Events from the year 1950 in Michigan.
In a poll taken by the Associated Press of newspaper and radio editors, the following stories were selected as the most important Michigan news stories of 1950 (with number of voting points in parentheses): The gubernatorial election in which Republican former governor Harry Kelly was declared the winner on election night, but the incumbent Democratic governor G. Mennen Williams was declared the winner on December 13 after a statewide recount (337); A five-year contract signed May 23 between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and General Motors, setting a national precedent for long-term contracts and wage increases, and which later became known as Reuther's Treaty of Detroit (223); A 100-day strike by the UAW against Chrysler, lasting from January to May and idling more than 100,000 workers in the Detroit area (187); The crash on June 23 of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 into Lake Michigan with the loss of 58 lives, making it the deadliest commercial airliner accident in U.S. history to that time (182); The destruction by fire of the University of Michigan's Haven Hall on June 6 and the subsequent arson conviction of teaching fellow Robert H. Stacy on December 16 (94); The discovery on February 21 of Stanley James' remains under a "cow shed" in Troy Township, a homicide committed by his son and covered up for three years by his family, and the subsequent trial and acquittal of the son, U.S. Marine Sgt. Carson James (74); The 1950 Detroit Tigers season in which the team compiled a 95–59 (.617) record and finished second in a tight pennant race with the New York Yankees (68); The rape and murder by strangulation of Western Michigan College coed Carolyn Drown with her body being discovered on December 3 in melting snow in a cornfield outside Kalamazoo (54); The December 16 order by the U.S. Economic Stabilization Agency freezing prices on 1951 automobiles and rolling back price increases already placed in effect (54); A coal shortage during record cold weather in February that forced schools to close (49); The collision in Lake Huron on June 25 between the City of Cleveland III cruise ship and a Norwegian freighter, resulting in four deaths among passengers on the cruise ship (47); A production record in the automobile industry (47); A gun battle on December 8 between Saginaw Police and ex-convict Lawrence Nelson and his companion Sylvia Van Conant resulting in the deaths of Nelson and a police officer (45); Republican "economy" budget (45); The State of Michigan's civil defense preparations (45); The seizure of Governor G. Mennen Williams on July 8 by three inmates in an attempted prison escape from the Marquette Branch Prison (42); The murder of eight-year-old Joey Housey by a "sex degenerate" and the discovery of his body on September 24 in a shallow grave near his home in St. Clair Shores (33); Michigan's bid to play in the 1951 Rose Bowl (31); A February 16 explosion in a two-story paint manufacturing building at Dow Chemical in Midland killing eight men and injuring 25 (30); and Michigan's growth as measured in the 1950 United States census (20).
Other sports highlights included (1) the 1949–50 Detroit Red Wings' victory in the Stanley Cup finals, (2) the Detroit Lions acquisition in April 1950 of quarterback Bobby Layne, with Layne serving as the team's quarterback for nine years and leading the team to three NFL championships, and (3) the 1950 Michigan Wolverines football team's winning the Big Ten Conference championship by defeating Ohio State in the Snow Bowl.
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan: G. Mennen Williams (Democrat) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: John W. Connolly (Democrat) Michigan Attorney General: Stephen John Roth Michigan Secretary of State: Frederick M. Alger Jr. (Republican) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Victor A. Knox (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Emerson R. Boyles
Mayors of major cities Mayor of Detroit: Albert Cobo Mayor of Grand Rapids: Stanley J. Davis/Paul G. Goebel Mayor of Flint: George G. Wills/Paul Lovegrove Mayor of Lansing: Ralph Crego Mayor of Dearborn: Orville L. Hubbard Mayor of Ann Arbor: William E. Brown Jr.
Federal office holders
U.S. senator from Michigan: Homer S. Ferguson (Republican) U.S. senator from Michigan: Arthur Vandenberg (Republican) House District 1: George G. Sadowski (Democrat) House District 2: Earl C. Michener (Republican) House District 3: Paul W. Shafer (Republican) House District 4: Clare Hoffman (Republican) House District 5: Gerald Ford (Republican) House District 6: William W. Blackney (Republican) House District 7: Jesse P. Wolcott (Republican) House District 8: Fred L. Crawford (Republican) House District 9: Albert J. Engel (Republican) House District 10: Roy O. Woodruff (Republican) House District 11: Charles E. Potter (Republican) House District 12: John B. Bennett (Republican) House District 13: George D. O'Brien (Democrat) House District 14: Louis C. Rabaut (Democrat) House District 15: John D. Dingell Sr. (Democrat) House District 16: John Lesinski Sr. (Democrat) House District 17: George Anthony Dondero (Republican)
Population
Companies The following is a list of major companies based in Michigan in 1950. Company1950 sales (millions)1950 net earnings (millions) Headquarters Core businessGeneral Motors$7,531.1$834.0DetroitAutomobilesFord Motor CompanynanaFord was a privately held company until 1956. Accordingly, its financial results for 1950 were not made public. AutomobilesChrysler$2,191.7$127.9 AutomobilesStudebaker Corp.$477.1$22.5 AutomobilesBriggs Mfg. Co.$339.2$16.6DetroitAutomobile parts supplierS. S. Kresge$294.8$19.7 RetailHudson Motor Car Co.$267.2$12.0DetroitAutomobiles Detroit Edison$154.4$16.3 Electric utilityMichigan Bell$143.7$17.9 Telephone utilityFruehauf Trailer Co.$132.1$8.6DetroitTruck trailersConsumers Power$114.4$15.6JacksonElectric and natural gas utilityKellogg's$106.1$10.1Battle CreekBreakfast cereal, including a new product in 1950 called "Corn Pops"Parke-Davis$105.7$17.9DetroitPharmaceuticalClark Equipment Co.$69$4.8BuchananIndustrial and construction machineryREO Motor Car Co.$55.6$2.1LansingAutomobilesWhirlpool Corporation $4.5Benton HarborHome appliancesKaiser-Frazer Willow RunAutomobilesBurroughs Adding Machine $8.0 Business machines
Sports
Baseball 1950 Detroit Tigers season – The Tigers compiled a 95–59 (.617) record and finished in second place in the American League, three games behind the New York Yankees. Red Rolfe was the manager, and the team's statistical leaders included George Kell (.340 batting average), Vic Wertz (27 home runs and 123 RBIs), and Art Houtteman (19 wins and 3.54 ERA). Kell led Major League Baseball with 218 hits and 56 doubles, both career highs, and was third in batting average. Hoot Evers also ranked among the American League leaders with a .323 batting average, .408 on-base percentage, and 103 RBIs, and led the league with 11 triples. 1950 Michigan Wolverines baseball season - Under head coach Ray Fisher, the Wolverines compiled an 18–9 record and tied for the Big Ten Conference championship. Bob Wolff was the team captain.2012 Record Book, p. 13.
