1968 (58th District). Methodist. Died in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., November 2, 1990 (age 68 years, 293 days). Cremated; ashes interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Mich.
  Raymond D. Dzendzel (b. 1921) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, July 29, 1921. Democrat. Business representative, Carpenters Local 982; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 12th District, 1955-58; member of Michigan state senate, 1959-70 (18th District 1959-64, 7th District 1965-70); defeated in primary, 1970. Episcopalian. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Lions; Moose. Still living as of 1970.
  Henry J. Eikhoff (b. 1861) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., October 19, 1861. Republican. Metal polisher; president, Metal Polishers International Union of America; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1897-1900. German ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  W. Scott Ensign (1909-1983) — of Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Mich. Born in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Mich., January 28, 1909. Democrat. President, Battle Creek Federation of Labor, 1956-62; vice-president, AFL-CIO Calhoun County Council, 1962-64; printing business; member of Michigan state house of representatives 48th District, 1965-66; defeated, 1966. Episcopalian. Member, Delta Sigma Phi; Optimist Club; Freemasons; Knights Templar; International Typographical Union. Died in 1983 (age about 74 years). Burial location unknown.
  Billie Sunday Farnum (1916-1979) — also known as Billie S. Farnum — of Drayton Plains, Oakland County, Mich.; Delta Township, Eaton County, Mich. Born in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Mich., April 11, 1916. Democrat. Steward and international rep, United Auto Workers; candidate in primary for Michigan state house of representatives from Oakland County 1st District, 1944; administrative aide, U.S. Sen. Blair Moody, 1952-54; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1956; Michigan state auditor general, 1961-64; appointed 1961; U.S. Representative from Michigan 19th District, 1965-67; defeated, 1966; member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1967-68; candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1972. Congregationalist. Member, United Auto Workers; Freemasons; Shriners; Elks; Eagles. Died in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., November 18, 1979 (age 63 years, 221 days). Entombed in mausoleum at Deepdale Memorial Park, Near Lansing, Eaton County, Mich.
  Presumably named for: Billy Sunday
  Relatives: Married to Maxine DeCoe.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Sam Fishman — of Oak Park, Oakland County, Mich. Democrat. President of United Auto Workers Local 36, 1957-62; later president of the Michigan AFL-CIO; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1972 (alternate), 1980, 1984 (member, Rules Committee); member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1973-81, 1984. Member, United Auto Workers. Burial location unknown.
  Richard T. Frankensteen (1907-1977) — also known as Dick Frankensteen — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., March 6, 1907. Democrat. Automobile worker; first president, Automotive Industrial Workers Association; later, international vice-president, United Auto Workers; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1940, 1944; candidate for mayor of Detroit, Mich., 1945, 1949 (primary). Member, United Auto Workers. Died in 1977 (age about 70 years). Burial location unknown.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Douglas Andrew Fraser (1916-2008) — also known as Douglas A. Fraser; Doug Fraser — of Dearborn, Wayne County, Mich.; Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, December 18, 1916. Son of Samuel Douglas Fraser. Democrat. Automobile worker; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1960, 1972; president, United Auto Workers, 1977-83. Scottish ancestry. Died, from emphysema, in Providence Hospital, Southfield, Oakland County, Mich., February 23, 2008 (age 91 years, 67 days). His body was donated to Wayne State University Medical School.
  Relatives: Married to Eva Falk (died 1970).
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Ernest Goodman (c.1907-1997) — of Michigan. Born in Hemlock, Saginaw County, Mich., about 1907. Progressive. Lawyer; associate general counsel, United Auto Workers; candidate for Michigan state attorney general, 1948. Member, National Lawyers Guild. Died, from a cerebral hemorrhage, in Harper Hospital, Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., March 26, 1997 (age about 90 years). Burial location unknown.
