William Comstock
Encyclopedia
William Alfred Comstock (July 2, 1877 – June 16, 1949) was an American
politician
as the 33rd Governor of the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
, he attended the University of Michigan
, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi
fraternity, graduating in 1899. Within the Zeta Psi Fraternity, "The Vision of Bill Comstock" is known as his desire to unite all the chapters through the publication of a newsletter known as "The Circle," which he first published in 1909. He established a successful career in real estate, banking and railroad construction.
of Alpena from 1911 to 1912 and served as its mayor from 1913-14. He was a member of University of Michigan
board of regents, 1914–16. He was member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
in 1915 and served as its chairman from 1920–24. Then he served as a member of Democratic National Committee
from Michigan, 1924–30. He served as a delegate to Democratic National Convention
from Michigan 1924 which nominated John W. Davis
for U.S. President, again in 1928 to nominate Al Smith
, and lastly in 1932 to nominate Franklin D. Roosevelt
, the only successful candidate of the three. Comstock was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan
in 1926 and 1928 against Fred Green
, and unsuccessful as well in 1930 against Wilber Marion Brucker
.
In 1932, Comstock defeated Brucker and served as a Democratic
governor
of Michigan
from 1933 to 1935. During his tenure, the state's first sales tax law was authorized, an old age pension system was initiated, but later failed; a trust commission was established; and an eight-day bank holiday was affirmed, which later led to President Roosevelt’s announcement of a national holiday. He also pardoned Rudolph G. Tenerowicz
the former mayor of Hamtramck, who had been inprisoned for bribery with twelve others in 1932. Tenerowicz was later elected to U.S. Congress.
He was a member of the Freemasons
, Elks
, Eagles
, and Zeta Psi
. He died at the age of 71 in Detroit, Michigan
and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery of Alpena, Michigan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
as the 33rd Governor of the U.S. state
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"....
.
Early life
Born in 1877 in Alpena, MichiganAlpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
, he attended 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...
, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi
Zeta Psi
The Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was founded June 1, 1847 as a social college fraternity. The organization now comprises about fifty active chapters and twenty-five inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North-American...
fraternity, graduating in 1899. Within the Zeta Psi Fraternity, "The Vision of Bill Comstock" is known as his desire to unite all the chapters through the publication of a newsletter known as "The Circle," which he first published in 1909. He established a successful career in real estate, banking and railroad construction.
Politics
In 1911, Comstock entered politics by serving as the Democratic county chairman. He served as aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Alpena from 1911 to 1912 and served as its mayor from 1913-14. He was a member of 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...
board of regents, 1914–16. He was member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
Michigan Democratic Party
The Michigan Democratic Party is the state-level party of the United States Democratic Party in Michigan. It is based in Lansing. Mark Brewer is the current Party Chair.-Current officeholders:...
in 1915 and served as its chairman from 1920–24. Then he served as a member of Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
from Michigan, 1924–30. He served as a delegate to Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from Michigan 1924 which nominated John W. Davis
John W. Davis
John William Davis was an American politician, diplomat and lawyer. He served as a United States Representative from West Virginia , then as Solicitor General of the United States and US Ambassador to the UK under President Woodrow Wilson...
for U.S. President, again in 1928 to nominate Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
, and lastly in 1932 to nominate Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, the only successful candidate of the three. Comstock was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in 1926 and 1928 against Fred Green
Fred Green
-Military service and legal work:Green served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He was a first lieutenant in the 31st Michigan Volunteer Infantry and later was promoted to battalion adjutant. After the war, he returned to Ypsilanti as the city attorney, as well as attorney for the...
, and unsuccessful as well in 1930 against Wilber Marion Brucker
Wilber Marion Brucker
Wilber Marion Brucker was an American Republican politician. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, he served as the 32nd Governor of Michigan from 1931 to 1933 and as the United States Secretary of the Army between July 21, 1955 and January 19, 1961.-Early life:Brucker was born in Saginaw, Michigan, the son...
.
In 1932, Comstock defeated Brucker and served as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
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"....
from 1933 to 1935. During his tenure, the state's first sales tax law was authorized, an old age pension system was initiated, but later failed; a trust commission was established; and an eight-day bank holiday was affirmed, which later led to President Roosevelt’s announcement of a national holiday. He also pardoned Rudolph G. Tenerowicz
Rudolph G. Tenerowicz
Rudolph Gabriel Tenerowicz was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Early life:Tenerowicz was born in 1890 in Budapest, Hungary. His parents, John and Antoinette Tenerowicz, immigrated with their family to the United States in 1892 and settled in Adrian, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania...
the former mayor of Hamtramck, who had been inprisoned for bribery with twelve others in 1932. Tenerowicz was later elected to U.S. Congress.
Retirement and death
Comstock later served as a member of the Michigan Civil Service Commission from 1939 to 1940, and as a member of the Detroit City Council from 1942 to 1949.He was a member of the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, Elks
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, Eagles
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Fraternal Order of Eagles International is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by a group of six theater owners including John Cort , brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry Leavitt , Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams...
, and Zeta Psi
Zeta Psi
The Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was founded June 1, 1847 as a social college fraternity. The organization now comprises about fifty active chapters and twenty-five inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North-American...
. He died at the age of 71 in 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...
and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery of Alpena, Michigan
Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
.