Legislator Details
Image Description:
Don R. Pears portrait from Manual 1961 p.unpaged
Don R. Pears portrait from Manual 1961 p.unpaged
Don R. Pears
AKA:
Number of sessions served 9
Gender: Male
Age at election: 51
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 9/18/1899
City: Buchanan, MI
County: Berrien County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 7/17/1992
City: Niles, MI
County: Berrien County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County: Berrien County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married Gladys Seidlitz of Baroda, 2/18/1931, in Elkhart, MI (1951,1953 Manuals & PolGryd says married her February 18, 1932, obit says 1931); children: 2, Donna (Pickering) and Charlene (Simpson).
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion: Protestant
Military Service: United States Army
Occupation: school principal, businessman, real estate
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
graduated from Buchanan High School, 1920;
attended the University of Michigan;
graduated from Western State Normal College, 1923.
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Charles F. & Lura Roe Pears. He served as principal of Big Bay High School; physical director of junior high school in Elkhart, Indiana; register of deeds of Berrien County, 1927-1932;county welfare agent; county clerk, 1941-1942 and 1945-48, and called to active duty as an army officer in January 1942; after 28 months in service re-elected county clerk; operated a real estate and insurance business and was a partner and operator of the Hollywood Theatre in Buchanan; member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Reserve Officers Association, Moose, Elks, Oddfellows and Eagles.
Notable Facts:
Served in the US Army in both world wars.
Served as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives 1959-62.
Sessions Served:
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Economic Development , Joint Committee on Administrative Rules , Liquor Control , Marine Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: 43
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/5/1968
Date Sworn In: 1/8/1969
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Unknown
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Economic Development , Insurance , Liquor Control , Marine Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: 43
District Description: Townships of Baroda, Berrien (part), Bertrand, Buchanan, Chikaming, Gallen, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Oronoko, St. Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw; Cities of Bridgman and Buchanan and Saint Joseph in Berrien County; townships of LaGrange, Penn, Pokagon and Wayne in Cass 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: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Liquor Control
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: House Policy , Insurance , Liquor Control , Supplies and Expenditures
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: 43
District Description: Townships of Baroda, Berrien (part), Bertrand, Buchanan, Chikaming, Gallen, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Oronoko, St. Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw; Cities of Bridgman and Buchanan and Saint Joseph in Berrien County; townships of LaGrange, Penn, Pokagon and Wayne in Cass 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:
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On:
Postions Held: Speaker
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: Berrien 1
District Description: Cities of Bridgman, Buchanan, Nile and Saint Joseph; townships of Baroda, Bertrand, Buchanan, Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Niles, Saint Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw
Date Elected: 11/8/1960
Date Sworn In: 1/11/1961
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Unknown
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On:
Postions Held: Speaker
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: Berrien 1
District Description: Cities of Bridgman, Buchanan, Niles and Saint Joseph; townships of Baroda, Bertrand, Buchanan, Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Niles, Saint Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw
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: House Speaker 1959
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Insurance , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs , State Prisons
Postions Held: Speaker Pro Tempore
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: Berrien 1
District Description: Cities of Bridgman, Buchanan, Niles and Saint Joseph; townships of Baroda, Bertrand, Buchanan, Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Niles, Saint Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw
Date Elected: 11/6/1956
Date Sworn In: 1/9/1957
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status:
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committee on State Prisons
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Elections , Rules and Resolutions, State Affairs , State Prisons
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: Berrien 1
District Description: Cities of Bridgman, Buchanan, Niles and Saint Joseph;townships of Baroda, Bertrand, Buchanan, Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Niles, Saint Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw
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: Chair of the Committee on State Prisons
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Elections , Insurance , Military and Veterans' Affairs , Rules and Resolutions, State Prisons
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: Berrien 1
District Description: Cities of Bridgman, Buchanan, Niles and Saint Joseph;townships of Baroda, Bertrand, Buchanan, Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Niles, Saint Joseph, Three Oaks and Weesaw
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: Chair of the Committee on State Prisons
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Elections , Military and Veterans' Affairs , Rules and Resolutions, State Prisons, Transportation
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Buchanan
County of Residence Berrien
District: Berrien 1
District Description: Cities of Bridgman, Buchanan and Saint Joseph and Townships of Baroda, Bertrand, Buchanan, Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Oronoko,
Royalton, Saint Josephs, Three Oaks and Weesaw
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: