Fred Warren Green (October 19, 1871 – November 30, 1936) was an American politician. He was the 31st governor of Michigan from 1927 to 1931. He also served as the mayor of Ionia, Michigan, from 1913 to 1916. While studying at Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University) and the University of Michigan, Green was active in sports. He earned a letter for playing football with the Michigan State Normal team in 1895. He also coached the team during the 1896 season, when they became champions of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Green was a delegate at the 1932 and 1936 Republican National Conventions.

Early life

Green was born in Manistee, Michigan, and grew up in Cadillac. He was the son of Holden Nathaniel Green and Adaline Green (née Clark). He received his education in Ypsilanti at Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University), where he graduated in 1893. He also attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned a law degree in 1898. When Michigan State Normal joined the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1892, Green was chosen as the school's first representative to the athletic conference. From 1893 to 1895, Green worked as a reporter in Ypsilanti. During this time, he remained involved in athletics at Michigan State Normal, serving as Manager of Football for the Normal Athletic Association during the 1893–94 academic year and as Director of Sports during the 1894–95 academic year. In 1895, Green earned a varsity letter as a member of the Michigan State Normal football team. The next year, in 1896, he coached the football team to a 4–1 record. Michigan Normal was named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions that season, with a 2–0 record in the conference. The team’s only loss came against the University of Michigan football team, the only team that scored against the Normalites that season. While a student at Michigan, Green was the Class Athletic Manager during the 1897–98 academic year.

Green served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish–American War. He was a first lieutenant in the 31st Michigan Volunteer Infantry and later promoted to battalion adjutant. After the war, he returned to Ypsilanti as the city attorney and also worked as an attorney for the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company, a business he later owned in a partnership. His furniture company in Ionia was "one of the largest industries of its kind in the country."

Politics

In 1904, he moved his business to Ionia, Michigan. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1912, where U.S. President William Howard Taft was nominated again. Green served as mayor of Ionia from 1913 to 1916 and helped start the Ionia Free Fair in 1915. At one time, this event was the world's largest free admission fair of its kind. From 1915 to 1919, he was treasurer of the Michigan Republican Party. In 1920, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that nominated Warren G. Harding for president.

On November 2, 1926, Green was elected governor of Michigan. He was re-elected for another two-year term in 1928. On May 18, 1927, during the afternoon of the Bath School disaster, Green helped with relief efforts by removing bricks from the scene. In 1928, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that nominated Herbert Hoover for president. Howard C. Lawrence was Green's secretary and business partner. During his time as governor, Green expanded a fish planting program and helped acquire seven state parks. He created a detailed budget system, approved a new code for criminal practices, secured funding for a state hospital building program, and improved workmen's compensation.

The Green administration was important in improving Michigan's highways. He is known as the "inventor of the no passing lane," a safety feature used across the country. He also supported the idea of building the Mackinac Bridge early on.

On October 22, 1927, Governor Green took part in the dedication of the new University of Michigan Football Stadium. He and other leaders led university bands onto the field, where they marched to a flag pole. The national flag was raised, and the crowd stood silently as the "Star Spangled Banner" and "The Yellow and Blue" were played.

In 1927, Green appointed Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg, editor of the Grand Rapids Herald, to the U.S. Senate to replace the late Senator Woodbridge N. Ferris. He only chose Vandenberg after being encouraged to do so by the state Republican organization.

In 1928, Green's campaign used the slogan "Keep Michigan Green" as part of a fire prevention program.

A portrait of Governor Green is in the collections of the Michigan State Capitol. Painted by Robert Grafton in 1931, the portrait shows Green in an outdoor setting dressed for a hunt, with two hunting dogs beside him. Though the portrait is not currently on display, more information about it is available on the Capitol's website.

Retirement and death

After leaving his position, Green returned to hunting and fishing, activities he enjoyed. In 1932, Green helped choose the Republican National Committee (RNC) members who supported Herbert Hoover’s bid for re-election. Hoover lost the election to Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1936, Green again helped choose RNC members who supported Alf Landon’s campaign for president. Landon also lost the election to Roosevelt. Green was a member of the Presbyterian Church and belonged to the Freemasons, Elks, and Rotary clubs.

Fred Green passed away on November 30, 1936, at Munising Hospital in Munising, Michigan. He died ten days after having a heart attack during a deer hunting trip. He is buried in a mausoleum at Highland Park Cemetery in Ionia, Michigan.

The papers and documents Green collected, totaling two linear feet and five volumes, are stored at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan.