Calendar year
Events from the year 1969 in Michigan .
The
Associated Press (AP) and
United Press International (UPI) each selected the top 10 stories in Michigan for 1969, including the following:
[1]
The "
Michigan murders ", a series of six killings of young women between 1967 and 1969 in the
Ann Arbor /
Ypsilanti area climaxing with the August 1 arrest of John Norman Collins (AP-1, UPI-1);
An education reform plan proposed by Governor
William Milliken (AP-2, UPI-2);
The debate over a proposal to provide public funding to parochial schools (AP-3, UPI-2);
William Milliken's succession of
George W. Romney as Governor of Michigan following Romney's becoming
United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (AP-4, UPI-3);
The
New Bethel Church shootout between members of the
Republic of New Africa and the Detroit Police Department on March 29 (AP-5, UPI-7);
The November 4 Detroit mayoral election in which Wayne County Sheriff
Roman Gribbs narrowly defeated Wayne County auditor
Richard H. Austin 's bid to become the city's first African-American mayor (AP-6, UPI-6);
[2]
Henry Ford II 's firing of
Semon Knudsen as president of
Ford Motor Company on September 11, only 18 months after Knudsen was hired away from
General Motors (AP-7, UPI-5);
[3]
The October 17 appointment of
Clifton R. Wharton Jr. as President of
Michigan State University , the first African-American to head a major university (AP-8, UPI-8);
[4]
Controversy over sex education guidelines prepared by the Michigan Board of Education (UPI-4);
The murder trial and acquittal of Detroit police officer Ronald August arising out of the
Algiers Motel incident (AP-9);
The emergence of
Robert P. Griffin as a force in the
United States Senate with his selection as whip (UPI-9);
The death of Dr. Leroy G. Augenstein, a member of the Michigan State Board of Education and a potential U.S. Senate candidate in 1970, in a private plane crash on November 8 (AP-10, UPI-10).
[5]
The UPI also selected the state's top 10 sports stories as follows:
[6]
The
1969 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game with Michigan upsetting undefeated and No. 1 ranked Ohio State on November 22;
[7]
The
1969 Michigan Wolverines football team tying for the
Big Ten Conference championship and receiving the conference's berth to play in the
1970 Rose Bowl ;
[8]
Spencer Haywood , basketball player at the
University of Detroit , selected as an All-American and decided to turn pro;
[9]
The October 16 firing of
Bill Gadsby as the
Detroit Red Wings 's coach with
Sid Abel taking over coaching duties;
[10]
The August 10 firing of
Johnny Sain as the
Detroit Tigers ' pitching coach after a public rift with manager
Mayo Smith ;
[11]
The first and last
Michigan Golf Classic , held at the Shenandoah Golf and County Club, which became the first
PGA Tour event in modern history to default on its obligation to pay purse money;
[12]
The
1969 Detroit Lions finishing with their best record since 1962;
[13]
Gordie Howe tallying a career-high 103 points at age 41;
[14]
The
1969 Detroit Tigers failing to repeat as
American League champions and finishing in second place in the new
American League East ;
[15]
(tie) The September 10 death of Michigan State basketball coach
John E. Benington from a heart attack in the coaches' locker room at
Jenison Fieldhouse ,
[16] and
Dave Bing 's September 2 announcement that he would leave the
Detroit Pistons in 1971 to play for the
Washington Capitols in the
ABA .
[17]
In music, the year's highlights in Michigan included albums from Michigan bands
Tommy James and the Shondells (featuring "
Crimson and Clover " and "
Crystal Blue Persuasion "),
The Stooges (featuring "
I Wanna Be Your Dog "),
Bob Seger (featuring "
Ramblin' Gamblin' Man "), the
MC5 (
Kick Out the Jams ),
Alice Cooper , and
Grand Funk Railroad , and
Motown 's Hitsville U.S.A. continued to produce hit records by
The Temptations ("
I Can't Get Next to You "),
Diana Ross & the Supremes ("
Someday We'll Be Together "),
Stevie Wonder ("
My Cherie Amour "),
The Jackson 5 ("
I Want You Back "), and
Marvin Gaye ("
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby ").
Office holders
Gov.
Milliken
State office holders
Mayors of major cities
Mayor
Cavanagh
Federal office holders
Sen.
Griffin
Sen.
Hart
Population
In the
1960 United States census , Michigan was recorded as having a population of 7,823,194 persons, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1970, the state's population had grown 13.4% to 8,875,083 persons.
Cities
The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 60,000 based on 1960 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1950 and 1970 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.
