1972 in Michigan

Last updated • 10 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Events from the year 1972 in Michigan.

The Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) each selected the top news stories in Michigan for 1972 as follows: [1] [2]

Contents

  1. The court order issued by federal judge Stephen Roth requiring cross-district busing throughout metropolitan Detroit (AP-1, UPI-1);
  2. The beginning of the Michigan Lottery (AP-2, UPI-4);
  3. The defeat of Proposal B that would have amended the state constitution to liberalize Michigan's abortion law (AP-3, UPI-3);
  4. George Wallace's victory, attributed to the busing issue, in the 1972 Democratic Party Presidential primary with 51% of the vote (AP-4, UPI-2 [elections]);
  5. The defeat of a ballot proposal that would have changed Michigan's system of funding public education, placed a cap on property taxes, and provided for a graduated income tax (AP-6, UPI-7);
  6. Controversy concerning the Detroit Police Department's STRESS unit and a shootout between STRESS officers and off-duty Wayne County sheriff's deputies, resulting in the death of a deputy (AP-5, UPI-10);
  7. The U.S. Senate campaign in which incumbent Republican Robert P. Griffin defeated Democratic challenger Frank J. Kelley (AP-9, UPI-2 [elections];
  8. The skyjacking of an airliner by two Detroit residents, first to Detroit, then to Canada, and finally to Cuba (AP-10, UPI-9);
  9. A school funding crisis in Detroit after voters thrice rejected millage proposals (UPI-5)
  10. The automobile industry's record sales and profits and controversies over price increases, safety, and emission equipment (UPI-6);
  11. High winds that pushed water over the shoreline and resulted in six counties being declared federal disaster areas (AP-7);
  12. A collision near Port Huron that resulted in the sinking of the Sidney Smith in the St. Clair River, blocking the navigation channel (AP-8); and
  13. Michigan's meat law prohibiting use of udders, snouts, and spleen in making hot dogs and lunch meat was overturned by a federal court (UPI-8).

The AP and UPI also selected the state's top sports stories as follows: [3] [4]

  1. The 1972 Detroit Tigers winning the American League East division championship with a record of 86–70, then losing to the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series (AP-1 [ALCS], AP-2 [AL East championship], UPI-2);
  2. Duffy Daugherty's resignation after 19 years as head coach of the Michigan State Spartans football team and the hiring of Denny Stolz as his replacement (AP-3 [Daugherty], AP-5 [Stolz], UPI-1 [both]);
  3. Michigan Wolverines football, including the 1971 team's 13-12 loss to Stanford in the 1972 Rose Bowl and the 1972 team's 11-1 season and season-ending loss to Ohio State with Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler refusing to kick a game-tying field goal late in the game (AP-4 [OSU game], AP-9 [1972 Rose Bowl], UPI-3 [Rose Bowl and 1972 season]);
  4. Gary Player's victory at the 1972 PGA Championship held at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township (AP-6 [tie], UPI-8);
  5. Micki King's winning the gold medal in the springboard diving event at the 1972 Summer Olympics (AP-12, UPI-7);
  6. The induction of Gordie Howe into the Hockey Hall of Fame and son Mark Howe's becoming the only Michigan athlete to medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics (UPI-3);
  7. The 1972 Detroit Lions compiling an 8-5-1 record and failing to make the playoffs (UPI-5);
  8. The 1971–72 Detroit Red Wings' finishing in fifth place and failing to make the playoffs (UPI-6);
  9. The failure of a proposed domed stadium in downtown Detroit after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the proposed manner of selling bonds to finance the stadium was illegal (AP-6 [tie]);
  10. The hiring of Burt Smith as Michigan State University's athletic director (AP-6 [tie]);
  11. Ed Brinkman setting several Major League Baseball fielding records for shortstops (AP-9);
  12. Greg Landry's signing of a three-year contract with the Detroit Lions (AP-10 [tie]);
  13. The Detroit Tigers' purchase of Woodie Fryman in early August and his winning 10 games for the Tigers in August and September (AP-10 [tie]); and
  14. Michigan's high school basketball championships won by Flint Northern (Class A), River Rouge (Class B), Shelby (Class C), and Ewen-Trout Creek (Class D) (UPI-10).

Office holders

Gov. Milliken William G. Milliken 2 (Michigan Governor).jpg
Gov. Milliken

State office holders

Mayors of major cities

Mayor Gribbs Roman S. Gribbs.jpg
Mayor Gribbs

Federal office holders

Sen. Griffin Robert Paul Griffin.jpg
Sen. Griffin
Sen. Hart Philip Hart (D-MI).jpg
Sen. Hart

Population

In the 1970 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 8,875,083 persons, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1980, the state's population had grown 4.4% to 9,262,078 persons.

