Legislator Details
Image Description:
Michael J. O'Brien portrait from Manual 1959 p.lix
Michael J. O'Brien portrait from Manual 1959 p.lix
Michael J. OBrien
AKA:
Number of sessions served 16
Gender: Male
Age at election: 33
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 7/30/1907
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 6/6/1974
City: Ann Arbor, MI
County: Washtenaw County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married Ruth Crump of Detroit in 1927; children: 3, Ruth, Mary Ellen & Michael J. Jr.; 5 grandchildren
Number of Children: 3
Background
Religion: Catholic
Military Service:
Occupation: sanitation inspector, deputy sherriff
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
St. Leo & St. Theresa;
attended public and parochial schools in Detroit.
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Rep./Sen. Thomas Cornelius & Mary Ellen (Downey)O'Brien. He was employed by the city of Detroit in the Department of Public Works as principal inspector and assistant superintendent in the sanitation division; was a deputy sheriff, appraiser and custodian in the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. Member of the Detroit municipal Employees Association; Native Born Detroiters Club; Detroit Press Club; Detroit Yacht Club; 17th District Congressional Organization; Old Corktown Club.
According to the Detroit News, June 7, 1974 he died June 6, 1974 at St Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Notable Facts:
Son of Rep./Sen. Thomas Cornelius and father of Sen. Michael J. O'Brien Jr.
Died in office.
Elected to the House of Representatives (1940-1962)
Sessions Served:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Highways and Transportation, Legislative Council , Joint Committee on Legislative Retirement, State Affairs
Postions Held: Assistant Democratic Leader
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 8
District Description: County of Wayne (part).
Date Elected: 11/7/1972
Date Sworn In: 1/10/1973
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Died
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Representative 1940-1964. Senator 1964 -
Chair: Joint Committee on Legislative Retirement
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Highways , State Affairs
Postions Held: Assistant Democratic Leader
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 8
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: Vice Chair of the Committee on State Affairs. Member Legislative Council. Assistant Democratic Leader.
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Highways , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 8
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/5/1968
Date Sworn In: 1/8/1969
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Highways , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 8
District Description: 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: Unknown
Notes:
Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Health and Welfare, Highways , Public Utilities, Retirement, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 8
District Description: 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: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committees on Health and Welfare; and Public Utilities; vice-chair of the Committee on State Affairs
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Marine Affairs , Roads and Bridges , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 4
District Description: City of Detroit wards 10, 12 and 14
Date Elected: 11/6/1962
Date Sworn In: 1/9/1963
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Unknown
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Elected to the state senate for the 73rd session.
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Marine Affairs , Roads and Bridges , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 4
District Description: City of Detroit, wards 10,12 and 14
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: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Marine Affairs , Roads and Bridges , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 4
District Description: City of Detroit wards 10, 12 and 14
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: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Marine Affairs , Roads and Bridges , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 4
District Description: City of Detroit wards 10, 12 and 14
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:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Marine Affairs , Roads and Bridges , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 4
District Description: City of Detroit wards 10, 12 and 14
Date Elected: 11/2/1954
Date Sworn In: 1/12/1955
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Apportionment , Judiciary , Private Corporations , Retirement
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Ward 21--all that portion lying easterly of a continuous line formed by the center lines of the following: beginning at the intersection of Kingsville and Kelly Aves and running along Kelly, Hayes, Harper, Chalmers, Mack, Conner, Jefferson to the Detroit Terminal RR thence along said RR right-of-way and on an extended line there-from to the Detroit River
Date Elected: 11/4/1952
Date Sworn In: 1/14/1953
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Ways and Means
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Cities of Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Farms, Grosse Park,Grosse Woods and Harper Woods and Townships of Gratiot and Grosse Point and Grosse Point
Date Elected: 11/7/1950
Date Sworn In: 1/3/1951
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Ways and Means
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Townships of Gratiot and Grosse Point, and the cities of Detroit and Grosse Pointe
Date Elected: 11/2/1948
Date Sworn In: 1/5/1949
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Metropolitan Affairs, Public Safety , Revision and Amendment of the Statutes , Social Aid and Welfare, State Affairs , Western Michigan College of Education
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Townships of Gratiot and Grosse Point, and the cities of Detroit and Grosse Pointe
Date Elected: 11/7/1944
Date Sworn In: 1/3/1945
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Lost Election
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Western Michigan College of Education.
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Metropolitan Affairs, Public Safety , Revision and Amendment of the Statutes , Social Aid and Welfare, Western Michigan College of Education
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Townships of Gratiot and Grosse Point, and the cities of Detroit and Grosse Pointe
Date Elected: 11/3/1942
Date Sworn In: 1/6/1942
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Metropolitan Affairs, Revision and Amendment of the Statutes , Social Aid and Welfare, Western State Teachers' College
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Townships of Gratiot and Grosse Point, and the cities of Detroit and Grosse Pointe
Date Elected: 11/5/1940
Date Sworn In: 1/1/1941
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: