Charles G. Oakman

Charles Gibb Oakman was an American businessman and politician who served one term as a United States [House of Representatives|U.S. representative] from Michigan from 1953 to 1955.

Biography

Oakman was born in Detroit, Michigan; attended the public schools and Wayne State University. He graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1926 and engaged in the real estate and transportation business from 1927 to 1940.

Early political career

He was also a member of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors from 1941 to 1952. He also served as executive secretary to the mayor of Detroit in 1941 and 1942, and as city controller from 1942 to 1945. He then served four terms as city councilman from 1947 to 1952, and as secretary of the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority from 1948 to 1954. He was general manager from 1955 to 1973.

Congress

In 1952, Oakman defeated Democrat Martha W. Griffiths to be elected as a Republican from Michigan's 17th congressional district to the 83rd [United States Congress|83rd Congress], serving from January 3, 1953, to January 3, 1955, in the U.S. House. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1954 to the 84th Congress, losing to Griffiths in a rematch.
On February 8, 1954, Oakman introduced a bill to the U.S. House that would add the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. U.S. Senator from Michigan Homer S. Ferguson introduced the bill to the U.S. Senate. The bill became law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.

Memberships and death

Oakman was a Presbyterian and a member of Freemasons, Knights Templar, Shriners, Benevolent and [Protective Order of Elks|Elks], and Alpha Sigma Phi.
He died in Dearborn, Michigan and is interred at Roseland Park Cemetery of Berkley, Michigan.