  Joseph Gulvezan (1907-1991) — of Michigan. Born in 1907. Progressive. Auto worker; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1948. Member, United Auto Workers. Retiree director of Region 1B, United Auto Workers; columnist in UAW newspaper; president of the Detroit Metropolitan Council of Senior Citizens. Died in 1991 (age about 84 years). Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, Mich.
  Robert A. Haggerty — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pa. Son of Michael Haggerty and Margaret Haggerty. Democrat. Coal miner; automobile worker; financial secretary, Local 946, United Automobile Workers; financial secretary, Greater Detroit Maintenance and Power House Workers Council, UAW-CIO; Political Action Committee Coordinator for Wayne County Council CIO; constable; member of Michigan state senate 21st District, 1949-54; defeated in primary, 1954; candidate in primary for Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 8th District, 1956, 1960. Member, United Auto Workers. Presumed deceased. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1938 to Katherine Maguire.
  Edward J. Halloran (b. 1884) — of Davison, Genesee County, Mich. Born in Alpena, Alpena County, Mich., November 30, 1884. Son of John Halloran and Mary (Henry) Halloran. Democrat. Newspaper publisher; president, Michigan Federation, Typographical Union; vice-president, Michigan Federation of Labor; candidate for Michigan state senate 13th District, 1930; member, National Labor Relations Board, 1934-36. Catholic. Member, Knights of Columbus. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, April 26, 1907, to Jennie Halloran.
  Lillian Hatcher (b. 1915) — also known as Lillian Cook — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Greenville, Butler County, Ala., May 30, 1915. Daughter of Robert Cook and Jimmie (McTryier) Cook. Democrat. International Representative, United Auto Workers; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1952 (alternate), 1956, 1964 (alternate), 1968, 1972, 1980 (alternate); delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 4th Senatorial District, 1961-62; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1964. Female. Lutheran. African ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers; NAACP; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Still living as of 1980.
  Relatives: Married to John Hatcher.
  James P. Hoffa (b. 1941) — of Troy, Oakland County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., May 19, 1941. Son of James R. Hoffa (president of Teamsters) and Josephine Hoffa. Democrat. Candidate for Michigan state house of representatives, 1967; president of the Teamsters Union, from 1998; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2000, 2004, 2008. Member, Teamsters Union. Still living as of 2009.
  Relatives: Married to Virginia Harris.
  See also NNDB dossier
  Dominic J. Jacobetti (1920-1994) — also known as D. J. Jacobetti; "Pooga"; "King Jake" — of Negaunee, Marquette County, Mich. Born in Negaunee, Marquette County, Mich., July 20, 1920. Democrat. Representative, United Steelworkers of America; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1955-94 (Marquette County 1955-64, 108th District 1965-92, 109th District 1993-94); died in office 1994; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1960, 1964. Catholic. Italian ancestry. Member, United Steelworkers of America; Moose; Eagles; Knights of Columbus; Elks; Lions. Died November 28, 1994 (age 74 years, 131 days). Entombed in mausoleum at Northland Chapel Gardens, Negaunee, Mich.
  Relatives: Married 1942 to Marie D. Burnette.
  See also Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Mildred Jeffrey (1910-2004) — also known as Millie Jeffrey; Mildred McWilliams — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Alton, Sioux County, Iowa, December 29, 1910. Democrat. Organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers in the 1930s; director, Women's Bureau, and later the community relations and consumer affairs departments, United Automobile Workers; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1956, 1960, 1980; member, Arrangements Committee, 1964; member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1957-61; member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1961-69; candidate for delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Wayne County 12th District, 1961; member of Wayne State University board of governors; elected 1974. Female. Member, Americans for Democratic Action; American Civil Liberties Union. Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000. Died, in a nursing home at Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., March 24, 2004 (age 93 years, 86 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1936 to Homer Newman Jeffrey.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Diana Margaret Keller (1944-2008) — also known as Diana M. Keller — of Riverview, Wayne County, Mich.; Wyandotte, Wayne County, Mich. Born December 26, 1944. Daughter of Joseph Keller and Naomi Dobrovalski. Democrat. Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980; president, AFSCME Local 1659. Female. Died, of cancer, July 19, 2008 (age 63 years, 206 days). Cremated.
  Joseph J. Kowalski (1911-1967) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in East Chicago, Lake County, Ind., February 19, 1911. Democrat. Lawyer; international representative, AFL-CIO; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1949-67 (Wayne County 1st District 1949-54, Wayne County 10th District 1955-64, 19th District 1965-67); defeated, 1946; died in office 1967; Speaker of the Michigan State House of Representatives, 1965-66; alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1960, 1964. Member, United Auto Workers. Died in 1967 (age about 56 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married to Lorraine Kapp.
  Albert G. Leggatt — of Redford Township, Wayne County, Mich. Democrat. Labor organizer; supervisor of Redford Township, Michigan, 1949. Still living as of 1949.
  Ralph A. Liberato (1923-2004) — of Warren, Macomb County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., December 18, 1923. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; mechanic; union representative; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 11th Senatorial District, 1961-62; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1964 (alternate), 1984; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1964; defeated, 1988; Macomb County Commissioner. Catholic. Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Amvets. Died March 15, 2004 (age 80 years, 88 days). Burial location unknown.
  John Frederick Luecke (1889-1952) — also known as John Luecke — of Escanaba, Delta County, Mich. Born in Escanaba, Delta County, Mich., July 4, 1889. Son of Frederick Luecke and Suzanne Maria (Lange) Luecke. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; paper mill worker; secretary, and president, Local 209, International Brotherhood of Paper Makers; president, Escanaba Trades and Labor Council; member of Michigan state senate 30th District, 1935-36; U.S. Representative from Michigan 11th District, 1937-39; defeated, 1938. Presbyterian. Member, American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars. Died in Escanaba, Delta County, Mich., March 21, 1952 (age 62 years, 261 days). Interment at Lakeview Cemetery, Escanaba, Mich.
  Relatives: Married, June 23, 1927, to Rose Margaret Jaeger.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page
  William C. Marshall (1921-2000) — also known as William Marshall; Bill Marshall — of Taylor, Wayne County, Mich.; Delta Township, Eaton County, Mich. Born in Tunica, Tunica County, Miss., 1921. Democrat. Bus driver; president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1303 for ten years; exective vice-president, secretary-treasurer, and then president Michigan AFL-CIO, 1971-83; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 21st Senatorial District, 1961-62; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1964, 1972, 1980; member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1973-81. Episcopalian. Died, of heart failure, in Gilbert, Maricopa County, Ariz., August 22, 2000 (age about 79 years). Burial location unknown.
  Matthew McNeely (b. 1920) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Millen, Jenkins County, Ga., May 11, 1920. Democrat. Education director, United Auto Workers Local 306; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1956 (alternate), 1960 (alternate), 1972; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1965-86 (26th District 1965-72, 16th District 1973-82, 3rd District 1983-86); defeated in primary, 1958. Baptist. African ancestry. Still living as of 1986.
  Ken Morris — of Harper Woods, Wayne County, Mich.; Troy, Oakland County, Mich. Democrat. Regional director, United Auto Workers; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1960, 1964, 1980; member, Oakland University Board of Trustees, 1971-91. Still living as of 2002.
  Stanley J. Novak (b. 1911) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Salemville, Bedford County, Pa., March 9, 1911. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; UAW-CIO international representative; business agent, Boilermakers Union; candidate in primary for Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1950, 1952; member of Michigan state senate, 1955-74 (5th District 1955-64, 9th District 1965-74). Catholic. Polish ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers; Elks; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Amvets; NAACP; Polish National Alliance. Presumed deceased. Burial location unknown.
