Emil Lockwood

Emil Lockwood (September 23, 1919 – August 2, 2002) represented Gratiot County in the Michigan Senate from 1963 to 1970, serving as Republican Party (GOP) Senate Minority Leader from 1965 to 1966 and Senate Majority Leader from 1967 to 1970. With F.J. Coomes in 1971, he co-founded Public Affairs Associates (PAA), the state's first multi-client bipartisan lobbying firm. As a young man, Lockwood served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST), earning several medals.

Lockwood’s senate service became the “stuff of legends” during unprecedented crises of fiscal reform, and post-Detroit-riot civil unrest.^[1] He has been praised by Democrats and Republicans alike for his bipartisan approach to public service. “It was the most skillful leadership job I’ve seen in five years in the Capitol,” (George Romney, Governor of Michigan [R], 1963–69). “He set the standard for what a good Senate majority leader should be,” (John Engler, Governor of Michigan [R], 1991–2002).^[2] “My interest is in Lockwood’s legacy in the senate, where he was... more pragmatic than partisan in his trading and deal-making; [he] kept his word,” (George Weeks, The Detroit News).^[3]

Early years

Lockwood was born in Ottawa, Illinois, and was a descendant of Franz Karl Achard on his mother's side.^[4] His namesake, Emil Achard, founded Saginaw Plate Glass Company in Saginaw, Michigan, where his family eventually moved. Lockwood graduated from Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri with an Associate degree, and from the University of Michigan where he earned his B.A. degree as well as an M.B.A. He served with distinction aboard an LST in the Pacific Theater of World War II.^[5]

Public service

• Alma, Michigan Board of Education
• Gratiot County, Michigan Board of Supervisors
• President, St. Louis, Michigan Rotary Club
• Campaign manager for Albert Cobo, Mayor of Detroit (1950–1957)
• Campaign manager for R. James Harvey's successful run for the U.S. Congress

Political terms of office

• 1963-64: State Senator representing Gratiot County, Clinton County, Shiawassee County, and portions of Montcalm County and Eaton County
• 1965-66: reelected to two-year term in State Senate and selected by party members as GOP Minority Leader. Senate seat at this time was considered the 25th district, prior to reorganization in 1964, which altered geographic boundaries and resulted in his representing the 30th district.
• 1967-70: reelected to two-year term, during which time the Michigan Constitution changed the term to four years. Again voted by his peers as party leader, now serving as Senate Majority Leader.

Bibliography

• Man in Motion: Michigan's Legendary Senate Majority Leader, Emil Lockwood, by Stanley C. Fedewa and Marilyn H. Fedewa, Llumina, 2003, distributed by Michigan State University Press.
• The Political Graveyard by Lawrence Kestenbaum.

References