Orville E. Atwood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 32ndSecretary of State of Michigan | |
| In office January 1, 1935 – 1937 | |
| Governor | Frank Fitzgerald |
| Preceded by | Clarke W. Brown |
| Succeeded by | Leon D. Case |
| Member of theMichigan Senate from the26th district | |
| In office January 2, 1929 – 1931 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Read |
| Member of theMichigan Senate from the26th district | |
| In office January 3, 1923 – 1927 | |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Read |
| Member of theMichigan House of Representatives from theNewaygo district | |
| In office January 1, 1919 – January 3, 1923 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Orville Elbridge Atwood Jr. (1880-02-23)February 23, 1880 nearMorgan Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 15, 1939(1939-06-15) (aged 59) Howell, Michigan, U.S. |
| Resting place | Deepdale Memorial Park,Delta Charter Township, Michigan, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| 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 32ndsecretary of state of Michigan from 1935 to 1937 as a member of theRepublican Party. He previously served in both chambers of theMichigan Legislature.
Atwood was born nearMorgan Park, Illinois, on February 23, 1880, to Orville Elbridge Atwood Sr. and Martha Elvira (née Townsend) Atwood.[1]
Atwood moved toKansas with his parents when he was 12 years old. He attended Ottawa Academy inOttawa, Kansas. Atwood graduated from theUniversity of Chicago in 1903.[1]
Atwood worked as a traveling salesman for two years before moving to a farm nearNewaygo, Michigan.[1]
Atwood was an alternatedelegate to theRepublican National Convention from Michigan in1924.[2]
Atwood served as director of the Michigan Sales Tax Division in 1939.[2]
Atwood served a total of five sessions in theMichigan Legislature. He was first elected to theMichigan House of Representatives in 1918. Atwood served from 1919 to 1923, representing the Newaygo district as aRepublican in the 50th and 51st Michigan Legislatures.[1]
In 1922, Atwood was elected to theMichigan Senate. He served from 1923 to 1927, representing the26th district in the 52nd and 53rd Michigan Legislatures.[1] Atwood was narrowly defeated byThomas Read in the 1926 Republicanprimary election. 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]
Atwood served as the 32ndsecretary of state of Michigan from 1935 to 1937. His 1934 victory was unsuccessfully contested byDemocratic 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 stateliquor control commission, threatening to demand that chairmanJohn 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 ofMichigan GovernorFrank 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 thegeneral election to DemocratFrank Murphy.[6] Atwood also lost his own re-election bid that year.[2]
Atwood was preceded in office byClarke W. Brown and succeeded byLeon D. Case.
Atwood married Evelyn May Forman on October 1, 1910. He had a son and a daughter.[1]
Atwood was a member of theFreemasons andDelta Upsilon. He was aCongregationalist 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 withassault in connection with the incident and released on abond 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 fromLansing toDetroit 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 inHowell, Michigan. Longyear was also killed as a result of the collision. Additionally, four passengers on the bus were injured, including state representativeMartin R. Kronk.[9][10]
Atwood was interred at Deepdale Memorial Park inDelta Charter Township, Michigan.[2]
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