Legislator Details
Image Description:
Michael Novak portrait from Manual 1959 p.lix
Michael Novak portrait from Manual 1959 p.lix
Michael Novak
AKA:
Number of sessions served 15
Gender: Male
Age at election: 25
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 2/25/1917
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 1/2/2003
City: Waterford, MI
County: Oakland County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 1/6/2003
City: Clarkston, MI
County: Oakland County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Ottawa Park Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Ruth Gillespie of Highland Park in 1940; children: 2, Diane (Marshall) and Michele (Stemmer)
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion: Greek Orthodox
Military Service:
Occupation: constable, baliff, restaurateur, professional golfer
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
graduated from Pershing High School, Detroit
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Anthony & Christina Novak. He was a restaurant owner; Constable of the 9th ward for 2 years & appointed as baliff of the Common Pleas court by Judge Gerald W. Groat.
Died of pneumonia at North Oakland Medical Center in Pontiac, MI. His last residence was in Waterford, MI.
Notable Facts:
While in high school he was named to the Hall of Fame for his prowess as a golfer.
When he was elected in 1942 he was the youngest member elected to the state house to date.
He had a 98% attendance record while in office and was 'Dean of the House' for part of that time.
Detroit News says he died in a Pontiac hospital; Find-a-Grave says Waterford. He died of complications of pneumonia.
Sessions Served:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Corporations & Finance , Insurance , Public Utilities , Roads and Bridges , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 10
District Description: City of Detroit tracts 562 (Blocks 501-6, 601-3, 701-5), 563, 564 (Less: Blocks 101-4, 106-8, 201-8),571-2, 601.01 (Less:Block 106), 601.02, 602, 603.01-2, 604-5, 606 (Less: Blocks 501-5, 607-10, 701, 703-5), 613.01-2,
614.01-2. 615.01-2, 616.01 (Blocks 307-10), 616.02 (Blocks 111-2, 201-3, 303-5,308-12) 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: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair: Roads and Bridges.
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Corporations & Finance , Public Utilities , Roads and Bridges , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 10
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/7/1972
Date Sworn In: 1/10/1973
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Roads and Bridges
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Liquor Control , Mental Health , Military and Veterans' Affairs , Corporations & Finance , Roads and Bridges , State Affairs
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 13
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: Democratic Vice-Chair of the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs; Chair of the Committee on Roads and Bridges
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Mental Health , Military and Veterans' Affairs , Private Corporations , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 13
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: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Roads and Bridges; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: 13
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: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Vice-Chair of the Committee on Roads and Bridges
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Metropolitan Affairs, Roads and Bridges , Tuberculosis Hospitals
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 7
District Description: City of Detroit all that part of ward 1 lying north of city of Highland Park, all that part of ward 9 lying north of city of Hamtramck and all that part of ward 13 lying north of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
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:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Metropolitan Affairs, Roads and Bridges , Tuberculosis Hospitals
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 7
District Description: City of Detroit, all that portion of Ward 1 lying north of the city of Highland park, all that part of Ward 9 lying north of the city of Hamtramck and all that part of Ward 13 lying north of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
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: Apportionment , Fish and Fisheries , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 7
District Description: City of Detroit all that part of ward 1 lying north of city of Highland Park, all that part of Ward 9 lying north of city of Hamtramck and all that part of Ward 13 lying north of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
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: Fish and Fisheries , Local Taxation , Marine Affairs , Religious and Benevolent Societies
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 7
District Description: City of Detroit all that part of ward 1 lying north of city of Highland Park, all that part of ward 9 lying north of city of Hamtramck and all that part of ward 13 lying north of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
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: Fish and Fisheries , Local Taxation , Marine Affairs , Religious and Benevolent Societies
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 7
District Description: City of Detroit all that part of ward 1 lying north of city of Highland Park, all that part of ward 9 lying north of city of Hamtramck and all that part of ward 13 lying north of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
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: Fish and Fisheries , Private Corporations , Religious and Benevolent Societies , Towns and Counties
Postions Held:
City of Residence:
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: Fish and Fisheries , Private Corporations , State Library , Towns and Counties
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District: Wayne 1
District Description: Cities of Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Gross Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park,
Grosse Pointe Woods and Harper Woods and Townships of Gratiot 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: Apportionment , Private Corporations , Revision and Amendment of the Statutes , Towns and Counties
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: Apportionment , Michigan Children's Institute, Private Corporations , Revision and Amendment of the Statutes , Towns and Counties
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: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Chamber: House
Party: Democratic
Committees Served On: Metropolitan Affairs, Michigan Children's Institute, Private Corporations , Revision and Amendment of the Statutes , 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: