William Alfred Comstock was born on July 2, 1877, and died on June 16, 1949. He was an American politician who was the 33rd governor of Michigan. During his time in office, he supported new ideas to improve people's lives, such as setting minimum wages and establishing old age pensions.

Early life

He was born in 1877 in Alpena, Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan, where he joined the Zeta Psi fraternity and graduated in 1899. Within the Zeta Psi Fraternity, "The Vision of Bill Comstock" refers to his goal of uniting all chapters by creating a newsletter called The Circle, which he first published in 1909. He worked in real estate, banking, and railroad construction throughout his career.

Politics

In 1911, Comstock began his political career by working as the Democratic county chairman. He served as an alderman of Alpena from 1911 to 1912 and became its mayor from 1913 to 1914. He was a member of the University of Michigan board of regents from 1914 to 1916. In 1915, he joined the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee and later became its chairman from 1920 to 1924. From 1924 to 1930, he was a member of the Democratic National Committee representing Michigan. He attended the Democratic National Convention in 1924, where John W. Davis was nominated for U.S. President, again in 1928 to support Al Smith, and in 1932 to support Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the only candidate of the three to win. Comstock ran for Governor of Michigan in 1926 and 1928 but lost to Fred W. Green, and again in 1930 but lost to Wilber Marion Brucker.

In 1932, Comstock defeated Brucker and became governor, serving from 1933 to 1935. During his time as governor, the state passed its first sales tax law, started an old age pension system that did not continue, created a trust commission, and approved an eight-day bank holiday. This holiday later influenced President Roosevelt’s decision to declare a national bank holiday. Comstock also pardoned Rudolph G. Tenerowicz, the former mayor of Hamtramck, who had been imprisoned in 1932 for bribery along with twelve others. Tenerowicz later won election to the U.S. Congress.

Retirement and death

Comstock worked as a member of the Michigan Civil Service Commission from 1939 to 1940. He also served on the Detroit City Council from 1942 to 1949. He was part of the Freemasons, Elks, Eagles, and Zeta Psi. He died from a stroke in Alpena, Michigan on June 16, 1949. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Alpena.

Sourcing

• Herman, Caryn (2008). Edited by Jennifer L. Herman and Caryn Hannan. Michigan Biographical Dictionary. Published in Hamburg, MI by Native Amer Books. ISBN 978-1-878592-95-8.
• Somerset Publishers (1999). The Encyclopedia of Michigan 1999. Published in St. Clair Shores, Mich. by Somerset Publishers. ISBN 978-0-403-09322-9.
• Blenz, Beth (1989). Encyclopedia of Michigan. Published in New York by Somerset Publishers. ISBN 978-0-403-09973-3.
• Hagman, Arthur A. (1970). Oakland County Book of History. Published by the University of Michigan.