  Joseph G. O'Connor (1904-1967) — of Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Mich.; Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Ind., May 24, 1904. Democrat. Trained as an engineer; gold assayer for Yellow Jacket Mining Co., Nevada; worked for Chrysler Corporation in the 1930s; executive board member, United Auto Workers Local 7, 1938; national representative to the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1941-48; advertising business; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1949-62 (Wayne County 1st District 1949-54, Wayne County 6th District 1955-62); defeated in primary, 1962. Catholic. Irish ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers; Moose; Elks; Eagles; Maccabees; Knights of Equity. Died in 1967 (age about 63 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married to Velma Eugen Jones.
  John Joseph Penczak (1911-1978) — also known as John J. Penczak — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pa., July 13, 1911. Democrat. Automobile worker; representative for the United Auto Workers; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1944; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1949-64 (Wayne County 1st District 1949-54, Wayne County 8th District 1955-64); defeated in primary, 1964 (25th District), 1965 (24th District), 1966 (25th District), 1967 (19th District), 1968 (21st District), 1970 (21st District); member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1957. Catholic. Member, United Auto Workers; Knights of Columbus. Died in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., October 19, 1978 (age 67 years, 98 days). Burial location unknown.
  Vincent J. Petitpren (b. 1927) — of Wayne, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Mt. Clemens, Macomb County, Mich., September 24, 1927. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict; school teacher; president, Wayne Federation of Teachers, 1958-60; vice-president, Michigan Federation of Teachers, 1962-64; university professor; member of Michigan state house of representatives 37th District, 1965-70; defeated in primary, 1972 (37th District), 1984 (38th District); Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1968; candidate in primary for Michigan state senate 13th District, 1970. Member, American Federation of Teachers; American Association of University Professors; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Amvets; Kiwanis; Pi Kappa Delta. Still living as of 1984.
  Frederick C. Rowe (b. 1872) — also known as Fred C. Rowe — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born near Belleville, Wayne County, Mich., June 16, 1872. Republican. Locomotive fireman; locomotive engineer; officer in the Brotherhood of Railway Engineers; member of Michigan state senate 5th District, 1919-20. English ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  William Aloysius Ryan (1919-2001) — also known as William A. Ryan; Bill Ryan — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Morgantown, Monongalia County, W.Va., May 2, 1919. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II; President and financial secretary, United Auto Workers Local 104; editor of The Wage Earner newspaper; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1958-82 (Wayne County 3rd District 1958-64, 3rd District 1965-72, 14th District 1973-82); Speaker of the Michigan State House of Representatives, 1969-74. Catholic. Member, United Auto Workers. Died following a stroke, in the Martin Luther Holt nursing home, Holt, Ingham County, Mich., October 9, 2001 (age 82 years, 160 days). Entombed in mausoleum at St. Joseph Cemetery, Lansing, Mich.
  Gene A. Saari (1909-1990) — of Houghton, Houghton County, Mich. Born in Chisholm, St. Louis County, Minn., June 21, 1909. Democrat. Labor leader; candidate for Michigan state senate 32nd District, 1944, 1946; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 12th District, 1948; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1968. Lutheran. Finnish ancestry. Died in Evanston, Cook County, Ill., April 7, 1990 (age 80 years, 290 days). Interment at Sugar Island Cemetery, Sugar Island, Mich.
  August Scholle (1904-1972) — also known as Gus Scholle — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich.; Royal Oak, Oakland County, Mich. Born in Creighton, Allegheny County, Pa., May 23, 1904. Democrat. President, Michigan CIO, and later, of the Michigan AFL-CIO; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 18th District, 1970. Died in Caseville, Huron County, Mich., February 15, 1972 (age 67 years, 268 days). Burial location unknown.
  James Settles, Jr. (born c.1951) — also known as James Settles; Jimmy Settles — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born about 1951. Democrat. Automobile worker; regional director, United Automobile Workers; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2004. Baptist. African ancestry. Member, NAACP. Still living as of 2006.
  Horace L. Sheffield (b. 1916) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Vienna, Dooly County, Ga., 1916. Democrat. International Representative, United Auto Workers, 1942-67; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1960, 1964. African ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers. Still living as of 1964.
