Events from the year 1980 in Michigan.
The Associated Press (AP) selected the top Michigan news stories in Michigan as follows: Record losses by the Big Three automakers and layoffs of 190,000 workers by year's end and production falling below the Japanese auto makers for the first time in history; Economic downturn in Michigan resulting in layoffs of state employees, increases in welfare rolls, and reductions in state services; A radical tax-cutting proposal from Shiawassee County Drain Commissioner Robert Tisch, known as the Tisch Amendment, was defeated in the November general election; Chrysler Corporation's struggle to avoid bankruptcy, including $1.47 billion in losses in the first nine months, the introduction of the K car, and its pursuit of additional federal loan guarantees; The 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit nominating Ronald Reagan as its presidential nominee; The 1980 Kalamazoo tornado of May 13 that killed five persons and injured 80; A compromise over oil drilling in the Pigeon River Country State Forest with new drilling to be permitted in the forest, but under heightened environmental safeguards; The City of Detroit's challenge to the 1980 United States census, including a federal court ruling that the count was deficient by five million, mostly African American and Hispanic, persons; Charles Diggs' resignation from Congress and the start of his prison sentence after his 1978 conviction in a payroll kickback scheme; and The continuing debate over Indian fishing rights and the United States Department of the Interior's restriction on the use of gill nets in the upper Great Lakes.
Also receiving extensive press coverage in Detroit was a controversy over General Motors' plan, supported by local government, to use eminent domain to remove 1,500 homes and 150 businesses to build a new assembly plant in Hamtramck and Poletown.
The AP also selected the state's top sports stories as follows: The Detroit Lions' selection of Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims as the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft and signing him to a three-year, $1.7 million contract; Al Kaline's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the 10th player in history selected on the first ballot; The 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team's compiling a 10–2 record and winning the Big Ten Conference championship; Thomas Hearns of Kronk Gym winning WBA welterweight boxing championship; Joe Kearny and Darryl Rogers quitting Michigan State; The 1980 Detroit Lions' starting the season with four wins but then losing seven of the last 12 games; Michigan State's hiring of Muddy Waters as its head football coach; The Detroit Pistons' trading Bob Lanier on February 4 to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Kent Benson and a 1980 first round draft pick; The hiring Bill Frieder as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team after Johnny Orr left for Iowa State; and The Detroit Red Wings' firing of Ted Lindsay as general manager and Bobby Kromm as head coach.
The year's highlights in Michigan music included Bob Seger's Against the Wind reaching #1 on the album charts, the debut of The Romantics with the song "What I Like About You", and hit singles by Stevie Wonder ("Master Blaster (Jammin')"), Diana Ross ("Upside Down"), and The Spinners ("Working My Way Back to You").
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan: William Milliken (Republican) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: James H. Brickley (Republican) Michigan Attorney General: Frank J. Kelley (Democrat) Michigan Secretary of State: Richard H. Austin (Democrat) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Bobby Crim (Democrat) Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: William Faust (Democrat) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Mary S. Coleman
Mayors of major cities Mayor of Detroit: Coleman Young Mayor of Grand Rapids: Abe L. Drasin Mayor of Warren, Michigan: Ted Bates Mayor of Sterling Heights, Michigan: Anthony Dobry Mayor of Flint: James W. Rutherford Mayor of Dearborn: John O'Reilly, Sr. Mayor of Lansing: Gerald W. Graves Mayor of Ann Arbor: Louis Belcher (Republican) Mayor of Saginaw: Paul P. Prudhomme
Federal office holders U.S. Senator from Michigan: Donald W. Riegle Jr. (Democrat) U.S. Senator from Michigan: Carl Levin (Democrat) House District 1: John Conyers (Democrat) House District 2: Carl Pursell (Republican) House District 3: Howard Wolpe (Republican) House District 4: David Stockman (Republican) House District 5: Harold S. Sawyer (Republican) House District 6: Bob Carr (Democrat) House District 7: Dale Kildee (Democrat) House District 8: J. Bob Traxler (Democrat) House District 9: Guy Vander Jagt (Republican) House District 10: Donald J. Albosta (Democrat) House District 11: Robert William Davis (Republican) House District 12: David Bonior (Democrat) House District 13: Charles Diggs (Democrat)/George Crockett Jr. (Democrat) House District 14: Lucien N. Nedzi (Democrat) House District 15: William D. Ford (Democrat) House District 16: John Dingell (Democrat) House District 17: William M. Brodhead (Democrat) House District 18: James Blanchard (Democrat) House District 19: William Broomfield (Republican)
Population
