| Frank Couzens | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Detroit | |
| In office May 10, 1933 – September 8, 1933 |
|
| Preceded by | Frank Murphy |
| Succeeded by | John W. Smith |
| Mayor of Detroit | |
| In office January 2, 1934 – January 3, 1938 |
|
| Preceded by | John W. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Richard Reading |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 28, 1902 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | October 31, 1950 Detroit, Michigan |
Frank Couzens (February 28, 1902 – October 31, 1950) was the son of United States Senator James J. Couzens, and mayor of Detroit, Michigan during the 1930s.
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Frank Couzens was born in Detroit on February 28, 1902,[1][2] the son of businessman (and later mayor of Detroit and United States Senator) James J. Couzens.[3] He went to Newman Preparatory School in New Jersey, then returned to Detroit to attend high school.[3] After graduation, he worked as an apprentice in the building trades, then as an inspector for an architectural firm.[3] In 1922, he formed his own building contractor firm.[1]
Frank Couzens married Margaret Lang in 1922;[1] the couple had four sons: Frank Couzens Jr., James Couzens II, Homer J. Couzens, and George L. Couzens; and three daughters: Mrs. Edward C. Roney, Mary Elizabeth Couzens, and Barbara Ann Couzens.[4]
In 1928, then-mayor John C. Lodge appointed Couzens a member of the Detroit Street Railways Commission.[3] He was fired by the next mayor, Charles Bowles, in 1930 after opposing Bowles's effort to raise the streetcar fare.[3] However, the deeply unpopular Bowles was recalled fom office, and Frank Murphy reinstated Couzens.[3]
In 1931, Couzens ran for a seat on the Detroit City Council, and garnered enough votes to become council president.[3] When Murphy resigned in 1933 to become governor of the Philippines, Couzens became acting mayor.[3] He resigned the mayor's office on September 8, 1933, to concentrate on receiving the Republican nomination for the office.[5] He was elected mayor twice, filling out four years in office.[3]
After stepping down from the mayor's office, Couzens retired from politics[2] and founded the Wabeek Bank of Detroit, whose chaiman he remained for the next 12 years.[6] He died after a long battle with cancer on October 31, 1950.[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Frank Murphy |
Mayor of Detroit May 10-September 8, 1933 |
Succeeded by John W. Smith |
| Preceded by John W. Smith |
Mayor of Detroit January 2, 1934 - January 3, 1938 |
Succeeded by Richard Reading |