Orville E. Atwood

Orville Elbridge Atwood Jr. (February 23, 1880 – June 15, 1939) was an American politician and farmer who served as the 32nd Secretary of State of Michigan from 1935 to 1937. He previously served in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature.[1]

Orville E. Atwood
32nd Secretary of State of Michigan
In office
January 1, 1935 – 1937
GovernorFrank Fitzgerald
Preceded byClarke W. Brown
Succeeded byLeon D. Case
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 26th district
In office
January 2, 1929 – 1931
Preceded byThomas Read
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 26th district
In office
January 3, 1923 – 1927
Succeeded byThomas Read
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the Newaygo district
In office
January 1, 1919 – January 3, 1923
Personal details
Born
Orville Elbridge Atwood Jr.

(1880-02-23)February 23, 1880
near Morgan Park, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 1939(1939-06-15) (aged 59)
McPherson Hospital, Howell, Michigan, U.S.
Resting placeDeepdale Memorial Park, Delta Township, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Evelyn May Forman
​
(m. 1910)​
Children2
Parent(s)Orville Elbridge Atwood Sr.
Martha Elvira (Townsend) Atwood
Alma materOttawa Academy
University of Chicago
ProfessionPolitician, farmer

Early life and education

Atwood was born near Morgan Park, Illinois on February 23, 1880, to Orville Elbridge Atwood Sr. and Martha Elvira (Townsend) Atwood.

Atwood moved to Kansas with his parents when he was 12 years old. He attended Ottawa Academy in Ottawa, Kansas. Atwood also graduated from the University of Chicago in 1903.

Career

Atwood worked as a traveling salesman for two years before moving to a farm near Newaygo, Michigan.

Michigan Legislature

Atwood served a total of five sessions in the Michigan Legislature. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1918. Atwood served from 1919 to 1923, representing the Newaygo district as a Republican in the 50th and 51st Michigan Legislatures.

In 1922, Atwood was elected to the Michigan Senate. He served from 1923 to 1927, representing the 26th legislative district of Michigan in the 52nd and 53rd Michigan Legislatures. Atwood was narrowly defeated in the 1926 Republican primary by Thomas Read. However, Atwood subsequently defeated Read in another close race, after which he served his third and final term in the Michigan Senate from 1929 to 1931 in the 55th Michigan Legislature.[2]

Atwood was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1924.

Michigan Secretary of State

Atwood served as the 32nd Secretary of State of Michigan from 1935 to 1937. His 1934 victory was unsuccessfully contested by Democratic nominee Guy M. Wilson.[3]

In 1935, during his tenure as Michigan's Secretary of State, Atwood criticized Thomas Ward, a Democratic employee of the state liquor control commission, threatening to demand chairman John S. McDonald dismiss Ward. In response, McDonald stated: "If Orville comes blustering out of the commission, I'll throw him out. Orville has an office of his own to run and I suggest that he keeps his nose out of liquor commission business." McDonald further stated that his decision to retain or dismiss Ward would not be influenced by Atwood.[4]

In 1936, Atwood spoke at a rally in support of governor Frank Fitzgerald's re-election bid, stating: "The issue is whether American ideas are to continue or whether we are to adopt European regimentation and collectivism. This is the most important election in our lifetime." Fitzgerald went on to lose the general election to Democrat Frank Murphy.[5] Atwood also lost his own re-election bid that same year.

Atwood was preceded by Clarke W. Brown and succeeded by Leon D. Case.

Personal life and death

On October 1, 1910, Atwood married Evelyn May Forman, with whom he had two children, a son and daughter.

Atwood was a member of the Freemasons and Delta Upsilon. He was a Congregationalist.

In 1931, Atwood, who was head of the Michigan state auto license bureau at the time, fatally struck nine-year-old Marylin Reuss with his automobile. According to witnesses, Atwood immediately stopped and administered as much aid as he could. Atwood was charged with assault in connection with the incident and released on a bond of $10,000.[6] The bond was later dismissed following witness testimony, and Atwood was exonerated of any wrongdoing in the incident.[7]

On June 15, 1939, Atwood was traveling from Lansing, Michigan to Detroit with auto executive Frank Longyear when they collided with a westbound bus. Atwood, aged 59, died from his injuries an hour later in McPherson Hospital in Howell, Michigan. Longyear was also killed as a result of the collision. Additionally, four passengers on the bus were injured, including state representative Martin R. Kronk.[8][9]

Atwood was interred in Deepdale Memorial Park, located in Delta Township, Michigan.[10]

References
  1. "Atwood, Orville E. - Michigan Department of Education". Library of Michigan. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. Shilson, Gilbert T. (January 10, 1929). "Legislative Sketches". Ludington Daily News. Lansing, Michigan. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  3. "Position Secure". Ludington Daily News. February 9, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  4. "McDonald Replies to Atwood Charges". The Owosso Argus-Press. Lansing, Michigan. June 20, 1935. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. Feifer, Jason (November 2, 2020). "The Most Important Political Platitude of Our Lifetime". Slate. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. "Former Senator O. E. Atwood in Auto Accident". The Pentwater News. September 4, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  7. "Atwood Is Absolved of Blame in Accident". Ludington Daily News. Lansing, Michigan. September 4, 1931. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  8. "MICHIGAN TAX AIDES KILLED IN AUTO CRASH; Orville E. Atwood and Frank Longyear Accident Victims". The New York Times. June 16, 1939. p. 26. Retrieved July 24, 2023. closed access
  9. "Orville E. Atwood Is Buried Monday". Ludington Daily News. Lansing, Michigan. June 20, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. "Atwood". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
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