Cities

The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 70,000 based on 1970 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1960 and 1980 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1970
Rank
CityCounty1960 Pop.1970 Pop.1980 Pop.Change 1970-80
1 Detroit Wayne 1,670,1441,514,0631,203,368−20.5% Decrease2.svg
2 Grand Rapids Kent 177,313197,649181,843−8.0% Decrease2.svg
3 Flint Genesee 196,940193,317159,611−17.4% Decrease2.svg
4 Warren Macomb 89,246179,260161,134−10.1% Decrease2.svg
5 Lansing Ingham 107,807131,403130,414−0.8% Decrease2.svg
6 Livonia Wayne66,702110,109104,814−4.8% Decrease2.svg
7 Dearborn Wayne112,007104,19990,660−13.0% Decrease2.svg
8 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 67,340100,035107,9697.9% Increase2.svg
9 Saginaw Saginaw 98,26591,84977,508−15.6% Decrease2.svg
10 St. Clair Shores Macomb76,65788,09376,210−13.5% Decrease2.svg
11 Westland Wayne60,74386,74984,603−2.5% Decrease2.svg
12 Royal Oak Oakland80,61286,23870,893−17.8% Decrease2.svg
13 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 82,08985,55579,722−6.8% Decrease2.svg
14 Pontiac Oakland 82,23385,27976,715−10.0% Decrease2.svg
15 Dearborn Heights Wayne61,11880,06967,706−15.4% Decrease2.svg
16 Taylor Waynena70,02077,56810.8%Increase2.svg

Counties

The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 120,000 based on 1970 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1960 and 1980 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Counties that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1970
Rank
CountyLargest city1960 Pop.1970 Pop.1980 Pop.Change 1970-80
1 Wayne Detroit 2,666,2972,666,7512,337,891−12.3% Decrease2.svg
2 Oakland Pontiac 690,259907,8711,011,79311.4% Increase2.svg
3 Macomb Warren 405,804625,309694,60011.1% Increase2.svg
4 Genesee Flint 374,313444,341450,4491.4% Increase2.svg
5 Kent Grand Rapids 363,187411,044444,5068.1% Increase2.svg
6 Ingham Lansing 211,296261,039275,5205.5% Increase2.svg
7 Washtenaw Ann Arbor 172,440234,103264,74813.1% Increase2.svg
8 Saginaw Saginaw 190,752219,743228,0593.8% Increase2.svg
9 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 169,712201,550212,3785.4% Increase2.svg
10 Berrien Benton Harbor 149,865163,875171,2764.5% Increase2.svg
11 Muskegon Muskegon 129,943157,426157,5890.1% Increase2.svg
12 Jackson Jackson 131,994143,274151,4955.7% Increase2.svg
13 Calhoun Battle Creek 138,858141,963141,557−0.3% Decrease2.svg
14 Ottawa Holland 98,719128,181157,17422.6%Increase2.svg
15 St. Clair Port Huron 107,201120,175138,80215.5% Increase2.svg
16 Monroe Monroe 101,120118,479134,65913.7% Increase2.svg
17 Bay Bay City 107,042117,339119,8812.2% Increase2.svg

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

Dave Bing Dave bing pistons (cropped).JPG
Dave Bing

Ice hockey

Golf

Boat racing

Other

Music

The following albums by Michigan artists were released in 1972:

Chronology of events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Births

Deaths

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1958 in Michigan</span> Michigan-related events during the year of 1958

Events from the year 1958 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1959 in Michigan</span> Michigan-related events during the year of 1959

Events from the year 1959 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1954 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1953 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 1953 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 1952 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1965 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1965 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1964 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1966 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1968 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1969 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1967 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1967 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1970 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 1971 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 1977 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 1978 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 1981 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 2016 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 2014 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 in Michigan</span>

Events from the year 2013 in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 in Michigan</span> Calendar year

Events from the year 2012 in Michigan.

References

  1. "School Desegregation Top State Story In '72". Escanaba Daily Press (AP story). December 27, 1972. p. 7 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Michigan's Top 10 News Stories of '72". Ludington Daily News (UPI story). December 29, 1972. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Tiger pennant bid rated top Michigan sports story of 1972". Traverse City Record-Eagle (AP story). December 28, 1972. p. 14 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Daugherty's Resignation Is Top 1972 Sports Story in Michigan". Ironwood Daily Globe (UPI story). December 29, 1972. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Riegle switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in 1973.
  6. "1972 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  7. "2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 78. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  8. "1972 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. "1972 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  10. "1972 Michigan State Spartans Stats". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  11. "1971–72 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  12. "1971–72 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  13. "1971–72 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  14. "1971–72 Detroit Titans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  15. "1971–72 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  16. "Michigan State Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  17. "Michigan Tech Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  18. "Michigan Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  19. "Lyman Frimodig Dies; Connected With MSU Athletics for 50 Years". Lansing State Journal. May 7, 1972. p. B1 via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Van Alstyne, Ex-Spartan Coach, Dies". Lansing State Journal. August 9, 1972. p. C1 via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Death Takes Famed U-M Grid Coach Harry Kipke". The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). September 14, 1972. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.