Lawrence Lindemer
Encyclopedia
Lawrence "Larry" Boyd Lindemer (born August 21, 1921) was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Lindemer was born in Syracuse, New York
. He attended Hamilton College in New York for two years, then transferred to the University of Michigan
and graduated with an A.B. degree
in 1943. While at the University of Michigan, Lindemer took up residence in Stockbridge, Michigan
, and married Rebecca Mead Gale in 1940 with whom he had two sons, Lawrence B., Jr., and David.
Lindemer served as a Second Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II
. After the war, he received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School
and began practice in 1948, but quickly took an interest in politics. He served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Ingham County in 1949 and 1950.
In 1950, Lindemer ran for the Michigan State House of Representatives
from Ingham County 2nd District. He defeated incumbent Jacob Schepers in the September Republican primary election, and went on to win the general election in November. In the August 1952 Republican primary, he lost to John J. McCune, who went on to win the general election. Lindemer then moved to Washington, D.C.
to serve on the Hoover Commission
from 1953 until 1955.
In 1955, Lindemer joined the law firm of Foster, Foster and Campbell. He was also chair of the Michigan Republican Party
from 1957 to 1961 and was a delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention
and an alternate to the 1964 convention
. In 1964, he served as Midwest Campaign Director for Nelson Rockefeller
, a longtime friend, in his campaign for President. From 1962 to 1970, he also served as Commissioner of the State Bar of Michigan.
Lindemer was a candidate for Michigan Attorney General
in 1966, losing to incumbent Democrat Frank J. Kelley
. In 1968, he was appointed to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, then won election, and served from 1969 to 1975.
On June 2, 1975, Lindemer was appointed by Michigan Governor William G. Milliken to the Michigan Supreme Court
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Thomas M. Kavanagh
. In the November 1976 general election, Lindemer lost to Democrat Blair Moody, Jr..
Lindemer subsequently worked as general counsel for Consumers Power Company and was later employed with the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith, P.C.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Lindemer was born in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. He attended Hamilton College in New York for two years, then transferred to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and graduated with an A.B. degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1943. While at the University of Michigan, Lindemer took up residence in Stockbridge, Michigan
Stockbridge, Michigan
Stockbridge is a village in Stockbridge Township, Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and lies from downtown Lansing, Michigan. The population was 1,218 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, and married Rebecca Mead Gale in 1940 with whom he had two sons, Lawrence B., Jr., and David.
Lindemer served as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
and began practice in 1948, but quickly took an interest in politics. He served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Ingham County in 1949 and 1950.
In 1950, Lindemer ran for the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
from Ingham County 2nd District. He defeated incumbent Jacob Schepers in the September Republican primary election, and went on to win the general election in November. In the August 1952 Republican primary, he lost to John J. McCune, who went on to win the general election. Lindemer then moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to serve on the Hoover Commission
Hoover Commission
The Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the Federal Government of the United States...
from 1953 until 1955.
In 1955, Lindemer joined the law firm of Foster, Foster and Campbell. He was also chair of the Michigan Republican Party
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
from 1957 to 1961 and was a delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention
1960 Republican National Convention
The 1960 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre....
and an alternate to the 1964 convention
1964 Republican National Convention
The 1964 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States took place in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, on July 13 to July 16, 1964. Before 1964, there had only been one national Republican convention on the West Coast...
. In 1964, he served as Midwest Campaign Director for Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
, a longtime friend, in his campaign for President. From 1962 to 1970, he also served as Commissioner of the State Bar of Michigan.
Lindemer was a candidate for Michigan Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
in 1966, losing to incumbent Democrat Frank J. Kelley
Frank J. Kelley
Frank J. Kelley , was the 50th Attorney General of the U.S. state of Michigan. His 37-year term of office, from 1961 to 1998, made him both the youngest and oldest Attorney General in the state's history, and led to his nickname as the "Eternal General". He is the longest serving state attorney...
. In 1968, he was appointed to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, then won election, and served from 1969 to 1975.
On June 2, 1975, Lindemer was appointed by Michigan Governor William G. Milliken to the Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Thomas M. Kavanagh
Thomas M. Kavanagh
Thomas Matthew Kavanagh was an American politician. Born near Carson City, Michigan he served as the 48th Michigan Attorney General from 1955 to 1957. Thomas Kavanagh went on to serve as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1958 to 1975 which included eight years as Chief Justice from...
. In the November 1976 general election, Lindemer lost to Democrat Blair Moody, Jr..
Lindemer subsequently worked as general counsel for Consumers Power Company and was later employed with the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith, P.C.
Foster Swift Collins & Smith
Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C. is a Michigan law firm founded in 1902. Foster Swift has offices in Lansing, Farmington Hills, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Marquette and Holland, Michigan...