2009 in Michigan

2009 This article reviews key circumstances during 2009 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, performance of sports teams, cultural events, a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories, and Michigan-related deaths. Top stories The top news stories in Michigan included: The 2008–2010 automotive industry crisis with General Motors Corporation and Chrysler going through bankruptcy and reorgazing as new companies, all as a condition to additional federal financial aid; Michigan's unemployment rate leading the nation, reaching 15.3% in September; Indictment and resignation of Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the election of Dave Bing To replace him; The attempted underwear bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 by Al-Qaeda follower Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab; The closure of The Ann Arbor News. Top sports stories included: The 2008–09Detroit Red Wings advncing to the Stanley Cup Final where they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers; The 2008–09 Michigan State Spartans basketball team advancing to the NCAA championship game where they lost to North Carolina; The deaths of Detroit sports legends George Kell, Mark Fidrych and Chuck Daly. Other notable Michigan-related deaths i 2009 included Robert McNamara, John Hugnes, and Soupy Sales. Office holders State office holders thumb|right|115px|Jennifer Granholm Governor of Michigan - Jennifer Granholm (Democrat) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: John D. Cherry (Democrat) Michigan Attorney General - Mike Cox (Republican) Michigan Secretary of State - Terri Lynn Land (Republican) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Andy Dillon (Democrat) Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Mike Bishop (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Marilyn Jean Kelly Federal office holders right|thumb|115px|Carl Levin right|thumb|115px|Debbie Stabenow U.S. Senator from Michigan - Carl Levin (Democrat) U.S. Senator from Michigan - Debbie Stabenow (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: Dale Kildee (Democrat) House District 6: Fred Upton (Republican) House District 7: Tim Walberg (Republican) House District 8: Mike Rogers (Republican) House District 9: Gary Peters (Democrat) House District 10: Candice Miller (Republican) House District 11: Thaddeus McCotter (Republican) House District 12: Sander Levin (Democrat) House District 13: Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Democrat) House District 14: John Conyers (Democrat) House District 15: John Dingell (Democrat) Mayors of major cities thumb|right|115px|Dave Bing Mayor of Detroit: - Dave Bing (Democrat) Mayor of Grand Rapids: - George Heartwell Mayor of Ann Arbor: John Hieftje (Democrat) Mayor of Lansing: Virgil Bernero Mayor of Flint: Dayne Walling Mayor of Saginaw: Greg Branch Sports Baseball 2009 Detroit Tigers season - In their fourth year under manager Jim Leyland, the Tigers compiled an 86–77 record. Miguel Cabrera led the team with a .324 batting average, 34 home runs, and 103 RBIs. Justin Verlander compiled a 19–9 record with a 3.45 earned run average and 269 strikeouts.2009 Detroit Tigers Statistics Sports Reference Baseball-Reference.com December 9, 2025 https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2009.shtml American football 2009 Detroit Lions season - In their first season under head coach Jim Schwartz, the Lions compiled a 2–14 record. 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team - In their third season under head coach Mark Dantonio, the Spartans compiled a 6–7 record.2009 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference December 9, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/2009.html 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team - In their second season under head coach Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines compiled a 5–7 record. Brandon Graham was selected as the team's most valuable player. Brandon Minor and Tate Forcier were the team's leading rusher and passer, respectively. Basketball 2008–09 Detroit Pistons season - Led by head coach Michael Curry, the Pistons compiled a 39–43 record.2008-09 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats Sports Reference Basketball-Reference.com December 9, 2025 https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2009.html 2009 Detroit Shock season - Led by head coaches Bill Laimbeer (first four games) and Rick Mahorn (remaining 30 games), the Shock compiled an 18–16 record. 