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1995 in Michigan
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1995
This article reviews 1995 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, performance of sports teams, a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories, and notable Michigan-related births and deaths.
Top Michigan news stories
The Michigan Militia received media attention after connections were revealed between Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and Michigan co-conspirator Terry Nichols and the Michigan Milita.
The resignation of Gary Moeller after his arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and assault and battery at a Southfield restaurant on April 28
Michigan men's swimming team led by coach Jon Urbanchek won the program's first national championship since 1961.
Serial rapist Ervin Mitchell convicted by a jury in June 1995.
Pistons select Grant Hill with the number one pick in the NBA draft.
Office holders
State office holders
thumb|right|175px|Gov. Engler
Governor of Michigan: John Engler (Republican)
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Connie Binsfeld (Republican)
Michigan Attorney General: Frank J. Kelley (Democrat)
Michigan Secretary of State: Candice Miller (Republican)
Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Paul Hillegonds (Republican)
Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Dick Posthumus (Republican)
Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: James H. Brickley
Mayors of major cities
Mayor of Detroit: Dennis Archer
Mayor of Grand Rapids: John H. Logie
Mayor of Warren, Michigan: Ronald L. Bonkowski/Mark Steenbergh
Mayor of Flint: Woodrow Stanley
Mayor of Dearborn: Michael Guido
Mayor of Lansing: David Hollister
Mayor of Ann Arbor: Ingrid Sheldon
Mayor of Saginaw: Gary L. Loster
Federal office holders
right|thumb|125px|Sen. Riegle
right|thumb|125px|Sen. Levin
U.S. Senator from Michigan: Spencer Abraham (Republican)
U.S. Senator from Michigan: Carl Levin (Democrat)
House District 1: Bart Stupak (Democrat)
House District 2: Pete Hoekstra (Republican)
House District 3: Vern Ehlers (Republican)
House District 4: Dave Camp (Republican)
House District 5: James A. Barcia (Democrat)
House District 6: Fred Upton (Republican)
House District 7: Nick Smith (Republican)
House District 8: Milton Robert Carr (Democrat)
House District 9: Dale Kildee (Democrat)
House District 10: David Bonior (Democrat)
House District 11: Joe Knollenberg (Republican)
House District 12: Sander Levin (Democrat)
House District 13: Lynn Rivers (Democrat)
House District 14: John Conyers (Democrat)
House District 15: Barbara-Rose Collins (Democrat)
House District 16: John Dingell (Democrat)
Sports
Baseball
1995 Detroit Tigers season – Under manager Sparky Anderson, the Tigers compiled a 53–62 record and finished fifth in American League East. The team's statistical leaders included Junior Felix with a .306 batting average, Cecil Fielder with 28 home runs and 90 RBIs, Mike Moore with 11 wins, and Storm Davis with a 3.56 earned run average.1995 Detroit Tigers Statistics Sports Reference LLC Baseball-Reference.com December 12, 2025 https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1995.shtml
American football
1995 Detroit Lions season – Under head coach Wayne Fontes, the Lions compiled a 10–6 record. The team's statistical leaders included Scott Mitchell (4,338 passing yards), Barry Sanders (1,500 rushing yards), and Herman Moore (1,686 receiving yards).1995 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players Sports Reference LLC Pro-Football-Reference.com December 12, 2025 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1995.htm
1995 Michigan Wolverines football team – In their first season under head coach Lloyd Carr, the Wolverines compiled a 9–4 record, lost to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl, and were ranked No. 17 in the final AP poll. The team's statistical leaders included Brian Griese (1,395 passing yards), Tshimanga Biakabutuka (1,724 rushing yards), and Mercury Hayes (888 receiving yards).1995 Michigan Wolverines Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 12, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/1995.html
1995 Michigan State Spartans football team – In their first season under head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled a 6–5–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Tony Banks (1,741 passing yards), Marc Renaud (978 rushing yards), and Derrick Mason (713 receiving yards).1995 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 12, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1995.html
Basketball
1994–95 Detroit Pistons season – Under head coach Don Chaney, the Pistons compiled a 28–54 record. The team selected Grant Hill with the third overall pick in the NBA draft. In his first season in the NBA, Hill led the team with 1,394 points scored. The team's other statistical leaders included Joe Dumars (368 assists) and Terry Mills (558 rebounds).1994–95 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats Sports Reference LLC Basketball-Reference.com December 12, 2025 https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1995.html
Ice hockey
1994–95 Detroit Red Wings season – Under head coach Scotty Bowman, the Red Wings compiled a 33–11–4 record and lost to the San Jose Sharks in the conference quarterfinals. Sergei Federov led the team with 56 goals, 64 assists, and 120 points.1994–95 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics Sports Reference LLC Hockey-Reference.com December 12, 2025 https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1995.html