American football 1950 Detroit Lions season – The Lions compiled a 6–6 record under head coach Bo McMillin. With 323 points scored (26.8 points per game), the Lions ranked third in the NFL in scoring offense. Bobby Layne led the NFL with 2,323 passing yards (193.6 yards per game) and 2,573 yards of total offense, and Doak Walker led the league with 128 points scored. The team's other statistical leaders included Bob Hoernschemeyer (5.6 rushing yards per carry, third highest in the NFL) and Cloyce Box (1,009 receiving yards, second most in the NFL in 1950). On defense, Don Doll's 12 interceptions ranked second in the NFL. 1950 Michigan Wolverines football team – The Wolverines compiled a 6–3–1 record under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, won the Big Ten Conference championship after defeating Ohio State in the Snow Bowl, was ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll, and defeated California in the 1951 Rose Bowl. 1950 Michigan State Spartans football team – The Spartans compiled an 8–1 record, including road victories over Michigan, Notre Dame, and Pitt, under head coach Biggie Munn and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll. Two players from the 1950 Michigan State team were selected as first-team All-Americans: Sonny Grandelius and Dorne Dibble. 1950 Detroit Titans football team - The Titans compiled a 6–3–1 record under head coach Chuck Baer. 1950 Central Michigan Chippewas football team – The Chippewas compiled a 6–4 record under head coach Warren Schmakel. 1950 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team – The Hurons compiled a 3–6 record under head coach Harry Ockerman. 1950 Western Michigan Broncos football team – The Broncos compiled a 5–4 record under head coach John Gill. Michigan high school football championship - Flint Northern High School under coach Guy Houston and led by halfback Leroy Bolden
Basketball 1949–50 Detroit Titans men's basketball team - The Titans compiled a 20–6 record under head coach Bob Calihan. 1949–50 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – The Wolverines compiled an 11–11 record under head coach Ernie McCoy. Mack Supronowicz and Leo VanderKuy led the team with 278 and 274 points, respectively. 1949–50 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – The Spartans compiled a 4–18 record under head coach Al Kircher. 1949–50 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team - The Broncos compiled a 12–10 record under head coach Bill Perigo.
Ice hockey 1949–50 Detroit Red Wings season – The Red Wings compiled a 37–19–14 record under head coach Tommy Ivan and won the Stanley Cup championship. The team's statistical leaders included Gordie Howe (35 goals), Ted Lindsay (55 assists and 78 points), and Terry Sawchuk (2.29 goals against average). The three members of the Red Wings' famed Production Line finished first, second, third in points scored among NHL players: Lindsay (78); Sid Abel (69); and Howe (68). Lindsay also led the NHL in assists, and Howe finished second in goals behind Maurice Richard. 1949–50 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – The Wolverines compiled a 23–4 record and finished third in the 1950 Frozen Four under head coach Vic Heyliger. 1949–50 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team – The Spartans compiled a 0–14 record under head coach Harold Paulsen. 1949–50 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – The Huskies compiled a 10–7 record under head coach Amo Bessone.
Boat racing APBA Gold Cup - The Slo-Mo-Shun IV from Seattle, piloted by Ted Jones, won the 43rd annual Gold Cup race before a crowd estimated at 100,000 along the banks of the Detroit River. The Slo-Mo-Shun set a race record averaging 78.21 miles per hour on the 90-mile route. Harmsworth Cup - The Slo-Mo-Shun IV, piloted by Lou Fageol, won the annual speed-boat race on the Detroit River and set a lap record with a speed of 102.676 miles per hour. Fageol's time "smashed all competitive speed-boat racing records." Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race – In the 26th running of the annual 342-mile sailing race, the yawl Escapade was victorious, completing the course in a record time of 25 hours, 47 minutes, and 19 seconds.
Boxing February 3 - World middleweight champion Jake LaMotta defeated Dick Wagner on a technical knockout in the ninth round at Olympia Stadium in Detroit. The bout was LaMotta's 17th in Detroit where he had become a fan favorite. September 27 - Detroit's Joe Louis, heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, at age 36, fought Ezzard Charles in a comeback bout at Yankee Stadium in New York. Louis had not fought since June 1948. He lost badly to Charles.
Golfing