Orville E. Atwood Explained

Orville E. Atwood
Office:32nd Secretary of State of Michigan
Term Start:January 1, 1935
Term End:1937
Governor:Frank Fitzgerald
Predecessor:Clarke W. Brown
Successor:Leon D. Case
State Senate2:Michigan
District2:26th
Term Start2:January 2, 1929
Term End2:1931
Predecessor2:Thomas Read
State Senate3:Michigan
District3:26th
Term Start3:January 3, 1923
Term End3:1927
Successor3:Thomas Read
State House4:Michigan
District4:Newaygo
Term Start4:January 1, 1919
Term End4:January 3, 1923
Birth Name:Orville Elbridge Atwood Jr.
Birth Date:23 February 1880
Birth Place:near Morgan Park, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:Howell, Michigan, U.S.
Resting Place:Deepdale Memorial Park, Delta Charter Township, Michigan, U.S.
Party:Republican
Children:2
Education:Ottawa Academy
University of Chicago
Occupation:Politician, farmer

Orville Elbridge Atwood Jr. (February 23, 1880 – June 15, 1939) was an American politician and farmer who served as the 32nd Secretary of State of Michigan from 1935 to 1937 as a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature.

Early life and education

Atwood was born near Morgan Park, Illinois, on February 23, 1880, to Orville Elbridge Atwood Sr. and Martha Elvira (Townsend) Atwood.

Atwood moved to Kansas with his parents when he was 12 years old. He attended Ottawa Academy in Ottawa, Kansas. Atwood graduated from the University of Chicago in 1903.[1]

Career

Atwood worked as a traveling salesman for two years before moving to a farm near Newaygo, Michigan.[1]

Atwood was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1924.

Atwood served as director of the Michigan Sales Tax Division in 1939.[2]

Michigan Legislature

Atwood served a total of five sessions in the Michigan Legislature. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1918. Atwood served from 1919 to 1923, representing the Newaygo district as a Republican in the 50th and 51st Michigan Legislatures.

In 1922, Atwood was elected to the Michigan Senate. He served from 1923 to 1927, representing the 26th legislative district of Michigan in the 52nd and 53rd Michigan Legislatures.[1] Atwood was narrowly defeated in the 1926 Republican primary by Thomas Read. However, Atwood subsequently defeated Read in another close race, after which he served his third and final term in the Michigan Senate from 1929 to 1931 in the 55th Michigan Legislature.[3]

Michigan Secretary of State

Atwood served as the 32nd Secretary of State of Michigan from 1935 to 1937. His 1934 victory was unsuccessfully contested by Democratic nominee Guy M. Wilson.[4]

In 1935, during his tenure as Michigan's secretary of state, Atwood criticized Thomas Ward, a Democratic employee of the state liquor control commission, threatening to demand chairman John S. McDonald dismiss Ward. In response, McDonald stated: "If Orville comes blustering out of the commission, I'll throw him out. Orville has an office of his own to run and I suggest that he keeps his nose out of liquor commission business." McDonald further stated that his decision to retain or dismiss Ward would not be influenced by Atwood.[5]

In 1936, Atwood spoke at a rally in support of governor Frank Fitzgerald's re-election bid, stating: "The issue is whether American ideas are to continue or whether we are to adopt European regimentation and collectivism. This is the most important election in our lifetime." Fitzgerald went on to lose the general election to Democrat Frank Murphy.[6] Atwood also lost his own re-election bid that year.[2]

Atwood was preceded in office by Clarke W. Brown and succeeded by Leon D. Case.

Personal life and death

Atwood married Evelyn May Forman on October 1, 1910. He had a son and daughter.

Atwood was a member of the Freemasons and Delta Upsilon. He was a Congregationalist and had English ancestry.[1]

In 1931, Atwood, who was head of the Michigan state auto license bureau at the time, fatally struck nine-year-old Marylin Reuss with his automobile. According to witnesses, Atwood immediately stopped and administered as much aid as he could. Atwood was charged with assault in connection with the incident and released on a bond of $10,000.[7] The bond was later dismissed following witness testimony, and Atwood was exonerated of any wrongdoing in the incident.[8]

On June 15, 1939, Atwood was traveling from Lansing to Detroit with auto executive Frank Longyear when they collided with a westbound bus. Atwood, aged 59, died from his injuries an hour later in McPherson Hospital in Howell, Michigan. Longyear was also killed as a result of the collision. Additionally, four passengers on the bus were injured, including state representative Martin R. Kronk.[9] [10]

Atwood was interred in Deepdale Memorial Park, located in Delta Charter Township, Michigan.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Atwood, Orville E. - Michigan Department of Education. Library of Michigan. July 24, 2023.
  2. Web site: Atwood. The Political Graveyard. July 24, 2023.
  3. News: Shilson. Gilbert T.. January 10, 1929. Legislative Sketches. Ludington Daily News. Lansing, Michigan. Associated Press. July 24, 2023.
  4. News: Position Secure. Ludington Daily News. February 9, 1935. 1. July 24, 2023.
  5. News: McDonald Replies to Atwood Charges. The Owosso Argus-Press. Lansing, Michigan. Associated Press. June 20, 1935. July 24, 2023.
  6. Web site: Feifer. Jason. November 2, 2020. The Most Important Political Platitude of Our Lifetime. Slate. July 21, 2023.
  7. News: Former Senator O. E. Atwood in Auto Accident. The Pentwater News. September 4, 1931. 1. July 24, 2023.
  8. News: Atwood Is Absolved of Blame in Accident. Ludington Daily News. Lansing, Michigan. Associated Press. September 4, 1931. July 24, 2023.
  9. News: MICHIGAN TAX AIDES KILLED IN AUTO CRASH; Orville E. Atwood and Frank Longyear Accident Victims. The New York Times. June 16, 1939. 26. subscription. July 24, 2023.
  10. News: Orville E. Atwood Is Buried Monday. Ludington Daily News. Lansing, Michigan. Associated Press. June 20, 1939. 1. July 24, 2023.