Events from the year 1955 in Michigan
Top stories
The Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) each selected Michigan's top news stories of 1955 as follows:
The modified guaranteed annual wage (GAW) agreements between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the major American automobile manufacturers. The historic agreements provided a modified GAW obligation on the part of the auto makers to pay workers supplementary payments on top of unemployment benefits for 26 weeks in the event of a layoff. (AP-1, UP-1) The unsolved sex slayings of Barbara Gaca (age 7, body discovered near Pontiac, March 31), Jeannie Singleton (age 8, body found north of Kalamazoo, June 1), and Peter Gorham (age 12, body found north of Muskegon, August 14). (AP-3, UP-2) The announcement at a press conference in Ann Arbor on April 12 that the Salk polio vaccine had been approved as safe and effective. (AP-2, UP-4) Record production totals in the automobile industry. The industry produced a record 7,942,893 passengers cars in 1955, an increase of more than a million cars over 1954 production levels. Truck production was 1,247,799. The breakdown among manufacturers was 4,649,279 for General Motors (1,830,037 for Chevrolet), 2,614,599 for Ford Motor, and 1,457,453 million for Chrysler. In addition, the payroll of the Big Three auto makers (General Motors, Ford Motor, and Chrysler) exceeded five billion dollars paid to 982,183 salaried and hourly workers. (AP-6 [tie], UP-5) The April 4 election in which Democrats dominated state offices. (AP-4, UP-10) A 46-day newspaper strike that ran from December 1, 1955, until January 17, 1956, that halted publication of The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and Detroit Times. (AP-11 [tie], UP-7 [tie]) The Michigan Legislature's adoption in November 1955 of a 65-mile per hour daytime speed limit. (UP-3) The legislative deadlock over funding for hospital beds for child mental patients. The deadlock was broken on December 14 when the Michigan Legislature passed legislation providing for 1,450 additional beds to be available within four months and 2,500 more beds in a new hospital to be built in southeastern Michigan. (AP-5) Competition between Cadillac and Kalkaska over the site for a jet base in northern Michigan. (UP-6) The 1955 Michigan State Spartans football team winning a bid to the Rose Bowl. (AP-6 [tie]) The Michigan Legislature's adoption of a highway program. (UP-7) Record heat and water shortages in many Michigan communities during the summer. (AP-8) Ford Motor Co.'s decision to list its stock for public sale. (AP-9) Construction of the Mackinac Bridge. By October 1955, 600 skilled men were working on the bridge, which was half completed with the gigantic main towers and concrete cable anchorages in place. (UP-9)
The United Press and The Detroit Reporter (strike newspaper) each selected the year's top sports stories as follows:
After a losing season in 1954, the 1955 Michigan State Spartans football team bounced back with a 9-1 record and was ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UP polls. (UP-1) The 1954–55 Detroit Red Wings' comeback to win the Stanley Cup in seven games over the Montreal Canadiens (DR-1) Al Kaline at age 20 became the youngest batting champion in major league history with a .340 batting average. (UP-2, DR-2) The Detroit Lions collapse from first place in 1954 to last place in 1955. (UP-3; DR-3) The hockey riot in Montreal on March 17, resulting in the forfeiture of a game to the Detroit Red Wings. (UP-4) Joe Schoenith's victory in the Gale V to bring the American Power Boat Association's Gold Cup back to Detroit (DR-4) The collapse of the 1955 Michigan Wolverines football team, ranked No. 1 in the country in late October and then losing two of their last three games, including a 17-0 loss to Ohio State. (UP-5) Anita Cantaline's victory in the U.S. Women's Open bowling championship (DR-5)
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan: G. Mennen Williams (Democrat) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Philip Hart (Democrat) Michigan Attorney General: Thomas M. Kavanagh (Democrat) Michigan Secretary of State: James M. Hare (Democrat) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Wade Van Valkenburg (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Leland W. Carr
Mayors of major cities
Mayor of Detroit: Albert Cobo (Republican) Mayor of Grand Rapids: George Veldman Mayor of Flint: George M. Algoe Mayor of Saginaw: George H. Fischer/Maurice E. Brown Mayor of Dearborn: Orville L. Hubbard Mayor of Lansing: Ralph Crego Mayor of Ann Arbor: William E. Brown Jr.
Federal office holders U.S. Senator from Michigan: Patrick V. McNamara (Democrat) U.S. Senator from Michigan: Charles E. Potter (Republican) House District 1: Thaddeus M. Machrowicz (Democrat) House District 2: George Meader (Republican) House District 3: August E. Johansen (Republican) House District 4: Clare Hoffman (Republican) House District 5: Gerald Ford (Republican) House District 6: Donald Hayworth (Democrat) House District 7: Jesse P. Wolcott (Republican) House District 8: Alvin Morell Bentley (Republican) House District 9: Ruth Thompson (Republican) House District 10: Elford Albin Cederberg (Republican) House District 11: Victor A. Knox (Republican) House District 12: John B. Bennett (Republican) House District 13: Charles Diggs (Democrat) House District 14: Louis C. Rabaut (Democrat) House District 15: John Dingell Sr. (Democrat)/John Dingell Jr. (Democrat) House District 16: John Lesinski Jr. (Democrat) House District 17: Martha Griffiths (Democrat) House District 18: George Anthony Dondero (Republican)
Population
Companies The following is a list of major companies based in, or having a substantial manufacturing presence in, Michigan in 1955. Fortune 500 Rank (1956)(sales and net earnings figures come from the 1956 Fortune 500 list, which was based on 1955 sales and earnings, unless another source is provided.) Company1955 sales (millions)1955 net earnings (millions) Headquarters Nature of business1General Motors12,443.31,189.5DetroitOne of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers and the largest corporation in the world3Ford Motor Company5,594.0437.0DearbornOne of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers5Chrysler3,466.2100.1DetroitOne of the "Big Three" automobile manufacturers58Bendix Aviation567.225.9DetroitParts supplier to auto industry75Studebaker-Packard480.0-29.7Detroit and South Bend, INOne of the "Little Three" automobile makers77Dow Chemical Co.470.737.4MidlandAs of 1955, the fourth largest chemical firm in United States81American Motors441.1-7.0DetroitOne of the "Little Three" automobile makersnaS. S. Kresge Corp.354.713.9DetroitNational chain of over 600 dime stores117Electric Auto-Lite296.010.1Toledo, OHSparkplugs and auto parts company with Michigan manufacturing122Thompson Products286.211.3ClevelandAutomobile parts with manufacturing in Michigan (later became TRW)127Whirlpool-Seeger280.414.1Benton HarborWashers, dryers, and ironers165Fruehauf Trailer Co.234.68.7DetroitTruck trailersnaDetroit Edison219.726.3DetroitElectric utility169Eaton Manufacturing218.113.3Cleveland, OHAutomobile parts170Burroughs218.612.1DetroitAdding machines, computers, and other business equipment (later became Unisys)182Timken Roller Bearing196.122.1Canton, OHRoller bearings with several Detroit plantsnaConsumers Power189.4 JacksonElectric and natural gas utility190Kellogg's182.113.8Battle CreekCereal foods206Kaiser Industries164.05.1ToledoOne of the "Little Three" automobile makers; Kaiser Motors was renamed Kaiser Industries in 1955, which also included Willys Motors and non-automobile enterprises263Clark Equipment Co.150.79.5BuchananIndustrial and construction machinery241McLouth Steel145.08.1DetroitSteel272Parke-Davis123.114.3DetroitPharmaceutical302Detroit Steel101.86.3DetroitSteel324Ex-Cell-O92.59.5DetroitMachine work343Gerber Products86.75.5FremontBaby food350Federal-Mogul85.07.8DetroitBearings and replacement parts for autos, trucks, and aircraft372Midland Steel Products80.64.4ClevelandAutomobile frames with manufacturing in Michigan426Mueller Brass Co.67.72.5Port HuronBrass tubing and fittingMueller Brass became independent in 1927 when Oscar Mueller exchanged his interest in Mueller Co. for the Port Huron plant, converting it into an independent brass tubing and fitting manufacturing enterprise under the name of Mueller Brass Company.434Calumet & Hecla64.43.6ChicagoCopper mining and smelting in northern Michigan441American Metal Products63.54.3DetroitAutomotive and aircraft parts manufacturingnaWrigley Supermarkets----Detroit$332-million supermarket chain owned by John and Nathan LurienaUpjohn----KalamazooPharmaceuticalnaMasco Screw Products----DearbornScrew machine parts and Delta faucets owned by Alex ManoogiannaMichigan Bell--29.5DetroitTelephone utility
Sports
Baseball
1955 Detroit Tigers season – Under manager Bucky Harris, the Tigers compiled a 79–75 record and finished in fifth place in the American League. Al Kaline, at age 21, led all of Major League Baseball with a .340 batting average. The team's other statistical leaders included Kaline with 27 home runs, Ray Boone with 116 RBIs, and Billy Hoeft with 16 wins and a 2.99 earned run average. 1955 Michigan Wolverines baseball team - Under head coach Ray Fisher, the Wolverines compiled a 17–11–1 record. Dan Cline was the team captain.2012 Record Book, p. 13.
American football
1955 Detroit Lions season – After playing in the NFL Championship Game for three consecutive years, the Lions in 1955 compiled a 3–9 record and finished in sixth place in the NFL Western Conference. The team's statistical leaders included Bobby Layne with 1,830 passing yards, Lew Carpenter with 543 rushing yards, Dave Middleton with 663 receiving yards, and Doak Walker with 96 points scored. 1955 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 9–1 record and were ranked No. 2 behind Oklahoma in the final AP Poll. 1955 Michigan Wolverines football team – Under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference with a record of 7–2 and were ranked No. 12 and No. 13 in the final AP and UPI Polls. Left end Ron Kramer was selected as a first-team All-American. 1955 Central Michigan Chippewas football team – Under head coach Kenneth "Bill" Kelly, the Chippewas compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 against IIAC opponents), tied for the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championship, shut out three of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 327 to 79. 1955 Detroit Titans football team – The Titans outscored their opponents by a combined total of 100 to 62 and finished with a 5–3–1 record under head coach Wally Fromhart. 1955 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team – Under head coach Fred Trosko, the Hurons compiled a 7–2 record, tied with Central Michigan for the IIAC championship, and outscored their opponents, 138 to 70. 1955 Western Michigan Broncos football team – Under head coach Jack Petoskey, the Broncos compiled a 1–7–1 record and were outscored by their opponents, 200 to 80.
Basketball 1954–55 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach William Perigo, the Wolverines compiled an 11–11 record. Ron Kramer was the team's leading scorer with 352 points in 22 games for an average of 16.0 points per game. 1954–55 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach Forddy Anderson, the Spartans compiled a 13–9 record. 1954–55 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – The Titans compiled a 15–11 record under head coach Bob Calihan. 1954–55 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team – Under head coach Joseph Hoy, the Broncos compiled a 12–10 record.
Ice hockey