2008–09 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team - In their 14the season under head coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans compiled a 31–7, won the Big Ten regular season championship, and lost to North Carolina in the NCAA championship game. 2008–09 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team - In their second season under head coach John Beilein, the Wolverines compiled a 21–14 record and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament 2008–09 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team - The Spartans advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Ice hockey 2008–09 Detroit Red Wings season - In their fourth season under head coach Mike Babcock, the Red Wings compiled a 51–21–10 record and advanced to the 2009 Stanley Cup Final where they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers.2008-09 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics Sports Reference Hockey Reference.com December 9, 2025 https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/2009.html 2008–09 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season - Led by head coach Red Berenson, the Red Wings compiled a 28–10–0 record. Louie Caporusso led the team with 22 goals. Other 2009 Carfax 400 2009 LifeLock 400 Chronology of events January February March April May May 5 - The 2009 Detroit mayoral special election was scheduled when Kwame Kilpatrick resigned after being indicted for obstruction of justice. Dave Bing won with 51.7% of the votes, defeating Kenneth Cockrel Jr. with 47.2%. June July August September October November November 3 - In the 2009 Detroit mayoral election, Dave Bing received 56.2% of the votes to defeat Tom Barrow with 40.7%. November 16 - Murder of Jamar Pinkney Jr.: Jamar Pinkney Sr. murdered his 15-year-old son, Jamar Pinkney Jr. in an execution-style shooting in Detroit. Pinkney Sr. said that Pinkney Jr. had admitted to sexually assaulting his thre-year old half-sister before he assaulted him, forced him to take off his clothes, marched him down the street while naked to a vacant lot, forced him to kneel and shot him in the head. December December 25 - Al-Qaeda member Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached to Detroit from. He sought to detonated chemical explosives sewn into his underwear. While a small explosion and fire occurred, the exposive device failed to detonate properly.Bomb suspect faces life Detroit Free Press January 7, 2010 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bomb-suspect-faces-li/185638796/ Newspapers.comAll eyes on terror case Detroit Free Press January 8, 2010 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-all-eyes-on-terror-ca/185638893/ Newspapers.comAfter Bomb Attempt, Botched Responses Detroit Free Press January 29, 2010 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-after-bomb-attempt-b/185640664/ Newspapers.com He was arraigned on January 8.Flight 253 case begins: Amid Frenzy, He Faces Accusers Detroit Free Press January 9, 2010 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-flight-253-case-begin/185639034/ Newspapers.com Deaths January 6 - Ron Asheton, formed the Stooges with Iggy Pop, at age 60 February 17 - Brad Van Pelt, Michigan State linebacker (1970–72), Maxwell Award (1972), at age 57 March 6 - Colleen Howe, sports agent and wife of Gordie Howe, at age 76 March 6 - Ed McMahon, The Tonight Show and Detroit native, at age 86 March 13 Bill Davidson, CEO of Guardian Industries, owner of Detrioit Pistons, at age 86 March 23 - George Kell, Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman (1943–57), Tigers broadcaster (1959–96), at age 86 March 31 - Sidney Fine, historian, at age 88 April 13 - Mark Fidrych, pitcher known as "The Bird", at age 53 May 9 - Chuck Daly, Detroit Pistons coach (1983–92), at age 78 May 28 - Terry Barr, UM and Detroit Lions halfback (1954–1965), at age 76 July 5 - Lou Creekmur, Detroit Lions tackle (1950–59), Hall of Fame, at age 82 July 6 - Robert McNamara, President of Ford, Secretary of Defense, at age 93 August 6 - John Hughes, filmmaker born in Lansing, raised in Grosse Pointe, at age 59 September 16 - Monte Clark, Detroit Lions coach (1978–84), at age 72 October 16 - Bob Davis, Congressman (1979–1993), at age 77 October 22 - Soupy Sales, comedian and TV host, local Detroit show (1953–60), at age 83 October 28 - Dave Barclay, 1947 NCAA golf champion while at U-M, at age 89 October 30 - Forest Evashevski, UM football player (1938–40), Iowa head coach (1952–60), at age 91 November 4 - Lyman Parks, mayor of Grand Rapids (1971–1976), at age 92 December 6 - Al Dorow, quarterback and coach, at age 80 December 14 - Erma Henderson, first African American woman on the Detroit City Council, at age 92Ken Coleman On this day in 2009: Detroit’s first African-American City Council president dies https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/on-this-day-in-2009-detroits-first-african-american-city-council-president-dies/ December 14, 2021 Michigan Advance June 28, 2026 December 19 - Carl Pursell, US Congress (1977–1993), at age 76 December 28 - J. David Singer, political scientist, at age 84 December 29 - Dave Diles, sports broadcaster, journalist and author, at age 78 See also 2009 in the United States References 30em