Events from the year 1946 in Michigan included the emergence of anti-graft crusader Kim Sigler and his election as governor, a strike by the United Auto Workers, and supply-chain problems that slowed production in the automobile industry. The year's major sports stories included the 1946 Detroit Tigers finishing second in the American League with Hal Newhouser winning 26 games and finishing second in voting for the most valuable player award. Notable deaths in 1946 included former Michigan football coach Fielding H. Yost. Notable births in Michigan included comedienne and actress Gilda Radner and writer/director Paul Schrader
Top stories
The Associated Press polled editors of its member newspapers in Michigan and ranked the state's top news stories of 1946 as follows: Kim Sigler. Kim Sigler began the year as special prosecutor pursuing government corruption. After 28 months in that position, he was fired in March 1946. A former Democrat, he won the Republican nomination for governor in a four-way contest. He then won the general election in November by more than 350,000 votes, the largest margin for a Michigan governor in a non-presidential year. UAW strike. In January, Chrysler and Ford settled their part in the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike of 1945–1946. The last to settle was General Motors on March 13, ending a strike by 175,000 production workers that had lasted for 113 days since November 21, 1945. Production problems in the automobile industry. Reduced production was attributed to factors including Office of Price Administration (OPA) price controls on new automobiles (which were finally lifted in November), the UAW strike, and strikes against automobile parts suppliers and in the steel, coal, rail, and Great Lakes shipping industries. Tornadoes. Two large tornadoes in June 1946 struck Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the most devastating being the 1946 Windsor–Tecumseh tornado Bank bribery scandal. On July 20, 19 men including the president of Michigan National Bank, were indicted for conspiring to block passage of Michigan's anti-branch bank bill. Jackson Prison scandal. In April, a hearing for reinstatement of the fired warden of the Jackson State Prison revealed extensive corruption at the prison, including bribes for whisky, more favorable work assignments, and visits to a house of ill fame. Frank McKay trial. Former Republican national committeeman Frank McKay and four others were tried in January and February on charges of corrupting the state liquor control commission. After a month of trial, the judge granted a directed verdict and dismissed the charges. The case had been prosecuted by Kim Sigler. Baroda school explosion. The November 13 explosion of a water tank at a school in Baroda, killing one child and endangering 260. Cardinal Mooney. On February 18, Detroit Archbishop Edward Aloysius Mooney was elevated by the pope to the status of cardinal. He was the first cardinal in Michigan. Destruction of cottages near Bay City. On March 9, strong winds from a blizzard pushed massive ice floes from Saginaw Bay onto Killarney and Ricomo Beaches near Bay City. The ice reached heights of 40 feet along a two-mile stretch of beach, crushing 100 cottages.
Other stories receiving votes but falling outside the top ten included the following: The National Maritime Union's Great Lakes shipping strike; OPA exposure of a $3 million black market for cars based in Michigan; The trial and conviction of Anthony Lobaido for the rape and slashing of a Detroit child; and Celebration of the Detroit Automobile Golden Jubilee.
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan: Harry Kelly (Republican) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Vernon J. Brown (Republican) Michigan Attorney General: John R. Dethmers (Republican)/Foss O. Eldred (Republican) Michigan Secretary of State: Herman H. Dignan (Republican) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Howard Nugent (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Henry M. Butzel
Mayors of major cities
Mayor of Detroit: Edward Jeffries (Republican) Mayor of Grand Rapids: George W. Welsh (Republican) Mayor of Flint: Edwin C. McLogan/Edward J. Viall Mayor of Dearborn: Orville L. Hubbard Mayor of Saginaw: Harold J. Stenglein Mayor of Lansing: Ralph Crego 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: Bartel J. Jonkman (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: Frederick Van Ness Bradley (Republican) House District 12: Frank Eugene Hook (Democrat) 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 1946. Company1946 sales (millions)1946 net earnings (millions) Headquarters Core businessGeneral Motors DetroitAutomobilesFord Motor CompanynanaFord was a privately held company until 1956. Accordingly, its financial results for 1946 were not made public. AutomobilesChrysler AutomobilesStudebaker Corp. AutomobilesBriggs Mfg. Co. DetroitAutomobile parts supplierS. S. Kresge RetailHudson Motor Car Co. DetroitAutomobilesDetroit Edison Electric utilityMichigan Bell Telephone utilityKellogg's Battle CreekBreakfast cerealParke-Davis DetroitPharmaceuticalREO Motor Car Co. LansingAutomobilesBurroughs Adding Machine Business machines
Also in 1946, Avis Car Rental was founded by Warren Avis in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Sports
Baseball
1946 Detroit Tigers season – Under manager Steve O'Neill, the Tigers compiled a 92–62 record and finished second in the American League. The team's statistical leaders included Roy Cullenbine with a .335 batting average and Hank Greenberg with 44 home runs and 127 RBIs. Hal Newhouser led the pitching staff with a 26–9 record and a 1.94 ERA. Newhouser finished second in the MVP voting behind Ted Williams. 1946 Michigan Wolverines baseball season - Under head coach Ray Fisher, the Wolverines compiled an 18–3 record and finished second in the Big Ten Conference. Bliss Bowman was the team captain.2012 Record Book, p. 13.
