1972 in Michigan


Events from the year 1972 in Michigan.
The Associated Press and United Press International each selected the top news stories in Michigan for 1972 as follows:
  1. The court order issued by federal judge Stephen Roth requiring cross-district busing throughout metropolitan Detroit ;
  2. The beginning of the Michigan Lottery ;
  3. The defeat of Proposal B that would have amended the state constitution to liberalize Michigan's abortion law ;
  4. George Wallace's victory, attributed to the busing issue, in the 1972 Democratic Party Presidential primary with 51% of the vote ;
  5. The defeat of a ballot proposal that would have changed Michigan's system of funding public education, placed a cap on property taxes, and provided for a graduated income tax ;
  6. Controversy concerning the Detroit Police Department's STRESS unit and a shootout between STRESS officers and off-duty Wayne County sheriff's deputies, resulting in the death of a deputy ;
  7. The U.S. Senate campaign in which incumbent Republican Robert P. Griffin defeated Democratic challenger Frank J. Kelley ;
  8. A school funding crisis in Detroit after voters thrice rejected millage proposals
  9. The automobile industry's record sales and profits and controversies over price increases, safety, and emission equipment ;
  10. High winds that pushed water over the shoreline and resulted in six counties being declared federal disaster areas ;
  11. A collision near Port Huron that resulted in the sinking of the Sidney Smith in the St. Clair River, blocking the navigation channel ; and
  12. Michigan's meat law prohibiting use of udders, snouts, and spleen in making hot dogs and lunch meat was overturned by a federal court.
The AP and UPI also selected the state's top sports stories as follows:
  1. The 1972 Detroit Tigers winning the American League East division championship with a record of 86–70, then losing to the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series ;
  2. Duffy Daugherty's resignation after 19 years as head coach of the Michigan State Spartans football team and the hiring of Denny Stolz as his replacement ;
  3. Michigan Wolverines football, including the 1971 team's 13-12 loss to Stanford in the 1972 Rose Bowl and the 1972 team's 11-1 season and season-ending loss to [1972 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State] with Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler refusing to kick a game-tying field goal late in the game ;
  4. Gary Player's victory at the 1972 PGA Championship held at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township ;
  5. Micki King's winning the gold medal in the springboard diving event at the 1972 Summer Olympics ;
  6. The induction of Gordie Howe into the Hockey Hall of Fame and son Mark Howe's becoming the only Michigan athlete to medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics ;
  7. The 1972 Detroit Lions compiling an 8-5-1 record and failing to make the playoffs ;
  8. The 1971–72 Detroit Red Wings' finishing in fifth place and failing to make the playoffs ;
  9. The failure of a proposed domed stadium in downtown Detroit after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the proposed manner of selling bonds to finance the stadium was illegal ;
  10. The hiring of Burt Smith as Michigan State University's athletic director ;
  11. Ed Brinkman setting several Major League Baseball fielding records for shortstops ;
  12. Greg Landry's signing of a three-year contract with the Detroit Lions ;
  13. The Detroit Tigers' purchase of Woodie Fryman in early August and his winning 10 games for the Tigers in August and September ; and
  14. Michigan's high school basketball championships won by Flint Northern, River Rouge, Shelby, and Ewen-Trout Creek .

Office holders

State office holders

Mayors of major cities

Federal office holders

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

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Music

The following albums by Michigan artists were released in 1972:Young, Gifted and Black by Aretha Franklin was released on January 24, 1972. Franklin won a 1972 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance of the year for the album.Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder was released on March 3, 1972. The album featured the single "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)".Floy Joy by The Supremes was released in May 1972.Amazing Grace by Aretha Franklin was released on June 1, 1972. It was the biggest selling album of Franklin's recording career and the highest selling live gospel music album of all time. It won Franklin the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance.All Directions by The Temptations was released on July 27, 1972.Flying High Together by The Miracles was released on July 27, 1972.Smokin' O.P.'s by Bob Seger was released in August 1972.Phoenix by Grand Funk Railroad was released on September 15, 1972.Talking Book by Stevie Wonder was released on October 28, 1972. The album featured two No. 1 hit singles, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition". The album was certified Gold in Canada and The US.Lady Sings the Blues by Diana Ross was released in October 1972. It was the fifth best-selling Pop album of 1973.

Chronology of events

August

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