1964 - 1973 activism and acclaim: the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce rises to the challenges of a turbulent era.In 1965 the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce, now in its seventh decade, packed its bags at 320 W. Lafayette, its home base for 52 years, and moved to a new suite of offices in the 150 Michigan Building The Michigan Building is an office building and former theatre in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was constructed in 1925 and stands at 13 floors in height. It contains retail space, offices, and a parking garage. . A year later, Board president Willis Hall Willis Hall (6 April 1929 - 7 March 2005) was an English playwright and radio and television writer who drew on his working class Leeds roots in much of his material. His most famous creation was probably Billy Liar retired after 33 years with the organization, turning the reins over to his successor, Dwight Havens. These were big changes indeed--but they would soon pale in comparison to the single most cataclysmic cat·a·clysm n. 1. A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change. 2. A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust. 3. A devastating flood. event in Detroit's history. The devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. Detroit riots Detroit riots can refer to:
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Before the smoke had cleared and the ashes had cooled, Board chairman Hans Gehrke Jr. sounded the call for action in forceful terms. "We count on your aid to mobilize Detroit's best leadership and vast resources for action," he told members. "Short of all-out war, this is the greatest challenge Detroit's leadership has ever been called on to face." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Board swiftly marshaled its own resources, assigning Forrest Strand, one of its general managers, to work directly with the staff of New Detroit, the 37-member committee headed by Joseph L. Hudson Jr. and charged with rebuilding riot-torn neighborhoods. The Board's new Manpower Development Division opened satellite offices in Detroit to help people find jobs. Funded by a grant of more than $3 million from the U.S. Department of Labor, the placement offices by 1969 had succeeded in finding permanent employment for some 2,100 "hard-core unemployables," providing an estimated net income of $22.5 million a year to the community. The Chamber also cooperated with the Southeast Michigan Southeast Michigan, also called Southeastern Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan that is home to a majority of the state's businesses and industries, and is home to slightly over half the state's population. Transportation Authority (SEMTA SEMTA Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (UK) SEMTA Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies (UK) ) to provide a bus network connecting inner-city workers with suburban jobs. In 1969, the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce became the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce. "The name change provides clearer identification of our organization with most other chambers of commerce throughout the country," wrote chairman Frank A. Colombo (J.L. Hudson Co.). Under the leadership of Dwight Havens, the Chamber formed a working committee to investigate the best way to chart Detroit's future in an era of rapid "white flight" to the suburbs and large-scale abandonment of the central city. This led to the formation of Detroit Renaissance, a voluntary, blue-chip organization comprised of the region's top business leaders, all dedicated to committing their personal talents and corporate clout to achieve Detroit's physical and economic revitalization. It was a lasting legacy; Detroit Renaissance remains to this day an effective and respected force in the community. Two important milestones were achieved in this period. In 1968, Edward Davis
A Warm Welcome Willis H. Hall, president, and Dwight B. Havens, executive vice president, welcomed visitors to the Board's new headquarters on the second floor of the 150 Michigan building in 1965. Masters of Membership Top leaders of the 1965 Membership Campaign received plaques for their achievements. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allen Marshall (right), outgoing president An outgoing president is a president or, generally, other head of state or government when he holds office between the election of his successor and the inauguration by which that successor assumes power. of the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce, congratulated E.S. Evans Jr. on his election to chairman of the board - a new title reflecting changes in the bylaws The rules and regulations enacted by an association or a corporation to provide a framework for its operation and management. Bylaws may specify the qualifications, rights, and liabilities of membership, and the powers, duties, and grounds for the dissolution of an adopted in 1965. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Power of Work In response to the 1967 riot, the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce opened a Manpower Development Division office in Detroit to help inner-city residents find jobs. Administrator-director Cleo Moore reviews records with assistant director Lloyd Brown Lloyd Brown may refer to:
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chairman Hans Gehrke Jr.'s editorial on the cover of the Detroiter was an urgent wake-up call to Board members in the aftermath of the devastating 1967 Detroit riots. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Greater Detroit Board of Commerce adopted this new logo in 1967. Honoring Leaders Recipients of the Board's first annual Leadership Recognition Awards: (1-r) James M. Roche, General Motors Corp.; Lynn Townsend, Chrysler Corp.; Edward S. Evans Jr., Evarie Corp; and Allen Merrell, Ford Motor Co. Richard E. Cross Richard E. Cross was an American industrialist who served as Chairman of American Motors Corporation (AMC). He supported the change away from the company's "economy-car" image during the mid-1960s. of American Motors American Motors Corporation (AMC) was an American automobile company formed on January 14 1954 by the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history, valued at US$198 million ($1. Corp. was also honored. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Calling All Duffers The top finishers in the Chamber's first Golf Tournament are all smiles in this 1969 photo. The inaugural event was held at the Warren Valley Golf Course. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Tiger in Our Tank Al Kaline