Other
1995 Big Ten softball tournament - finals held in Ann Arbor, Michigan won the title
1995 GM Goodwrench Dealer 400
1995 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Michigan)
1995 Michigan 500
Motor City Mustangs
1995 Skate America
Chronology of events
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Births
March 29 - Kay Felder, basketball point guard, in Detroit
July 21 - Bill G. Schuette, Michigan politician
July 24 - Kyle Kuzma, basketball player, in Flint
Deaths
January 11 - Joseph Gingold, concertmaster and violinist with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, at age 85
February 9 - David Wayne, actor and singer, at age 81
February 23 - Melvin Franklin, singer with The Temptations, at age 52Melvin Franklin 1942-1995: Temptations' rumbling bass is stilled Detroit Free Press Gary Graff February 24, 1995 1A, 9A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-melvin-franklin-1942/186725021/ Newspapers.com
February 23 - Margaret Woodbridge, swimmer for Detroit Athletic Club, gold medalist at 1920 Olympics, at age 93Champ kept swimming into her late 70s Detroit Free Press Wylie Gerdes February 25, 1995 8A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-champ-kept-swimming-i/186724633/ Newspapers.com
April 16 - August E. Johansen, US Congress (1955–65), at age 89Ex-congressman dies in Florida: August Johansen served 5 terms Battle Creek Enquirer April 17, 1995 3A https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-ex-congressman-die/186725525/ Newspapers.com
April 22 - Jane Kenyon, poet, at age 47Poet Jane Kenyon dies at here home in Wilmot Concord Monitor Jo Becker April 23, 1995 A1, A10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-poet-jane-kenyon-dies-at/186725217/ Newspapers.com
April 24 - Emelia Christine Schaub, Michigan's first elected woman prosecutor
May 16 - Harold Schultz, Marine corporal who raised the flage atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima, at age 70
June 7 - Eddie Lake, Detroit Tigers shortstop (1946–1950)
June 23 - Jonas Salk, virologist and researcher who developed polo vaccines, at age 80Polio vaccine pioneer Salk dies The Ann Arbor News Ernest Sander June 24, 1995 A1, A13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-polio-vaccine-pioneer/186726186/ Newspapers.com
June 24 - Andrew J. Transue, US Congress (1937–39), at age 92Lawyer remembered for beliefs The Flint Journal Tim Doran June 27, 1995 C1, C2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-lawyer-remembered-for/186725759/ Newspapers.com
July 26 - George W. Romney, Governor of Michigan (1963–69), at age 88George W. Romney 1907-1995 Detroit Free Press Joe H. Stroud July 27, 1995 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-george-w-romney-1907/186720807/ Newspapers.com
July 27 - Rick Ferrell, Hall of Fame catcher, Detroit Tigers executive, at age 89Ferrell dies, but not the memory of his response when he thought DiMaggio was out of bounds The Detroit News Joe Falls July 28, 1995 1C https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-rick-ferrell/186725963/ Newspapers.com
August 10 - Baba Rexheb, Albanian Muslim scholar and Sufi, founder of Bektashi tekke in Taylor, at age 93
August 16 - J. P. McCarthy, Detroit radio personality, 30 years as the morning man and interviewer on WJR, at age 62J. P. McCarthy 1933-1995: Detroit radio legend falls silent; Local WJR broadcaster victim of blood ailment Detroit Free Press John Smyntek August 17, 1995 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-j-p-mccarthy-1933-1/186721062/ Newspapers.com
August 16 - Bobby DeBarge, singer and musician, at age 39Family, friends gather to celebrate life of Bobby DeBarge The Grand Rapids Press Jaye Beeler August 18, 1995 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-family-friends-g/186726608/ Newspapers.com
August 24 - Richard Degener, 1936 Olympic gold medalist in divingRichard Degener was '36 Olympic gold medalist Detroit Free Press Laurie Bennett August 26, 1995 9A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-richard-degener-was/186726368/ Newspapers.com
August 26 - Ronnie White, co-founder of the Miracles, discovered Stevie Wonder, at age 57Ronnie White 1938-1995: Motown singer discovered Stevie Wonder The Detroit News David C. Butty August 28, 1995 1A, 4A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-ronnie-white-1938-199/186724469/ Newspapers.com
September 19 - Mr. Bo, blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, at age 63
October 21 - Vada Pinson, Detroit Tigers coach (1985–91), at age 57
October 31 - Jim Campbell, Detroit Tigers general manager (1962–83), at age 71Ex-Tigers boss Campbell dies at 71 (part 1) Detroit Free Press November 1, 1995 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4759782/extigers_boss_campbell_dies_at_71/ Newspapers.com
November 23 - Junior Walker, singer and saxophonist, in Battle CreekJunior Walker dies: Motown star got his start at B.C. club Battle Creek Enquirer Trace Christenson November 24, 1995 1A, 2A https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-junior-walker-dies/186724243/ Newspapers.com
December 5 - Bill Bruton, Detroit Tigers outfielder (1961–64), at age 70Bruton dies at 69; ex-Tiger was fast, once outran his age Detroit Free Press Helene St. James December 7, 1995 2D https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bruton-dies-at-69-ex/186724829/ Newspapers.com
December 22 - Ferris Jennings, UM quarterback (1934–36), at age 82
See also
1995 in the United States
References