Events from the year 1968 in Michigan.

1968
in
Michigan

Decades:
See also:

The Associated Press (AP) surveyed newspaper editors and broadcasters and determined the top 10 stories in Michigan for 1968 as follows:[1]

  1. The candidacy of Gov. George W. Romney for President of the United States;
  2. The 1968 Detroit Tigers winning the American League pennant and defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1968 World Series;
  3. A newspaper strike that shut down the state's two largest newspapers, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, for nine months;
  4. Gov. Romney's decision to resign as Governor to become United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Pres. Richard M. Nixon;
  5. The reapportionment and redistricting of the state's county boards to reflect a "one man, one vote" proportionality;
  6. Michigan voters' defeat of a ballot measure to adopt daylight saving time;
  7. Hubert H. Humphrey's taking Michigan's 21 electoral votes in the 1968 United States presidential election (Humphrey received 1,593,082 votes (48.18%) to 1,370,665 (41.46%) for Richard M. Nixon and 331,968 (10.04%) for George Wallace);
  8. The Robison family murders, a mass murder on June 25 of six family members while vacationing in their Lake Michigan cottage just north of Good Hart, Michigan;
  9. Two heart transplants performed at the University of Michigan Hospital; and
  10. The adoption a statewide laws for open housing and the protection of tenants' rights.

The AP also selected the state's top 10 sports stories as follows:[2]

  1. Mickey Lolich's three victories in the 1968 World Series;
  2. The Detroit Tigers winning the American League pennant for the first time since 1968;
  3. Denny McLain's 31 wins as a pitcher for the Tigers;
  4. Gordie Howe's 700th goal and 1,500th game for the Detroit Red Wings;
  5. Ron Johnson's season, setting an NCAA record with 347 rushing yards in a game and Michigan records with 1,391 rushing yards and 114 points scored during the 1968 season;
  6. The Detroit Lions' acquisition of quarterback Bill Munson and their poor performance during the 1968 season;
  7. Spencer Haywood's transfer to Detroit Mercy and his leading a resurgence in the school's basketball fortunes during the 1968-69 season;
  8. The popularity of coho salmon fishing;
  9. Two members of the Detroit Lions, Mel Farr and Lem Barney winning the NFL's offensive and defensive rookie of the year honors; and
  10. The death of Warner Gardner in a crash during the APBA Gold Cup unlimited hydroplane race on September 8 on the Detroit River.

Office holders

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State office holders

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Gov. Romney

Mayors of major cities

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Mayor Cavanagh

Federal office holders

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Sen. Griffin
 
Sen. Hart

Population

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In the 1960 United States census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 7,823,194 persons, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1970, the state's population had grown 13.4% to 8,875,083 persons.

Cities

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The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 60,000 based on 1960 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1950 and 1970 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1960
Rank
City County 1950 Pop. 1960 Pop. 1970 Pop. Change
1960-70
1 Detroit Wayne 1,849,568 1,670,144 1,514,063 −9.3%  
2 Flint Genesee 163,143 196,940 193,317 −1.8%  
3 Grand Rapids Kent 176,515 177,313 197,649 11.5%  
4 Dearborn Wayne 94,994 112,007 104,199 −7.0%  
5 Lansing Ingham 92,129 107,807 131,403 21.9%  
6 Saginaw Saginaw 92,918 98,265 91,849 −6.5%  
7 Warren Macomb 42,653 89,246 179,260 100.2%  
8 Pontiac Oakland 73,681 82,233 85,279 3.7%  
9 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 57,704 82,089 85,555 4.1%  
10 Royal Oak Oakland 46,898 80,612 86,238 7.0%  
11 St. Clair Shores Macomb 19,823 76,657 88,093 14.9%  
12 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 48,251 67,340 100,035 48.6%  
13 Livonia Wayne 17,634 66,702 110,109 65.1%  
14 Dearborn Heights Wayne 20,235 61,118 80,069 31.0%  
15 Westland Wayne 30,407 60,743 86,749 42.8%  

Counties

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The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 100,000 based on 1960 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1950 and 1970 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Counties that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1960
Rank
County Largest city 1950 Pop. 1960 Pop. 1970 Pop. Change
1960-70
1 Wayne Detroit 2,435,235 2,666,297 2,666,751 0.0%  
2 Oakland Pontiac 396,001 690,259 907,871 31.5%  
3 Macomb Warren 184,961 405,804 625,309 54.1%  
4 Genesee Flint 270,963 374,313 444,341 18.7%  
5 Kent Grand Rapids 288,292 363,187 411,044 13.2%  
6 Ingham Lansing 172,941 211,296 261,039 23.5%  
7 Saginaw Saginaw 153,515 190,752 219,743 15.2%  
8 Washtenaw Ann Arbor 134,606 172,440 234,103 35.8%  
9 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 126,707 169,712 201,550 18.8%  
10 Berrien Benton Harbor 115,702 149,865 163,875 9.3%  
11 Calhoun Battle Creek 120,813 138,858 141,963 2.2%  
12 Jackson Jackson 108,168 131,994 143,274 8.5%  
13 Muskegon Muskegon 121,545 129,943 157,426 21.2%  
14 St. Clair Port Huron 91,599 107,201 120,175 12.1%  
15 Bay Bay City 88,461 107,042 117,339 9.6%  
16 Monroe Monroe 75,666 101,120 118,479 17.2%  

Sports

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Baseball

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American football

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Basketball

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Ice hockey

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Golf

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Boat racing

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Other

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Music

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Chronology of events

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January

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February

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  • February 29 - George W. Romney ended his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination.

March

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April

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June

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July

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August

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September

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  • September 14 - Denny McLain won his 30th game of the year, a 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics at Tiger Stadium. Dizzy Dean, the last pitcher to win 30 games was present to cheer for McLain. The Tigers scored two runs in the ninth inning to secure the victory.[21]

October

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November

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  • November 5
  • November 16 - Ron Johnson of Michigan set an NCAA single-game record with 347 rushing yards against Wisconsin.

December

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Births

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Deaths

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Romney's Run Was Top Story Of '68". The Escanaba Daily Press (AP story). December 26, 1968. p. 10.
  2. ^ "Lolich, Tigers' Victories Rated Top Sports Stories". The Escanaba Daily Press (AP story). December 26, 1968. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Riegle switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in 1973.
  4. ^ "1968 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  5. ^ "2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 76. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  6. ^ "1968 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  7. ^ "1968 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  8. ^ "1968 Michigan State Spartans Stats". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  9. ^ "2014 Digital Media Guide: Eastern Michigan University" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. pp. 169, 176. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  10. ^ "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 110. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  11. ^ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  12. ^ "1967–68 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  13. ^ "1967–68 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  14. ^ "1967–69 Detroit Titans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  15. ^ "1967–68 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  16. ^ "1967–68 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  17. ^ "1967–68 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  18. ^ "Michigan Tech Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  19. ^ "Michigan Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  20. ^ "Michigan State Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  21. ^ "McLain Reaches Historic 30th Win". Lansing State Journal. September 15, 1968. p. H1 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "John Kobs Dies of Heart Attack". Lansing State Journal. January 27, 1968. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Seaway Bill Author Dies at 84". Lansing State Journal. January 30, 1968. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Edna Ferber, Author of Pulitzer Novel, Dead At 82". Port Huron Times-Herald. April 17, 1968. p. D7 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Hockey World Mourning Death of Jack Adams". The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan. May 2, 1968. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Ty Tyson, 1st Voice of Tigers, Dies". Detroit Free Press. December 13, 1968. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.