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Orville E. Atwood
Orville Elbridge Atwood Jr. (February 23, 1880 – June 15, 1939) was an American politician and farmer who served as the 32nd Secretary of State of Michigan from 1935 to 1937 as a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature. Early life and educationAtwood was born near Morgan Park, Illinois, on February 23, 1880, to Orville Elbridge Atwood Sr. and Martha Elvira (née Townsend) Atwood. Atwood moved to Kansas with his parents when he was 12 years old. He attended Ottawa Academy in Ottawa, Kansas. Atwood graduated from the University of Chicago in 1903.[1] CareerAtwood worked as a traveling salesman for two years before moving to a farm near Newaygo, Michigan.[1] Atwood was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1924. Atwood served as director of the Michigan Sales Tax Division in 1939.[2] Michigan LegislatureAtwood served a total of five sessions in the Michigan Legislature. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1918. Atwood served from 1919 to 1923, representing the Newaygo district as a Republican in the 50th and 51st Michigan Legislatures. In 1922, Atwood was elected to the Michigan Senate. He served from 1923 to 1927, representing the 26th district in the 52nd and 53rd Michigan Legislatures.[1] Atwood was narrowly defeated in the 1926 Republican primary by Thomas Read. However, Atwood subsequently defeated Read in another close race, after which he served his third and final term in the Michigan Senate from 1929 to 1931 in the 55th Michigan Legislature.[3] Michigan Secretary of StateAtwood served as the 32nd Secretary of State of Michigan from 1935 to 1937. His 1934 victory was unsuccessfully contested by Democratic nominee Guy M. Wilson.[4] In 1935, during his tenure as Michigan's secretary of state, Atwood criticized Thomas Ward, a Democratic employee of the state liquor control commission, threatening to demand chairman John S. McDonald dismiss Ward. In response, McDonald stated: "If Orville comes blustering out of the commission, I'll throw him out. Orville has an office of his own to run and I suggest that he keeps his nose out of liquor commission business." McDonald further stated that his decision to retain or dismiss Ward would not be influenced by Atwood.[5] In 1936, Atwood spoke at a rally in support of governor Frank Fitzgerald's re-election bid, stating: "The issue is whether American ideas are to continue or whether we are to adopt European regimentation and collectivism. This is the most important election in our lifetime." Fitzgerald went on to lose the general election to Democrat Frank Murphy.[6] Atwood also lost his own re-election bid that year.[2] Atwood was preceded in office by Clarke W. Brown and succeeded by Leon D. Case. Personal life and deathAtwood married Evelyn May Forman on October 1, 1910. He had a son and daughter. Atwood was a member of the Freemasons and Delta Upsilon. He was a Congregationalist and had English ancestry.[1] In 1931, Atwood, who was head of the Michigan state auto license bureau at the time, fatally struck nine-year-old Marylin Reuss with his automobile. According to witnesses, Atwood immediately stopped and administered as much aid as he could. Atwood was charged with assault in connection with the incident and released on a bond of $10,000.[7] The bond was later dismissed following witness testimony, and Atwood was exonerated of any wrongdoing in the incident.[8] On June 15, 1939, Atwood was traveling from Lansing to Detroit with auto executive Frank Longyear when they collided with a westbound bus. Atwood, aged 59, died from his injuries an hour later in McPherson Hospital in Howell, Michigan. Longyear was also killed as a result of the collision. Additionally, four passengers on the bus were injured, including state representative Martin R. Kronk.[9][10] Atwood was interred in Deepdale Memorial Park, located in Delta Charter Township, Michigan.[2] References
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