Companies The following is a list of major companies based in, or having a substantial manufacturing presence in, Michigan in 1980. Fortune 500 Rank (1981)(sales and net earnings figures come from the 1981 Fortune 500 list based on 1955 sales and earnings, unless another source is provided.) Company1980 sales (millions)1980 net earnings (millions) Headquarters Nature of business3General Motors57,728.5-762.5DetroitOne of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers6Ford Motor Company37,085.5-1,543.3DearbornOne of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturersnaKmart14,200.0260.5TroyRetail stores25Dow Chemical Co.10,626.0805.0MidlandChemicals32Chrysler9,225.3-1,709.7DetroitOne of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers87Bendix Corporation4,270.4191.6SouthfieldAuto parts, aerospace and electronic equipment and machine tools115Eaton Corporation3,176.5115.8Cleveland, OHAutomobile parts137Burroughs2,857.282.0DetroitComputers and data processing machines (later became Unisys)155American Motors2,552.6-197.5SouthfieldAutomobilesnaConsumers Power2,300.0224.0JacksonElectric and natural gas utility170Whirlpool Corporation2,243.2101.7Benton HarborWashers, dryers, appliances176Kellogg's2,150.9184.8Battle CreekCereal180Fruehauf Trailer Co.2,081.732.2DetroitTruck trailersnaUpjohn1,800.0170.1KalamazooPharmaceuticalsnaDetroit Edison1,800.0137.5DetroitElectric utility226Clark Equipment Co.1,533.753.5BuchananIndustrial and construction machinery297Ex-Cell-O1,020.750.4TroyIndustrial equipment377Federal-Mogul721.236.7DetroitBearings and replacement parts for autos, trucks, and aircraft427McLouth Steel614.0-56.6DetroitSteel producer for auto industry434Gerber Products602.029.7FremontBaby food
Sports Baseball
1980 Detroit Tigers season – The Tigers compiled an 84–78 record and finished in a tie for fourth place in the American League East under manager Sparky Anderson. The team's statistical leaders included Lance Parrish (24 home runs), Steve Kemp (101 RBIs), Alan Trammell (.300 batting average), and Jack Morris (16 wins). Al Kaline – On January 9, Al Kaline was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the tenth player in history to be elected on the first ballot after becoming eligible. The induction ceremony took place in Cooperstown on August 3. On August 17, the Tigers retired Kaline's jersey (No. 6) before 42,117 fans at Tiger Stadium. Kaline was the first player to have his number retired by the Tigers. 1980 Michigan Wolverines baseball team - Under head coach Bud Middaugh, the Wolverines compiled a 36–18–1 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and finished fifth at the 1980 College World Series. George Foussianes was the team captain.2012 Record Book, p. 13.
American football
1980 Detroit Lions season – The Lions compiled a 9–7 record under head coach Monte Clark and finished in second place in the NFC Central. The team's statistical leaders included Billy Sims with 1,303 rushing yards, Gary Danielson with 3,223 passing yards, Freddie Scott with 834 receiving yards, and Eddie Murray with 116 points scored. 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team – The Wolverines compiled a 10–2 record under head coach Bo Schembechler, won the Big Ten championship and defeated Washington in the 1981 Rose Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included John Wangler with 1,522 passing yards, Butch Woolfolk with 1,042 rushing yards, and Anthony Carter with 818 receiving yards and 84 points scored. Carter and center George Lilja were selected as first-team All-Americans. 1980 Michigan State Spartans football team – The Spartans compiled a 3–8 record under head coach Muddy Waters. Morten Anderson, who went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, was the team's place-kicker. 1980 Central Michigan Chippewas football team – The Chippewas compiled a 9–2 record and won the Mid-American Conference championship under head coach Herb Deromedi. 1980 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team – The Hurons compiled a 1–9 record under head coach Mike Stock. 1980 Western Michigan Broncos football team – The Broncos compiled a 7–4 record under head coach Elliot Uzelac. Class A Michigan high school football championship – Birmingham Brother Rice defeated Dearborn Fordson, 6–0, in the state championship game, played at the Pontiac Silverdome on November 29.
Basketball 1979–80 Detroit Pistons season – The Pistons compiled a 16–66 record under head coaches Dick Vitale and Richie Adubato. The team's statistical leaders included John Long with 1,337 points scored, Bob Lanier with 21.7 points per game before being traded, Eric Money led with 238 assists, and Terry Tyler with 627 rebounds. 1979–80 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – The Wolverines compiled a 17–13 record under head coach Johnny Orr. Mike McGee was selected as the team's most valuable player. 1979–80 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – After winning the national championship with Magic Johnson in the lineup the previous year, the 1979–80 Spartans compiled a 12–15 record under head coach Jud Heathcote. Jay Vincent was the team's leading scorer. 1979–80 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – The Titans compiled a 14–13 record under head coach Willie McCarter.
Ice hockey 1979–80 Detroit Red Wings season – The Red Wings compiled a 26–43–11 record under head coaches Bobby Kromm and Ted Lindsay in the team's first season playing in Joe Louis Arena. The team's statistical leaders included Mike Foligno with 36 goals and Dale McCourt with 51 assists and 81 points. Goaltender Rogie Vachon led the NHL in losses (30) and goals allowed (209).
32nd National Hockey League All-Star Game – The game was played on February 5 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The game drew a crowd of 21,002 persons, the largest crowd to watch a professional hockey game to that date. The crowd gave Gordie Howe a two-and-a-half minute standing ovation before the game and another ovation when he assisted on a goal. 1979–80 Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey team – Michigan Tech advanced to the 1980 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The team lost to North Dakota in the national championship game by a 5–2 score. Northern Michigan finished its season with a 34–6–1 record under head coach Rick Comley. 1979–80 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – The Wolverines compiled a 23–13–2 record under head coach Dan Farrell. 1979–80 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team – The Spartans compiled a 14–24 record in their first season under head coach Ron Mason. 1979–80 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – The Huskies compiled an 18–18–2 record under head coach John MacInnes.
Boxing