1960 Rank
City
County
1950 Pop.
1960 Pop.
1970 Pop.
Change 1960-70
1
Detroit
Wayne
1,849,568
1,670,144
1,514,063
−9.3%
2
Flint
Genesee
163,143
196,940
193,317
−1.8%
3
Grand Rapids
Kent
176,515
177,313
197,649
11.5%
4
Dearborn
Wayne
94,994
112,007
104,199
−7.0%
5
Lansing
Ingham
92,129
107,807
131,403
21.9%
6
Saginaw
Saginaw
92,918
98,265
91,849
−6.5%
7
Warren
Macomb
42,653
89,246
179,260
100.2%
8
Pontiac
Oakland
73,681
82,233
85,279
3.7%
9
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
57,704
82,089
85,555
4.1%
10
Royal Oak
Oakland
46,898
80,612
86,238
7.0%
11
St. Clair Shores
Macomb
19,823
76,657
88,093
14.9%
12
Ann Arbor
Washtenaw
48,251
67,340
100,035
48.6%
13
Livonia
Wayne
17,634
66,702
110,109
65.1%
14
Dearborn Heights
Wayne
20,235
61,118
80,069
31.0%
15
Westland
Wayne
30,407
60,743
86,749
42.8%
Counties
The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 100,000 based on 1960 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1950 and 1970 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Counties that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.
1960 Rank
County
Largest city
1950 Pop.
1960 Pop.
1970 Pop.
Change 1960-70
1
Wayne
Detroit
2,435,235
2,666,297
2,666,751
0.0%
2
Oakland
Pontiac
396,001
690,259
907,871
31.5%
3
Macomb
Warren
184,961
405,804
625,309
54.1%
4
Genesee
Flint
270,963
374,313
444,341
18.7%
5
Kent
Grand Rapids
288,292
363,187
411,044
13.2%
6
Ingham
Lansing
172,941
211,296
261,039
23.5%
7
Saginaw
Saginaw
153,515
190,752
219,743
15.2%
8
Washtenaw
Ann Arbor
134,606
172,440
234,103
35.8%
9
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
126,707
169,712
201,550
18.8%
10
Berrien
Benton Harbor
115,702
149,865
163,875
9.3%
11
Calhoun
Battle Creek
120,813
138,858
141,963
2.2%
12
Jackson
Jackson
108,168
131,994
143,274
8.5%
13
Muskegon
Muskegon
121,545
129,943
157,426
21.2%
14
St. Clair
Port Huron
91,599
107,201
120,175
12.1%
15
Bay
Bay City
88,461
107,042
117,339
9.6%
16
Monroe
Monroe
75,666
101,120
118,479
17.2%
Sports
Baseball
1969 Detroit Lions season – The Lions, under head coach
Joe Schmidt , compiled a 9–4–1 record and finished in second place in the NFL's Central Division. The team's statistical leaders included
Bill Munson with 1,062 passing yards,
Bill Triplett with 377 rushing yards,
Charlie Sanders with 656 receiving yards, and
Errol Mann with 101 points scored.
[13]
1969 Michigan Wolverines football team – Under head coach
Bo Schembechler , the Wolverines compiled an 8–3 record and were ranked No. 9 in the final
AP Poll . The team's statistical leaders included
Don Moorhead with 1,261 passing yards,
Billy Taylor with 864 rushing yards and 114 points scored,
Jim Mandich with 662 receiving yards, and
Garvie Craw with 78 points scored.
[8]
1969 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach
Duffy Daugherty , the Spartans compiled a 4–6 record. The team's statistical leaders included Bill Triplett with 715 passing yards, Don Highsmith with 937 rushing yards and 42 points scored, and Frank Foreman with 537 receiving yards.
[21]
1969 Central Michigan Chippewas football team – Under head coach
Roy Kramer , the Chippewas compiled a 7–3 record.
[22]
1969 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team – Under head coach
Dan Boisture , the Hurons compiled a 5–4 record.
1969 Western Michigan Broncos football team – Under head coach
Bill Doolittle , the Broncos compiled a 4–6 record.
[23]
Basketball
Ice hockey
Golf
Boat racing
Other
Music
Michigan and/or
Motown acts performed 14 of the songs ranked on the
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1969 , as follows:
Albums released by Michigan and/or Motown acts in 1969 included the following:
Crimson & Clover by
Tommy James and the Shondells was released in January and reached No. 8 on the Billboard album chart. It featured the hit songs, "
Crimson and Clover " (pop No. 1) and "
Crystal Blue Persuasion " (pop No. 2).
Ramblin' Gamblin' Man by
The Bob Seger System was released in January. The single of the same title reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cloud Nine by
The Temptations was released on February 17 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard album chart. It featured the hit songs, "
Cloud Nine " (No. 2 R&B, No. 6 pop) and "
Runaway Child, Running Wild " (No. 1 R&B, No. 6 pop).
Kick Out the Jams by the
MC5 was released in February. It was recorded live at Detroit's
Grande Ballroom on October 30–31, 1968. The album was ranked No. 294 on
Rolling Stone list of the "
500 Greatest Albums of All Time ".
M.P.G. by
Marvin Gaye was released on April 30 and reached No. 1 on the soul albums chart. It was recorded at the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit. It featured the hit songs, "
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby " (R&B No. 1, pop No. 4) and "
That's The Way Love Is " (No. 2 soul, No. 7 pop).
Let the Sunshine In by
Diana Ross & the Supremes was released on May 26 and reached No. 7 on the R&B albums chart. It featured the hit single, "
I'm Livin' in Shame " (No. 10 pop).
Pretties for You by
Alice Cooper was released on June 30.
