Michigan Minute

Born on this day in 1893, Harley J. Earl became the first head of design for General Motors, introducing the concept car as a vital design tool and marketing strategy. In 1976, the comic strip "Cathy" debuted, created by Midland, Michigan's Cathy Guisewite. This pioneering strip humorously depicted the title character's struggles with love, work, and her overbearing but caring mother, running for 34 years.

On this day in 1945, UAW workers began a 113-day strike against General Motors, advocating for wage increases in the wake of World War II. Fast forward to 2005, when hockey took a backseat as Detroit Red Wings player Jiri Fischer collapsed on the ice with a heart rate of 300 beats per minute. Team doctors performed CPR, reviving him after his heart flatlined for 24 seconds, ultimately saving his life.

In 1966, the MSU Spartans faced Notre Dame in a highly anticipated college football showdown, which ended in a 10-10 tie as the Fighting Irish opted to run out the clock. Fast forward to 2004, when a fight erupted between the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. After a fan threw a cup at Pacers forward Ron Artest, he charged into the stands, igniting a chaotic melee that led to suspensions for nine players and criminal charges for several individuals.

On this day in 1883, railroads established American time zones, assigning Michigan to central time, although Detroit resisted until 1900. In 1931, the state legislature adopted eastern time to provide more evening daylight. Additionally, 1927 marked the birth of Detroit’s Hank Ballard, an early rock and roller whose song “The Twist” gained worldwide fame after being re-recorded by Chubby Checker in 1958.

In 2006, Bo Schembechler, the winningest coach in University of Michigan football history, passed away at 77 while filming a segment for an upcoming Michigan-Ohio State game. With a record of 194 wins, 48 losses, and 5 ties, Schembechler left a lasting legacy, famously summarized by player Andree McIntyre after their 1986 Big Ten Championship: “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.”

Born on this day in 1942, dancer Donna McKechnie from Pontiac rose to fame on Broadway, winning a Tony in 1976 for her role as Cassie in A Chorus Line. In 1979, activist Cesar Chavez addressed the Michigan Legislature, advocating for migrant farm workers during a UFW boycott of “Red Coach” Lettuce. His impact was later honored in 2019 when a road in Old Town Lansing was renamed in his honor.

On this day in 1929, the Ambassador Bridge opened as the longest suspension bridge in the world at 7,490 feet, built with 21,000 tons of steel. On November 15, 1985, a bomb from the Unabomber injured a research assistant at the University of Michigan. Theodor Kaczynski, known for his bombing campaign against modern technology, killed three people and was captured after his manifesto led to his identification by his brother.

In 1914, John and Horace Dodge produced the first Dodge automobile, the four-cylinder Model 30, known as “Old Betsy,” at their Hamtramck facility. In 2013, Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera was named back-to-back AL MVP, overcoming numerous injuries in the final months. Additionally, in 1857, Francis B. Gilbert inaugurated Grand Rapids' first gas street lamp, leading to significant gas sales in its first year.

Born on this day in 1922, Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish co-founded the Air Zoo and famously flew a bright pink P-40 Warhawk during WWII. Though she joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) two years late, she logged ten times the required flight hours. She continued performing in air shows until her 70s and was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in 1994 for her contributions to aviation and philanthropy.