Fitzgerald Family’s Long History

With the passing of Lorabeth Fitzgerald I thought I would repost my history of the Fitzgerald Family.

  (Read More about Lorabeth)

With recent elections, it put me in mind of our own local political dynasty, The Fitzgerald Family. Four generations have served our state in public office, this week I will discuss Governor Fitzgerald.

Frank Dwight Fitzgerald was born January 27, 1885, the son of John W and Carrie Fitzgerald. On June 28, 1909, Frank married Queena Warner. It was about 1913 when he served as clerk in the State Legislature. From 1919 to 1923 He was deputy Secretary of State. He served various positions with the Michigan Republican Party. In 1932 he was a delegate at the Republican National Convention and helped nominate President Hoover for another term.

In 1931, Frank was elected Secretary of State of Michigan. In 1934, Fitzgerald left his office to run for Governor of Michigan. He was elected Michigan’s 34^th Governor and served 1935-1936, a full two year term. As Governor he promoted a balanced budget, smaller more efficient government and the civil service system for State employees. Michigan did not have a governor’s residence at the time, so the Fitzgerald home at 521 E. Jefferson served as the official Governors Residence during most of his term.

In 1936 he campaigned for re-election against democrat Frank Murphy, but he was defeated. During this campaigned the family moved to 219 W. Jefferson. This stately home was built by the sister to Ransom E. Olds, of Oldsmobile fame. The house has remained the Fitzgerald Family Home ever since.

Two years later, the home’s dining room became campaign headquarters when he again ran for re-election against Frank Murphy who was running for his own second term. Fitzgerald won the election and became one of only two Michigan Governors to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.

As Michigan’s 36^th Governor he took office on January 1, 1939. Sadly within just a few weeks he became ill and the dining room went from campaign headquarters to a sick bed for the ailing Governor. It was there that he died on March 16, 1939. The only Governor of Michigan to die in office.

If you look round our town there is much to remind you of our Governor. His portrait prominently overlooks all City Council Meetings in the Council Chambers. Saginaw Highway from Grand Ledge to Lansing was dedicated as the Frank D. Fitzgerald Memorial Highway. His home on West Jefferson is a State Historic Site. During his first term in office the City dedicated the ball field down by the bridge as Fitzgerald Field. In 1940 after his death, the City renamed Riverside Park as Fitzgerald Park. Finally his gravestone, a tall white obelisk, towers over others in Oakwood Cemetery.

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1930s Campaign Advertisement

YOUR GOVERNOR – He kept his word. No new taxes, no new debts, and a balanced budget in two years. He converted a $6 million deficit into an $8 million balance, taking the State definitely out of the red and into the black. He did all this, without losing sight of the human side of government.

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As I mentioned last time, The Fitzgerald Family has long been involved in public service.

John Wesley Fitzgerald started it all. He was born in 1850 to Irish parents. He later married Carrie Foreman. John W. Fitzgerald lived at 220 E. Jefferson and was elected to the State House of Representatives for 1895-1896. He also served as Postmaster for Grand Ledge. His son, the future Governor worked with him as a mail clerk before joining politics.

John Warner Fitzgerald was the grandson of John W. and son of the Governor. John had his own long and esteemed public service career. He was born November 14, 1924. When just a freshman at Grand Ledge High School, his father died. John graduated in 1942 and went on to MSU for two terms before joining the Army during World War II. After the Army he returned to get a bachelors degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

After passing the bar, John return to Grand Ledge and opened his own law practice in 1955. That same year he also became the Legal Counsel to the State Senate. In 1957 John ran for State Senator for his district and was elected. He began serving in the State Senate in 1958. The Michigan Constitutional Convention of 1963 created the Michigan Court of Appeals and John Fitzgerald was elected as one of the first nine judges in 1964 and was named Chief Justice Pro-Tem of the Court. Justice Fitzgerald left the Court in 1974 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Michigan Supreme Court. He ran for re-election for his own term in the fall of that same year. He won the election for an eight year term. In 1982, the final year of his tern, he was elected Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.

Even beyond his work in the court system, John left his mark on Cooley Law School. In 1973 he taught the very first class in the new school. He also was a founding member of the Cooley Board of Directors. Justice Fitzgerald remained part of the School for 34 years. The graduating class of 2006 was even named in his honor.

While John was at MSU he met and married Lorabeth Moore. They had three children: Frank, Eric and Adam. Justice Fitzgerald pass away in 2006.

The fourth generation of the family to serve was Frank Moore Fitzgerald, son of John and Lorabeth. Frank was elected to the State House in 1987 and served until 1998. Governor Engler appointed him State Insurance Commissioner in 1999. From 2000-2003 Frank served as the State Financial and Insurance Services Commissioner. In 2003 Frank became a Managing Partner in the Clark Hill law firm. Sadly Frank died suddenly in 2004.