Frank Couzens
Encyclopedia
Frank Couzens was the son of United States Senator James J. Couzens
, and mayor of Detroit, Michigan
during the 1930s.
, then returned to Detroit to attend high school. After graduation, he worked as an apprentice in the building trades, then as an inspector for an architectural firm. In 1922, he formed his own building contractor firm.
Frank Couzens married Margaret Lang in 1922; the couple had four sons: Frank Couzens Jr., James Couzens II, Homer J. Couzens, and George L. Couzens; and three daughters: Mrs. Edward C. Roney, Mary Elizabeth Couzens, and Barbara Ann Couzens.
, in 1930 after opposing Bowles's effort to raise the streetcar fare. However, the deeply unpopular Bowles was recalled fom office, and Frank Murphy
reinstated Couzens.
In 1931, Couzens ran for a seat on the Detroit City Council
, and garnered enough votes to become council president. When Murphy resigned in 1933 to become governor of the Philippines
, Couzens became acting mayor. He resigned the mayor's office on September 8, 1933, to concentrate on receiving the Republican
nomination for the office. He was elected mayor twice, filling out four years in office.
James J. Couzens
James J. Couzens was a U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan, the Mayor of Detroit, an industrialist, and philanthropist.-Early life and career:...
, and mayor of Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
during the 1930s.
Early life
Frank Couzens was born in Detroit on February 28, 1902, the son of businessman (and later mayor of Detroit and United States Senator) James J. Couzens. He went to Newman Preparatory School in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, then returned to Detroit to attend high school. After graduation, he worked as an apprentice in the building trades, then as an inspector for an architectural firm. In 1922, he formed his own building contractor firm.
Frank Couzens married Margaret Lang in 1922; the couple had four sons: Frank Couzens Jr., James Couzens II, Homer J. Couzens, and George L. Couzens; and three daughters: Mrs. Edward C. Roney, Mary Elizabeth Couzens, and Barbara Ann Couzens.
Politics
In 1928, then-mayor John C. Lodge appointed Couzens a member of the Detroit Street Railways Commission. He was fired by the next mayor, Charles BowlesCharles Bowles
Charles E. Bowles was a politician from Michigan, and served as Mayor of Detroit in 1930.-Biography:Charles Bowles was born on March 24, 1884 in Yale, Michigan, the son of Alfred and Mary Lutz Bowles...
, in 1930 after opposing Bowles's effort to raise the streetcar fare. However, the deeply unpopular Bowles was recalled fom office, and Frank Murphy
Frank Murphy
William Francis Murphy was a politician and jurist from Michigan. He served as First Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Eastern Michigan District , Recorder's Court Judge, Detroit . Mayor of Detroit , the last Governor-General of the Philippines , U.S...
reinstated Couzens.
In 1931, Couzens ran for a seat on the Detroit City Council
Detroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The City Council consists of nine members elected for a four-year term in a single election conducted on an at-large and non-partisan basis...
, and garnered enough votes to become council president. When Murphy resigned in 1933 to become governor of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Couzens became acting mayor. He resigned the mayor's office on September 8, 1933, to concentrate on receiving the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for the office. He was elected mayor twice, filling out four years in office.