  Joseph Michael Snyder (1915-1995) — also known as Joseph M. Snyder — of St. Clair Shores, Macomb County, Mich. Born in Barberton, Summit County, Ohio, March 18, 1915. Son of Mathew Snyder and Lucy (Konc) Snyder. Democrat. International Representative, United Auto Workers; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Macomb County 2nd District, 1961-62; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1963-74 (Macomb County 2nd District 1963-64, 74th District 1965-74); member of Michigan state senate 26th District, 1975-78. Catholic. Member, Eagles; United Auto Workers. Died in St. Clair Shores, Macomb County, Mich., June 21, 1995 (age 80 years, 95 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1942 to Rita Marie Kanthak.
  Stephen J. Stopczynski (1911-1991) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., January 1, 1911. Son of Louis Stopczynski and Lottie (Stanczak) Stopczynski. Democrat. Machinist; member, Wayne County AFL-CIO Council; member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1959-61; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Wayne County 7th District, 1961-62; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1965-78 (7th District 1965-72, 19th District 1973-78); defeated in primary, 1962. Catholic. Polish ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers. Died in Grand Ledge, Eaton County, Mich., May 16, 1991 (age 80 years, 135 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Louis Stopczynski and Lottie (Stanczak) Stopczynski; married to Cassie Dzienciolowski; father of Stanley Stopczynski and Thaddeus C. Stopczynski. See Stopczynski family of Michigan.
  Louis E. Tossy (b. 1849) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., 1849. President, Detroit Federation of Labor; president, Michigan Federation of Labor; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention 1st District, 1907-08. Burial location unknown.
  Roger B. Townsend (1912-1987) — of Flint, Genesee County, Mich. Born in Cleveland County, Ark., March 29, 1912. Democrat. Bridge crane operator for Buick Motor Car Company; recording secretary of United Auto Workers Local 599; real estate broker; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Genesee County 1st District, 1953-64; defeated in primary, 1964 (82nd District), 1966 (80th District), 1968 (80th District), 1970 (80th District), 1972 (80th District). African ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers; Elks; Urban League; NAACP; Freemasons. Died in Flint, Genesee County, Mich., January 18, 1987 (age 74 years, 295 days). Burial location unknown.
  Leo Pierre Wagner (b. 1870) — also known as Leo P. Wagner — of Saginaw, Saginaw County, Mich. Born in Covington, Kenton County, Ky., April 18, 1870. Democrat. Barber; secretary, Saginaw Federation of Labor; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Saginaw County 1st District, 1917-18; candidate for Michigan state senate 22nd District, 1922. German ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1903 to Amelia B. D. Gehrls.
  Francis D. Williams (1916-1960) — also known as Frank D. Williams — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., August 24, 1916. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; welder; machine designer and repairman, Ford Motor Company; business representative for AFSCME Local 595; member of Michigan state house of representatives, 1953-60 (Wayne County 1st District 1953-54, Wayne County 2nd District 1955-60); defeated in primary, 1950; died in office 1960. Catholic. Member, Lions; AFSCME; Amvets. Died in 1960 (age about 43 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married 1947 to Mary Louise Beard.
  Leonard Freel Woodcock (1911-2001) — also known as Leonard Woodcock — of Grosse Pointe Park, Wayne County, Mich.; Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich. Born in Providence, Providence County, R.I., February 15, 1911. Son of Ernest Woodcock and Margaret (Freel) Woodcock. Democrat. Automobile worker; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1952, 1956, 1960; member of Wayne State University board of governors; elected 1959; president, United Auto Workers, 1970-77; candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1976; U.S. Ambassador to China, 1979-81. Member, United Auto Workers; NAACP; American Civil Liberties Union. Died, of pulmonary complications, in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich., January 16, 2001 (age 89 years, 336 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Ernest Woodcock and Margaret (Freel) Woodcock; married 1941 to Lola A. Martin (divorced); married 1978 to Sharon Lee Tuohy.