American football 1946 Detroit Lions season – The Lions compiled a 1–10 and finished last in the NFL Western Division. 1946 Michigan Wolverines football team – Led by head coach Fritz Crisler, the Wolverines compiled a 6–2–1 record and were ranked No. 6 in the final AP poll. Statistical leaders included Bob Chappuis with 735 passing yards and 548 rushing yards. 1946 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 5–3–1 record. 1946 Detroit Titans football team – Under head coach Chuck Baer, the Titans compiled a 6–4 record. 1946 Central Michigan Chippewas football team - Under head coach Ron Finch, the Chippewas compiled a 6–2 record. 1946 Western Michigan Broncos football team - Under head coach John Gill, the Broncos compiled a 5–2–1 record. 1946 Michigan Tech Huskies football team - Under head coach Rex Benoit, the Huskies compiled a 3–2 record. 1946 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team - Under head coach Elton Rynearson, the Hurons compiled a 3–4–1 record. 1946 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season - The Hilllsdale Dales and Kalamazoo Hornets tied for the MIAC championship.
Basketball 1945–46 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines compiled a 12–7 record. Dave Strack was the team captain. Glen Selbo was the leading scorer.
Ice hockey 1945–46 Detroit Red Wings season – The Red Wings compiled a 20–20–10 record and finished fourth in the NHL. The team's statistical leaders included Joe Carveth with 35 points and 18 assists and Adam Brown with 20 goals.
Boxing
June 19 - Detroit's Joe Louis defeated Billy Conn at Yankee stadium to retain his world heavyweight championship. September 18 - Joe Louis defeated Tami Mauriello before a crowd of 38,494 in New York. The fight lasted only two minutes and nine seconds.
Boat racing APBA Gold Cup – Bandleader Guy Lombardo, racing in his boat, the Tempo VI, won the American Power Boat Association's Gold Cup boat race on the Detroit River. Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race –
Golfing Michigan Open - Chuck Kocsis won the Michigan Open golf tournament, held at the Black River Country Club course in Port Huron, Michigan.
Chronology of events January January 3 - The Detroit Tigers traded Rudy York to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Eddie Lake January 26 - Ford and Chrysler reach agreements with the UAW raising wages by 18-1/2 cents per hour at Chrysler and 18 cents an hour at Ford. The strike continued as to GM with Walter Reuther declaring that the UAW would not settle for less than 19-1/2 cents from GM.
February February 13 - Judge John Simpson freed former state Republican Party boss Frank D. McKay and four others, granting a directed verdict after a month-long trial of the five men on charges of corruption in the administration of the state's liquor control commission. The case had been prosecuted by Kim Sigler who was elected as Michigan governor nine months later. February 18 - Edward Aloysius Mooney, archbishop of Detroit, was elevated in Rome by Pope Pius XII to the Sacred College of Cardinals. He became Detroit's first cardinal. February 18 - Detroit Tigers slugger Hank Greenberg disclosed his wedding to heiress Caral Glazier Gimbel, daughter of the New York department store owner.
March
March - R. J. Thomas and Walter Reuther engage in a bitter struggle for control of the UAW. Reuther vowed to fight communists within the union. Reuther was elected on March 27 by a narrow margin to replace Thomas as president and made plea for unity. He vowed that no outside groups of Communists, Trotskyites, or Socialists would be allowed to dictate to the union during his leadership. However, the Thomas-Addes faction maintained control of the union's executive board. March 9 - Strong winds pushed ice flows onto the Killarney and Ricomo Beaches on Saginaw Bay, five miles north of Bay City. The ice reached heights of 40 feet along a two-mile stretch of beach, crushing 100 cottages. March 12 - Kim Sigler was fired as special prosecutor by Judge Louis E. Coash. Sigler had been the Ingham County grand jury special prosecutor for two years. Despite the termination, Sigler was elected as governor in November. One week earlier, Sigler had announced his intention to petition to remove Coach from his supervisory role in Sigler's graft probe. March 13 - General Motors reached a settlement with the CIO United Auto Workers, ending the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike of 1945–1946 by 175,000 production workers at the world's largest automobile manufacturer that had lasted for 113 days since November 21, 1945. Workers received a wage rate increase of 18.5 cents (17.5%).
April April - The Detroit Street Railroad (DSR) was shut down during the first week of the month by a strike. Workers received a 15-cent wage increase. April - The state civil service commission heard the request for reinstatement by former Michigan prison warden Harry H. Jackson. The hearing brought to light evidence of widespread corruption, including bribes for more favorable work assignments, whisky, marijuana, and visits to a house of ill fame.