This article reviews 1962 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, population trends, largest public companies, performance of sports teams, a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories, and notable Michigan-related births and deaths.
Top stories
The Associated Press selected the top news stories of 1962 in Michigan as follows: George W. Romney's successful campaign to become Governor of Michigan (AP-1); The end of the Michigan Constitutional Convention (AP-2); The January 30 tragedy in which the Wallenda family, performing a high wire pyramid in front of 7,000 spectators at the Shrine Circus at Detroit's State Fair Coliseum, sustained two deaths and three other injuries when their human pyramid collapsed (AP-3); Record profits and sales in the automobile business (AP-4); Completion of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge connecting the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (AP-5); The defeat of proposed tax reform in the Michigan Legislature (AP-6); An order by the Michigan Supreme Court directing reapportionment (AP-7) The sinking of the freighter Montrose in the Detroit River after colliding with a barge (AP-8); The dedication of Michigan's first atomic reactor at the Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant (AP-9); and John F. Kennedy and members of his Cabinet making numerous campaign visits to Michigan in September to campaign for Democratic candidates (AP-10). The Ford Rotunda fire in November (AP-11).
The year's sports highlights in Michigan included the Detroit Lions compiling an 11–3 record with the Fearsome Foursome defensive front, the Michigan Wolverines baseball team's victory in the 1962 College World Series, the 1961–62 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team winning the national championship, and Gordie Howe scoring his 500th goal for the Detroit Red Wings.
The year's highlights in Michigan music included a week of sold-out performances by the Metropolitan Opera at the Detroit Masonic Temple and the development of Motown with hits such as Do You Love Me by The Contours, You've Really Got a Hold on Me by The Miracles, Playboy by The Marvelettes, and Two Lovers by Mary Wells.
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan: John Swainson (Democrat) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: T. John Lesinski (Democrat) Michigan Attorney General: Frank J. Kelley (Democrat) Michigan Secretary of State: James M. Hare (Democrat) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Don R. Pears (Republican) Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Frank D. Beadle (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: John R. Dethmers (Republican)/Leland W. Carr (Democrat)
Mayors of major cities
Mayor of Detroit: Jerome Cavanagh Mayor of Grand Rapids: Stanley J. Davis Mayor of Warren, Michigan: Ted Bates Mayor of Flint: Charles A. Mobley/George R. Poulos Mayor of Dearborn: Orville L. Hubbard Mayor of Lansing: Willard I. Bowerman, Jr. (Republican) Mayor of Ann Arbor: Cecil Creal (Republican)
Federal office holders
United States Senator from Michigan: Philip Hart (Democrat) United States Senator from Michigan: Patrick V. McNamara (Democrat) United States Representative, District 1: Lucien N. Nedzi (Democrat) United States Representative, District 2: George Meader (Republican) United States Representative, District 3: August E. Johansen (Republican) United States Representative, District 4: Clare Hoffman (Republican) United States Representative, District 5: Gerald Ford (Republican) United States Representative, District 6: Charles E. Chamberlain (Republican) United States Representative, District 7: James G. O'Hara (Democrat) United States Representative, District 8: R. James Harvey (Republican) United States Representative, District 9: Robert P. Griffin (Republican) United States Representative, District 10: Elford Albin Cederberg (Republican) United States Representative, District 11: Victor A. Knox (Republican) United States Representative, District 12: John B. Bennett (Republican) United States Representative, District 13: Charles Diggs (Democrat) United States Representative, District 14: Harold M. Ryan (Democrat) United States Representative, District 15: John Dingell (Democrat) United States Representative, District 16: John Lesinski Jr. (Democrat) United States Representative, District 17: Martha Griffiths (Democrat) United States Representative, District 18: William Broomfield (Republican)
Population
Sports Baseball
1962 Detroit Tigers season – The Tigers compiled an 85–76 record and finished in a tie for third place in the American League under manager Bob Scheffing. The team's statistical leaders included Norm Cash (39 home runs), Rocky Colavito (112 RBIs), Al Kaline (.304 batting average), and Jim Bunning (19 wins). Hank Aguirre led the American League with a 2.21 earned run average. 1962 Michigan Wolverines baseball team - Under head coach Don Lund, the Wolverines compiled a 31–15 record and won the national championship, defeating Santa Clara in the finals. Ed Hood was the team captain.2012 Record Book, p. 13. Other notable players included pitcher Dave Roebuck and center fielder Dennis Spalla.
American football 1962 Detroit Lions season – The Lions compiled an 11–3 record, finished in second place in the NFC Western Conference, and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Playoff Bowl. The defense, which ranked second in the NFL in scoring defense, included the Fearsome Foursome, a defensive front of Roger Brown, Alex Karras, Darris McCord, and Sam Williams. Night Train Lane, Joe Schmidt, and Yale Lary, all of whom were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also played for the defensive unit. 1962 Michigan State Spartans football team – The Spartans compiled a 5–4 record under head coach Duffy Daugherty and finished in a tie for fifth in the Big Ten Conference. Halfback George Saimes was a consensus first-team selection for the 1962 College Football All-America Team. 1962 Michigan Wolverines football team – The Wolverines compiled a 2–7 record under head coach Bump Elliott and finished last in the Big Ten. 1962 Detroit Titans football team – The Titans compiled a 1–8 record under head coach John Idzik. 1962 Central Michigan Chippewas football team – The Chippewas compiled a 6–4 record under head coach Kenneth "Bill" Kelly. 1962 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team – The Hurons compiled a 2–5 record under head coach Fred Trosko. 1962 Western Michigan Broncos football team – The Broncos compiled a 5–4 record under head coach Merle Schlosser and finished fourth in the Mid-American Conference.
Basketball 1961–62 Detroit Pistons season – The Pistons compiled a 37–43 record under head coach Dick McGuire while playing their first season at Cobo Arena. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the West Division Finals. Gene Shue led the team with 465 assists and Bailey Howell led with 1,576 points. 1961–62 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – The Titans compiled a 15–11 record under head coach Bob Calihan. Led by Dave DeBusschere, the Titans advanced to the NCAA basketball tournament. Despite 38 points from DeBusschere, the Titans lost in the first round to Western Kentucky. 1961–62 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – The Wolverines compiled a 7–17 record under head coach Dave Strack. 1961–62 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – The Spartans compiled an 8–14 record under head coach Forddy Anderson. 1961–62 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team – The Broncos compiled a 13–11 record under head coach Don Boven.
Ice hockey 1961–62 Detroit Red Wings season – The Red Wings compiled a 23–33–14 record under head coach Sid Abel and finished in fifth place out of six teams in the NHL. Gordie Howe was the team's leading scorer with 77 points. 1961–62 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – The Huskies compiled a 29–3 record under head coach John MacInnes and won the 1962 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. 1961–62 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – The Wolverines compiled a 22–5 record under head coach Al Renfrew and finished third in the 1962 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. 1961–62 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team – The Spartans compiled a 13–11–1 record under head coach Amo Bessone.
Other
Buick Open – Bill Collins won the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc on July 8. Motor City Open – Bruce Crampton won the Motor City Open at Knollwood Country Club on July 15. His four-round total of 267 was 17 under par and broke the tournament record set in 1959. Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race – The Falcon II skippered by 76-year old Clare Jacobs won the race on July 16, finishing shortly after the Charley Kotovic's Gypsy but being declared the winner due to a one-hour, 20-minute handicap due to its smaller size. Spirit of Detroit Trophy race – Bill Muncey and his Century 21 unlimited hydroplane boat won the Spirit of Detroit Trophy race on August 26 before a crowd of more than 100,000 along the Detroit River.
Music
February – The One Who Really Loves You by Mary Wells was released on the Motown label and reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number #2 on the Billboard R&B chart March – (You're My) Dream Come True by The Temptations was released on Motown's Gordy label and became the group's first nationally charting single, peaking at #22 on the Billboard R&B chart April – Playboy by The Marvelettes was released on Motown's Tamla label and became the group's second top 10 hit, peaking at #7 on the Hot 100 chart and #4 on the R&B chart June – Do You Love Me by The Contours was released on Motown's Gordy label and reached #3 on the Hot 100 in October 1962, and was a #1 hit on the R&B chart July – Beechwood 4-5789 by The Marvelettes was released on the Tamla label and rose to #17 on the Hot 100 chart and #7 on the R&B chart September – You Beat Me to the Punch by Mary Wells was released on the Motown label and rose to #9 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart October – Two Lovers by Mary Wells was released on the Motown label and reached #1 on the R&B chart and #7 on the Hot 100 November – You've Really Got a Hold on Me by The Miracles was released on Motown's Tamla label and rose to #1 on the R&B chart and #8 on the Hot 100; it was later selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll December – Hitch Hike by Marvin Gaye was released on Motown's Tamla label and became the Gaye's first charting single, peaking at #30 on the Hot 100 and #12 on the R&B chart December 26 – The Detroit Free Press published a four-column profile of 33-year-old Berry Gordy, referring to him as "Detroit's Record King". Gordy praised the musical talent in Detroit: "The talent here is terrific and was largely untapped when we came along. And the personalities of performers here seems to basically warmer than in many other cities." Undated – The band ? and the Mysterians was formed with members from Bay City and Saginaw
Companies The following is a list of major companies based in Michigan in 1962.