T. John Lesinski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 53rd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan | |
| In office January 1, 1961 – January 1, 1965 | |
| Governor | John Swainson George W. Romney |
| Preceded by | John Swainson |
| Succeeded by | William G. Milliken |
| Member of theMichigan House of Representatives from the Wayne County 7th district Wayne County 1st District (1951–1954) | |
| In office January 1, 1951 – December 31, 1960 Serving with E. Carey, E. Currie, F. Dingman, J. Fitzpatrick, E. Jeffries, P. Kelly,J. Kowalski, C. Lewandowski, D. Lindsay, F. Mahoney, M. Novak, S. Novak, M. O'Brien, J. O'Connor, J. Penczak, C. White, and T. Wilk (1951–1954) M. Griffiths and T. O'Brien (1951–1952) J. Beck and F. Williams (1953–1954) Michael Novak (1955–1960) | |
| Preceded by | E. Carey, E. Currie, F. Dingman, T. Doll, N. Edwards, J. Fitzpatrick, J. Fuller,M. Griffiths, P. Kelly,J. Kowalski, C. Lewandowski, D. Lindsay, F. Mahoney, M. Novak, S. Novak, M. O'Brien, T. O'Brien, J. O'Connor, P. O'Malley, J. Penczak, and T. Wilk |
| Succeeded by | Edward K. Michalski and Michael Novak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thaddeus John Lesinski April 28, 1925 |
| Died | August 13, 1996 (aged 71) |
| Alma mater | University of Detroit Law School |
Thaddeus John "T. John" Lesinski, (April 28, 1925 – August 13, 1996), was an American politician and judge from theU.S. state ofMichigan.
Lesinski was born inDetroit,Michigan and lived in Detroit andGrosse Pointe Shores. He graduated from theUniversity of Detroit Law School in 1950 and served as warrant officer in theMaritime Service with action in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian theatres duringWorld War II.
He served as a Democrat in theMichigan State House of Representatives, from Wayne County's 1st District, 1951–54, and Wayne County's 7th District, 1955-60. He was elected and served as the 53rdlieutenant governor of Michigan from 1961 to 1965. He served as Judge in theMichigan Court of Appeals 1st District from 1965 to 1976, being elected unopposed 1972 and resigned in 1976. He was aCatholic, a member of theAmerican Bar Association,American Judicature Society,Polish National Alliance,Knights of Columbus, andDelta Theta Phi.
Lesinski was the51st Lieutenant Governor of Michigan serving underGovernorsJohn Swainson andGeorge W. Romney. AlthoughGeorge W. Romney was aRepublican, Lesinski was aDemocrat, and defeated Romney's running mate, former Lieutenant Governor Clarence A. Reid, since the Governor and Lieutenant Governor were at that time elected separately in Michigan. Reid himself won election as a Republican at the same timeG. Mennen "Soapy" Williams, a Democrat, was elected governor.
In 1974 Judge Lesinski was the subject ofDetroit Free Press articles by David Johnston (laterDavid Cay Johnston) and Ellen Grezch exposing his lavish spending of taxpayer money. Judge Lesinski defended the spending, including buying fancier cars than the Michigan Supreme Court justices drove, saying "the dignity of the court" required top-of-the-line Oldsmobile 98s. CartoonistLarry Wright mocked the judge as "Judge T. John Spendthrifski" in a series of political cartoons that ran from Jan. 21 to Jan. 25, 1974, in theDetroit Free Press.
He was a Partner of the law firm of Lesinski & Paruk of Detroit and later a member of the law firm of Lesinski, Krall, Murphy & O'Neil of Detroit, Troy, and St. Clair Shores.
T. John Lesinski died in 1996 at the age of 71.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Michigan 1960,1962 | Succeeded by Robert A. Derengoski |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Michigan 1961–1965 | Succeeded by |