  See also NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile
  Stephen P. Yokich (1935-2002) — of St. Clair Shores, Macomb County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., August 20, 1935. Democrat. Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980, 1984, 2000; President of the United Auto Workers, 1995-2002. Serbian and Lebanese ancestry. Member, United Auto Workers. Suffered a stroke, and died the next day, at St. John Hospital, Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., August 16, 2002 (age 66 years, 361 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Father of Tracey A. Yokich.
  Carl Young (b. 1859) — of Muskegon, Muskegon County, Mich. Born in Augusta, Hancock County, Ill., August 11, 1859. Republican. Carpenter; general organizer, Carpenter's Union, 1906-16; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Muskegon County, 1917-20. Burial location unknown.
  Coleman Alexander Young (1918-1997) — also known as Coleman A. Young — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Ala., May 24, 1918. Son of Coleman Young and Ida (Jones) Young. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; national representative, UAW-CIO, 1946-47; director of organization, Wayne County CIO Council, 1947-48; executive secretary, National Negro Labor Council, 1951-55; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives, 1959, 1962 (Democratic primary); delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Wayne County 9th District, 1961-62; member of Michigan state senate 4th District, 1965-73; defeated (Progressive), 1948; resigned 1973; member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1969-81; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1996; speaker, 1984, 1988; mayor of Detroit, Mich., 1974-93; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1992; defeated (Democratic), 1988. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; NAACP. Received the Spingarn Medal in 1981. Died, of emphysema, while hospitalized for heart problems, at Sinai Hospital, Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., November 29, 1997 (age 79 years, 189 days). Interment at Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Mich.
  Relatives: Father of Coleman A. Young II.
  Cross-reference: Conrad L. Mallett, Jr.
  Books by Coleman A. Young: Hard Stuff : The Autobiography of Coleman Young (1994)
  Books about Coleman A. Young: Wilbur C. Rich, Coleman Young and Detroit Politics : From Social Activist to Power Broker

 

 


 
   
"Enjoy the hospitable entertainment of a political graveyard."
Henry L. Clinton, Apollo Hall, New York City, February 3, 1872
The Political Graveyard

The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. Founded in 1996, it is the Internet's most comprehensive free source for American political biography, listing 234,420 politicians, living and dead.
 
  The coverage of the site includes (1) the President, Vice President, members of Congress, elected state and territorial officeholders in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories; and the chief elected official, typically the mayor, of qualifying municipalities; (2) candidates at election, including primaries, for any of the above; (3) all federal judges and all state appellate judges; (4) certain federal officials, including the federal cabinet, diplomatic chiefs of mission, consuls, U.S. district attorneys, collectors of customs and internal revenue, and members of major federal commissions; and (5) state and national political party officials, including delegates, alternate delegates, and other participants in national party nominating conventions.  
  The listings are incomplete; development of the database is a continually ongoing project.  
  Information on this page — and on all other pages of this site — is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. Users are advised to check with other sources before relying on any information here.  
  The official URL for this page is: http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/labor.html.  
  Links to this or any other Political Graveyard page are welcome, but specific page addresses may sometimes change as the site develops.  
  If you are searching for a specific named individual, try the alphabetical index of politicians.  
  More information: FAQ; privacy policy; cemetery links.  
  If you find any error or omission in The Political Graveyard, or if you have information to share, please see the biographical checklist and submission guidelines.  
Site information: The Political Graveyard is created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, who is solely responsible for its structure and content. — The mailing address is The Political Graveyard, P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106. — This site is hosted by HDL. — The Political Graveyard opened on July 1, 1996; the last full revision was done on May 12, 2012.
Copyright notice: Facts are not subject to copyright; see Feist v. Rural Telephone. Original material, programming, selection and arrangement are © 1996-2011 Lawrence Kestenbaum. This work is also licensed for free non-commercial re-use, with attribution, under a Creative Commons License.

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