Legislator Details
Image Description:
Basil W. Brown portrait from Manual 1959 p.xlviii
Basil W. Brown portrait from Manual 1959 p.xlviii
Basil W. Brown
AKA:
Number of sessions served 16
Gender: Male
Age at election: 29
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 3/20/1927
City: Vandalia, MI
County: Cass County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 10/28/1997
City: Highland Park, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married to Ermajeanne Seeger 6-8-1950; children: 1, Lisa Denise.
Number of Children: 1
Background
Religion: Protestant
Military Service: United States Navy
Occupation: lawyer
Race: African American or Negro or Black
Education:
graduate of Battle Creek Central High School;
AB, Western Michigan University;
LLB & JD, University of Michigan Law School
Biographical Sketch:
Served in the Navy: China Seas, Okinawa, and Philippines; honorably discharged in 1946; received three decorations. Passed the Michigan State Bar in 1952 & has practiced law from 1953. His licensed was revoked upon his conviction on a drug charge; he appealed the ruling. Member: Elks, Kapps Alpha Psi, Michigan Federated Democratic Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amvets, NAACP, IBPOE of W, Motor City Lodge No. 962, State Bar of Michigan, Wolverine Bar Association, TULC, CORE.
Notable Facts:
Known as the "Dean of the Michigan Senate"
He was the longest serving senator as of 1/1/1988 when he resigned following a drug related conviction.
1st African American chair of the Judiciary Comm. Chaired this committee for over 10 years.
Received 3 decorations in US Navy.
His last residence was in Highland Park, MI
Sessions Served:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On:
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Vandalia
County of Residence Cass
District: 2
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/4/1986
Date Sworn In: 1/14/1987
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Resigned
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Resigned Jan. 4, 1988 due to a drug conviction, later overturned by the Supreme Court on the basis of issues of entrapment. Succeeded by Virgil C. Smith, jr. Mar. 22, 1988
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 2
District Description: Cities Hamtramck, Highland Park and Detroit pt.-tracts 5045-5048, 50661-5075, 5101-5110, 5135-5157, 5161-5169, 5184-5187 [see Manual p.363 for detail] in Wayne County
Date Elected: 11/2/1982
Date Sworn In: 1/12/1983
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Judiciary
Served on the Legislative Retirement Board
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On:
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 2
District Description: Cities of Hamtramck, Highland Park and part of Detroit [see detail in Manual p.388]
Date Elected: 11/2/1982
Date Sworn In: 1/9/1985
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Joint Committee on Legislative Retirement, Upper Peninsula Industrial & Economic Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 3
District Description: City of Highland Park and part of the city of Detroit [see tract detail in Manual p.498] in Wayne County
Date Elected: 11/7/1978
Date Sworn In: 1/10/1979
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committees on Judiciary; and Legislative Retirement; Vice-Chair of the Committee on U.P. Industrial and Economic Affairs
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Joint Committee on Legislative Retirement, Upper Peninsula Industrial & Economic Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 3
District Description: City of Detroit tracts 18, 19, 21-23, 27 (blocks 501-505), 43 (blocks 101-103, 509), 151-154, 172-176.02, 180-191, 301.01, 307.01 (blocks 101-407, 506), 307.02 (blocks 101-410, 504-514), 546, 547, 548 (blocks 101-204, 303-307), 550 (blocks 101-109, 201-203, 507-509), 551-559, 570 (blocks 406, 407, 501, 504, 506, 508), 571, 572, 604-613.02 and city of Highland Park
Date Elected: 11/7/1978
Date Sworn In: 1/10/1979
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Judiciary; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Legislative Retirement; and U.P. Industrial & Economic Affairs.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Conservation, Judiciary , Joint Committee on Legislative Retirement
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 3
District Description: City of Highland Park and part of the city of Detroit [see tract detail in Manual p.484] in Wayne County
Date Elected: 11/2/1976
Date Sworn In: 1/12/1977
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Judiciary; Legislative Retirement Board;
Vice-Chair of the Committee on Conservation
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Conservation and Tourist Industry
Postions Held: Majority Whip
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 3
District Description: City of Highland Park and part of the city of Detroit [see tract detail in Manual p.454] in Wayne County
Date Elected: 11/5/1974
Date Sworn In: 1/8/1975
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair: Judiciary. Vice-Chair: Conservation & Tourist Industry.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Conservation and Tourist Industry , Judiciary
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 6
District Description: County of Wayne (part).
Date Elected: 11/3/1970
Date Sworn In: 1/13/1971
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Served on the Law Revision Commission
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Conservation, Environment and Tourism, Judiciary
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 6
District Description: County of Wayne (part).
Date Elected: 11/3/1970
Date Sworn In: 1/13/1971
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Conservation and Tourist Industry , Judiciary
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 6
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/8/1966
Date Sworn In: 1/11/1967
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Member: Law Revision Commission.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Agriculture and Economic Development, Judiciary
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 6
District Description: City of Highland Park and part of the city of Detroit in Wayne County
Date Elected: 11/8/1966
Date Sworn In: 1/11/1967
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Member: Law Revision Commission.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Administrative Rules, Insurance , Conservation, Tourist Industry Relations
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Highland Park
County of Residence Wayne
District: 6
District Description: City of Highland Park and part of the city of Detroit in Wayne County
Date Elected: 11/4/1964
Date Sworn In: 1/13/1965
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Insurance
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Corporations, Health and Welfare, Retirement, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 3
District Description: City of Detroit wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9; city of Highland Park
Date Elected: 11/6/1962
Date Sworn In: 1/9/1963
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Health and Welfare, Retirement, State Affairs , Retirement
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 3
District Description: City of Detroit wards 1,2,3,5,7 and 9 and city of Highland Park
Date Elected: 11/8/1960
Date Sworn In: 1/11/1961
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Education , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 3
District Description: City of Detroit wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9; city of Highland Park
Date Elected: 11/4/1958
Date Sworn In: 1/14/1959
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Education , Insurance , Judiciary
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 3
District Description: City of Detroit wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and City of Highland Park
Date Elected: 11/6/1956
Date Sworn In: 1/9/1957
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: