1968 in Michigan

1968
in
Michigan

Decades:
See also:

Events from the year 1968 in Michigan.

The Associated Press (AP) surveyed newspaper editors and broadcasters and determined the top 10 stories in Michigan for 1968 as follows:[1]

  1. The candidacy of Gov. George W. Romney for President of the United States;
  2. The 1968 Detroit Tigers winning the American League pennant and defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1968 World Series;
  3. A newspaper strike that shut down the state's two largest newspapers, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, for nine months;
  4. Gov. Romney's decision to resign as Governor to become United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Pres. Richard M. Nixon;
  5. The reapportionment and redistricting of the state's county boards to reflect a "one man, one vote" proportionality;
  6. Michigan voters' defeat of a ballot measure to adopt daylight saving time;
  7. Hubert H. Humphrey's taking Michigan's 21 electoral votes in the 1968 United States presidential election (Humphrey received 1,593,082 votes (48.18%) to 1,370,665 (41.46%) for Richard M. Nixon and 331,968 (10.04%) for George Wallace);
  8. The Robison family murders, a mass murder on June 25 of six family members while vacationing in their Lake Michigan cottage just north of Good Hart, Michigan;
  9. Two heart transplants performed at the University of Michigan Hospital; and
  10. The adoption a statewide laws for open housing and the protection of tenants' rights.

The AP also selected the state's top 10 sports stories as follows:[2]

  1. Mickey Lolich's three victories in the 1968 World Series;
  2. The Detroit Tigers winning the American League pennant for the first time since 1968;
  3. Denny McLain's 31 wins as a pitcher for the Tigers;
  4. Gordie Howe's 700th goal and 1,500th game for the Detroit Red Wings;
  5. Ron Johnson's season, setting an NCAA record with 347 rushing yards in a game and Michigan records with 1,391 rushing yards and 114 points scored during the 1968 season;
  6. The Detroit Lions' acquisition of quarterback Bill Munson and their poor performance during the 1968 season;
  7. Spencer Haywood's transfer to Detroit Mercy and his leading a resurgence in the school's basketball fortunes during the 1968-69 season;
  8. The popularity of coho salmon fishing;
  9. Two members of the Detroit Lions, Mel Farr and Lem Barney winning the NFL's offensive and defensive rookie of the year honors; and
  10. The death of Warner Gardner in a crash during the APBA Gold Cup unlimited hydroplane race on September 8 on the Detroit River.
  1. ^ "Romney's Run Was Top Story Of '68". The Escanaba Daily Press (AP story). December 26, 1968. p. 10.
  2. ^ "Lolich, Tigers' Victories Rated Top Sports Stories". The Escanaba Daily Press (AP story). December 26, 1968. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.