Chairman Grand Hotel Dan Musser II In March 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression at a time when all the nation’s banks had been closed, W. Stewart Woodfill was the sole bidder in an auction to take the…

House Speaker Gary M. Owen First elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1973, Mr. Owen served for 16 years as a legislator. He was the first-ever freshman lawmaker to join the House Appropriations Committee and sat on that…

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson Following 16 years as the Prosecutor of Oakland County, L. Brooks Patterson was elected in 1992 to the office of County Executive. He won relection in 2012. Patterson received a Bachelor’s degree from the…

Republican Chair Elly M. Peterson In 1965, Elly Peterson became the first woman to serve as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. She was also the first woman in U.S. History to chair a Republican state central committee, which she…

Douglas B. Roberts Former Michigan State Treasurer Mr. Douglas B. Roberts is a Professor of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University. Mr. Roberts served as Treasurer for the State of Michigan from April 2001…

Governor George Romney Governor George Romney Oral History Videos 1-5 with George Scott Romney, Son Governor George Romney Oral History Videos 6-11 with Walt De Vries, Executive Assistant for Program Development George Romney (July 8, 1907 – July 26, 1995)…

U.S. Congressman Dr. Joe Schwarz John J.H. “Joe” Schwarz received his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Michigan in 1959, and his medical degree from Wayne State University in 1964. Dr. Schwarz served his residency in otolaryngology at…

U.S.Congressman Bob Traxler Bob Traxler was elected April 16, 1974 to fill the vacancy to the 93rd United States Congress in Michigan’s 8th congressional district. He was subsequently re-elected to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from April 23, 1974 until…

Senate Majority Leader Robert VanderLaan Robert VanderLaan, State Senator from the 31st District, was born June 4, 1930 in what is now the city of Kentwood, Kent County, Michigan. He received his A.B. in 1952 from Calvin College and his…

House Speaker Robert E. Waldron Robert E. Waldron was a 16-year veteran of the Michigan House of Representatives and former House speaker. Interviewed by John Kerekesr73 minutes, August 11, 2000