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) Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: 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.