Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 8
Gender: Male
Age at election: 29
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 9/6/1949
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 9/16/2018
City: Lake Orion, MI
County: Oakland County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married Toni Marie Plotzke, 5/5/1972; children: Rebecca Lynn & Dana Marie;
married Nikki Williams
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion: Catholic
Military Service: United States Army Reserve
Occupation: college instructor, lawyer
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
St. Matthew's Elementary, Detroit;
Bishop Gallagher High School, Harper Woods;
AB w/ honors, University of Michigan, 1972;
MPA, Wayne State University, 1974;
candidate for PhD in Political Science for studies at Wayne State University & Georgetown University in Washington DC;
JD, Detroit College of Law, 1983
Biographical Sketch:
Of Irish ancestry. Born to Robert Corby Kelly & Margaret Elizabeth Kelly, the 4th of 7 children. Admitted to Michigan State Bar, 1984. At one time, he worked for the National Defense University and was a consultant to the United States Water Partnership. Elected to Wayne State University's Board of Governors in 1998. For 7 years he was a liaison to the Detroit Federal Bureau of Investigation and a task force officer to a joint federal law enforcement unit dedicated to counterterrorism research. From 2002-09, he was vice-chair of the Michigan Film Advisory Board.
He taught at Oakland University and the University of Windsor, where he was a Fulbright Scholar conducting research on comparative federalism.Member of Amnesty International, Americans for Democratic Action; Common Cause; Jaycees, Immigration Law Society & captain in National Guard JAG.
Notable Facts:
Enlisted in the US Army Reserve in 1972, served 4 years and then received a Presidential Appointment as Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence/ASA branch from 1976-82. Attained the rank of Colonel in the Reserves.
Once got into a fist fight with fellow Sen., Gilbert DiNello on the Senate floor [May 1991].
Primary sponsor of over 100 bills or amendments.
Died of a heart attack in Sept 2018.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Government Operations , Health Policy , Judiciary
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Vice-Chair: Government Operations; Health Policy; Judiciary.
Did not run for re-election, instead ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate, losing in the primary.
Committees Served On: Government Operations , Health Policy and Senior Citizens, Judiciary , School Finance Reform
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Grosse Pointe twp, cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and Detroit (pt. tracts 5001-5020, 5031-5044, 5049-5051, 5121-5134 in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: In 1994 ran for U.S.Senate; lost in the primary
Committees Served On: Government Operations , Health Policy , Judiciary
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Grosse Pointe twp, cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and Detroit (pt. tracts 5001-5020, 5031-5044, 5049-5051, 5121-5134 [that part of Detroit which lies east of a line beginning at Eight Mile and Van Dyke, south on Van Dyke to McNichols, east to Conner, south to E. Jefferson, west to Clairpointe, south to Avondale, east to Port Dr., south on Port Dr. and Port Dr. extended to the Detroit River]) in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Min. Vice-Chair of the Committee on Judiciary
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Health Policy , Government Operations
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Grosse Pointe twp, cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and Detroit (pt. tracts 5001-5020, 5031-5044, 5049-5051, 5121-5134 [that part of Detroit which lies east of a line beginning at Eight Mile and Van Dyke, south on Van Dyke to McNichols, east to Conner, south to E. Jefferson, west to Clairpointe, south to Avondale, east to Port Dr., south on Port Dr. and Port Dr. extended to the Detroit River]) in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Vice Chair of the Committee on Judiciary 87-88.
Committees Served On: Corporations & Economic Development, Finance & Municipalities, Senate Administration & Rules
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Grosse Pointe twp, cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and Detroit (pt. tracts 5001-5020, 5031-5044, 5049-5051, 5121-5134 [that part of Detroit which lies east of a line beginning at Eight Mile and Van Dyke, south on Van Dyke to McNichols, east to Conner, south to E. Jefferson, west to Clairpointe, south to Avondale, east to Port Dr., south on Port Dr. and Port Dr. extended to the Detroit River]) in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Corporations & Economic Development; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Senate Administration & Rules
Alternate for the Legislative Council
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Labor , Local Government, Public and Mental Health
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and part of Detroit (pt. tracts 5001-5020, 5031-5044, 5049-5051, 5121-5134 [that part of Detroit which lies east of a line beginning at Eight Mile and Van Dyke, south on Van Dyke to McNichols, east to Conner, south to E. Jefferson, west to Clairpointe, south to Avondale, east to Port Dr., south on Port Dr. and Port Dr. extended to the Detroit River]) in Wayne County and Grosse Pointe Township in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Corporations & Economic Development, Judiciary , Municipalities and Elections
Postions Held: Minority Whip
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Lake Township in Macomb County; cities of: Detroit Tracts 652-655, 662, 664, 701, 702, 709-757, 766-792 and 797 (less block 106); Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Township of Grosse Pointe in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Corporations & Economic Development; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Municipalities and Elections
Committees Served On: Corporations & Economic Development, Judiciary , Municipalities and Elections
Postions Held: Majority Whip
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Lake Township in Macomb County; cities of: Detroit Tracts 652-655, 662, 664, 701, 702, 709-757, 766-792 and 797 (less block 106); Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Township of Grosse Pointe in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Corporations & Economic Development; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Municipalities and Elections
Bibliography:
Manual 1987 p.131; PolGryd; 1988 Michigan Legislative Handbook p.16; Gongwer 9/17/2018; DetNews 9/16/2018 online ed;
