- Frank Fitzgerald
Infobox Governor
name= Frank Fitzgerald
caption=
order= 34th
office= Governor of Michigan
term_start=January 1 ,1935
term_end=January 1 ,1937
lieutenant= Thomas Read
predecessor=William Comstock
successor=Frank Murphy
order4= 36th
office4= Governor of Michigan
term_start4=January 1 ,1939
term_end4=March 16 ,1939
lieutenant4=Luren Dickenson
predecessor4=Frank Murphy
successor4=Luren Dickenson
birth_date=January 27 ,1885
birth_place=Grand Ledge, Michigan
death_date=March 16 ,1939
death_place=Grand Ledge, Michigan
spouse= Queena M. Warner
party=Republican
religion=Congregationalist Frank Dwight Fitzgerald (
January 27 ,1885 –March 16 ,1939 ) was an Americanpolitician . He was elected as Republican governor ofMichigan to two non-consecutive terms and was the only Michigan governor to die in office.Early life
Fitzgerald was born in
Grand Ledge, Michigan , the son ofJohn Wesley Fitzgerald , a member ofMichigan State House of Representatives fromEaton County, Michigan , 1st District, 1895-96, and Carrie G. (Foreman) Fitzgerald. He was married onJune 28 ,1909 , to Queena M. Warner and they had one child together. He was also the father ofJohn W. Fitzgerald a Michigan State Senator and justice of theMichigan Supreme Court as well as chief justice in 1982. Fitzgerald was also the grandfather ofFrank M. Fitzgerald , who was a member of the Michigan House from the 56th District 1987-92 and 71st District 1993-96. He attended Grand Ledge High School, and received further education at the Ferris Institute (nowFerris State University ) in Big Rapids.Politics
Fitzgerald entered politics in 1913, serving as clerk of the State House, as well as serving as clerk of the State Senate, a position held six years. He was also deputy secretary of state from 1919 to 1923.
Fitzgerald served as a delegate from Michigan to the
1924 Republican National Convention at whichincumbent Calvin Coolidge was nominated for President. He was a member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1925-26 and secretary of theMichigan Republican Party , 1929-30. In 1931, he was elected Secretary of State of Michigan. He served as a delegate to the1932 Republican National Convention , when the convention nominated incumbent PresidentHerbert Hoover . Hoover ultimately lost toFranklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932General Election .In 1934, Fitzgerald resigned from office to run for Governor of Michigan. He was elected, defeating Democrat Arthur J. Lacy [ [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/lachapelle-ladas.html#RWI0T0Y06 The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Lachance to Ladato ] at politicalgraveyard.com] and served a full two-year term. During his term, the state budget was balanced and the consolidation of state agencies was promoted. He was a delegate to the
1936 Republican National Convention , which nominatedAlf Landon , who ultimately lost to Roosevelt in the 1936 General Election. Later that year, Fitzgerald was defeated in his bid for re-election as governor by DemocratFrank Murphy .Non-consecutive election and death
Fitzgerald defeated Murphy in 1938, and joined
John S. Barry as the only two people to serve non-consecutive terms as Governor of Michigan. He died in Grand Ledge at the age of fifty-four, only two and a half months after retaking office. He was the first and only Michigan governor to die in office and was succeeded byLieutenant Governor Luren Dickenson .Fizgerald was a member of Freemasons, Eagles,
Shriners ,Knights of Pythias ,Knights of the Maccabees and Odd Fellows. He is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Grand Ledge, Michigan.Notes
ources
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/fitzgerald.html#RH801N11E The Political Graveyard]
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=c01ce8569a313010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=41&GSmpid=6422241&GRid=6562308& Find a Grave]
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