The Stooges , the debut studio album from
The Stooges , was released on August 5. The album was ranked at No. 185 on Rolling Stone list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The album included the single, "
I Wanna Be Your Dog " which was ranked at No. 438 on Rolling Stone' s list of the
500 Greatest Songs of All Time .
My Cherie Amour by
Stevie Wonder was released on August 29. It featured the hit songs, "
My Cherie Amour (pop No. 4) and "
Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday " (pop No. 7, R&B No. 5).
Puzzle People by The Temptations was released on September 23 and reached No. 5 on the pop albums chart. It featured the No. 1 single "
I Can't Get Next to You ".
Cream of the Crop , the final regular album by
The Supremes to feature
Diana Ross , was released on November 3. The album featured "
Someday We'll Be Together ", the final No. 1 hit of the 1960s.
Four in Blue by
The Miracles was released on November 3 and reached No. 3 in the R&B albums chart.
Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 by
The Jackson 5 was released on December 18 and reached No. 5 on the pop albums chart and No. 1 on the R&B albums chart. Recorded at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit, the album featured the No. 1 hit single, "
I Want You Back ".
Grand Funk , the second studio album by
Grand Funk Railroad , was released on December 29 and reached No. 11 on the pop albums chart.
Chronology of events
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Births
January 1 –
Verne Troyer , actor (
Mini-Me in the
Austin Powers film series), in
Sturgis, Michigan
March 18 –
Mike Dumas , NFL safety (1991-2000), in
Grand Rapids, Michigan
April 19 –
Dana Nessel , 54th Attorney General of Michigan
June 6 –
Erik Prince , former
U.S. Navy SEAL
officer and founder and former CEO and chairman of the government services and security company
Blackwater USA , now known as Academi, in
Holland, Michigan
October 8 –
Jeremy Davies , actor (
Saving Private Ryan ,
Lost ,
Justified ), in
Traverse City, Michigan
October 23 –
Sanjay Gupta , neurosurgeon and CNN's Emmy Award-winning chief medical correspondent, in
Novi, Michigan
Gallery of 1969 births
Deaths
January 28 –
Jesse P. Wolcott , U.S. Congressman (1931–1957), at age 75
April 10 –
Alvin Morell Bentley , U.S. Congressman (1953-1961), at age 50 in
Tucson, Arizona
May 5 –
Eddie Cicotte , Major League Baseball pitcher (1905-1920) banned from baseball due to the
Black Sox scandal , at age 84 in
Livonia, Michigan
June 27 –
Allen James Babcock , Bishop of Grand Rapids (1954-1969), at age 71
October 6 –
Walter Hagen , golfer with 11 professional
majors championships, at age 76 in
Traverse City, Michigan
Gallery of 1969 deaths
See also
References
^
"Ann Arbor Murders Top Story" . The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan . December 24, 1969. p. 11 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Gribbs Wins Mayor Race: One of Closest Contests in History" . Detroit Free Press . November 5, 1969. p. 1 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Knudsen Out in Ford Shakeup" . Detroit Free Press . September 12, 1969. p. 1 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Wharton Will Head MSU" . Lansing State Journal . October 17, 1969. p. 1 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Crash Fatal to Augenstein" . Lansing State Journal . November 9, 1969. p. 1 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"U-M's Upset Of OSU, Top Story" . The Holland Evening Sentinel . December 31, 1969. p. 22 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"U-M Humbles OSU: The Smell of Roses" . Detroit Free Press . November 23, 1969. p. 1 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
a
b
"1969 Michigan Wolverines Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Haywood Quits U-D to Play Pro Ball" . Detroit Free Press . August 24, 1969. p. 1C – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Wings Fire Bill Gadsby; Then Lose 1st" . Detroit Free Press . October 17, 1962. p. 1D – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Tigers Fire Sain as Pitching Coach" . Detroit Free Press . August 11, 1969. p. 1D – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Ziegler Wins -- Golf Classic Can't Pay!" . Detroit Free Press . September 8, 1969. p. 1D – via
Newspapers.com .
^
a
b
"1969 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
a
b
"1968–69 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics" . Hockey-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
a
b
"1969 Detroit Tigers Statistics" . Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Death Prevents Benington's Greatest Victory" . Lansing State Journal . September 11, 1969. p. F1 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Dave Bing to Quit Pistons for ABA: Agrees To Leave After 1970-71 Season" . Detroit Free Press . September 3, 1969. p. 1D – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Schweigert OK'd For Lt. Governor" . Battle Creek Enquirer and News . March 27, 1969. p. 9 – via
Newspapers.com .
^ Riegle switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in 1973.
^
"2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF) . University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 76. Archived from
the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"1969 Michigan State Spartans Stats" . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 110. Archived from
the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Football Records: Annual Results" . Western Michigan University. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"1968–69 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"1968–69 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results" . SR/CBB . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"1967–69 Detroit Titans Roster and Stats" . SR/CBB . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"1968–69 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats" . SR/CBB . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"1968–69 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results" . SR/CBB . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Michigan Tech Team History" . College Hockey News. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Michigan Team History" . College Hockey News. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .
^
"Michigan State Team History" . College Hockey News. Retrieved August 23, 2017 .