1954 in Michigan


Events from the year 1954 in Michigan.

Top stories

The Associated Press United Press and Detroit Free Press, each separately ranked the state's top news stories of 1954 as follows:Democrat election victory. Landslide victory by Democrats in the November election, including Patrick V. McNamara's defeat of U.S. Senator Homer Ferguson and Governor G. Mennen Williams' election to a fourth term Mackinac Bridge. The start of construction on the Mackinac Bridge Small acquittal. The acquittal of Dr. Kenneth Small on charges that he murdered New York playboy Jules Lack, who was having an affair with Small's wife, at a Lake Michigan vacation home near Douglas, Michigan Death of Sen. Moody. On July 20 death, U.S. Senator Blair Moody died from chronic viral pneumonia and heart failure at University Hospital in Ann Arbor at age 52 Escape from Jackson. The escape of 13 inmates, with two women as hostages, from Michigan State Prison in Jackson State equalization. A decision of the Michigan Supreme Court making state equalization the basis for local property taxes Donald Ritchie. Donald Ritchie's false confession to the 1948 attempted assassination of Walter Reuther Automotive merger. The merger of independent automobile makers, including Studebaker, Packard, and Hudson, to become more competitive with the Big Three Bingo vote. The November 2 vote against legalizing bingo "Bird dog" controversy. Secretary of Defense C.E. Wilson's drew criticism for his October 11 comments about unemployment: "I have always liked bird dogs better than kennel-fed dogs. The bird dog is one that will go out and hunt for its food. The kennel-fed dog is one that waits until it is brought to him.
  • Automobile production race, including Chrysler "face-lifting"
  • Judge John P. O'Hara's grand jury investigation of police
  • The murder of a four-year-old girl by 15-year-old Terrance DeMoss

Office holders

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Sports

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Chronology of events

August

November

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