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In January 1969, the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce officially became the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce. This was the organization's third name in its 66-year history. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All Tied Up Nick Kerbawy, chairman of the Chamber's 1971 membership campaign, found himself tied up on the phone - literally, Behind him are (1-r) Bob Buechner, assistant manager, Membership Department, and Charles M. Stafford, manager, Membership Department. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visitors from Africa The Chamber's World Affairs Noun 1. world affairs - affairs between nations; "you can't really keep up with world affairs by watching television" international affairs affairs - transactions of professional or public interest; "news of current affairs"; "great affairs of state" Committee met with His Excellency HIS EXCELLENCY. A title given by the constitution of Massachusetts to the governor of that commonwealth. Const. part 2, c. 2, s. 1, art. 1. This title is customarily given to the governors of the other states, whether it be the official designation in their constitutions and laws or not. Timothee Ahoua (in light jacket), ambassador from the Ivory Coast Ivory Coast: see Côte d'Ivoire. , in 1972. Note the ashtrays on the table. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE DETROITER BUSINESS NEWS Volume 1, No. 1 Published by the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce May 7, 1973 The Chamber took a bold step in May 1973 when it launched a monthly city magazine under the venerable Detroiter name. It was aimed at a wider metropolitan audience, rather than just Chamber members, and included features on dining, entertainment, arts and culture, and even sports. The old Detroiter became The Detroiter Business News and was published twice a month expressly for Chamber members. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Milestones in Diversity In 1968 Edward Davis, owner of Ed Davis Chrysler-Plymouth, became the first African-American member of the B of C's Board of Directors. Esther Gordy Edwards, senior vice president of Motown Records
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leland K. Bassett, 28, became the youngest vice president in the Chamber's 70-year history when he was named to the newly created position of vice president, Communication Division in 1973. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visitors from Africa The Chamber's World Affairs Committee met with His Excellency Timothee Ahoua (in light jacket), ambassador from the Ivory Coast, in 1972. Note the ashtrays on the table. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RELATED ARTICLE: Time Line: 1964-1973 1964: LBJ signs landmark Civil Rights Act 1965: Malcolm X Malcolm X, 1925–65, militant black leader in the United States, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, b. Malcolm Little in Omaha, Neb. He was introduced to the Black Muslims while serving a prison term and became a Muslim minister upon his release in 1952. slain 1966: Supreme Court issues Miranda decision 1967: Six Day War in Middle East 1968: Nixon elected 37th president 1969: Apollo XI astronauts land on moon 1970: Kent State University massacre 1971: Pentagon Papers Pentagon Papers, government study of U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. Commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara in June, 1967, the 47-volume, top secret study covered the period from World War II to May, 1968. published 1972: Nixon visits China 1973: Supreme Court issues Roe vs. Wade decision [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RELATED ARTICLE: From Bus Boy to 'Mr. Membership' Richard D. Bruneau, the oldest boy in a family of 15, was just 15 years old when he left his Upper Peninsula home to find work. Ultimately, he made his way to Detroit, where he worked for Timken and later for Burroughs. In 1923, after losing his job at Burroughs during a recession, the 21-year-old Bruneau applied for a job with the Detroit Board of Commerce. The following is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to his family in 1970, three years after he retired: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I went back home and returned to Detroit in 1923. I applied for a job at the Detroit Board of Commerce as a bus boy in the cafeteria. Mrs. Saunders was the office manager and secretary to Harvey Campbell. After three months, I was promoted to stock room and printing department in March of 1923. "After five years, in 1928, I was promoted to assistant manager of the membership department-sales. My salary was $150 a month. I was one of the organizers of the National Association of Membership directors in 1941. I served as president, in 1944, of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Sales Marketing Association. "In 1948, I was promoted to manager of the Membership Department at the Board of Commerce. During those years from 1948 to the time of my retirement in 1967, I was honored to serve on many committees." When he retired in 1967 after 44 years with the Board, Bruneau was known as "Mr. Membership, USA." The Greater Detroit Board of Commerce declared Feb. 22-March 22 of that year as "Salute to Dick Bruneau Month" and his retirement party at the Detroit Boat Club The Detroit Boat Club, established in 1839, is the oldest sport rowing club in the United States. It was first created on the Detroit River during a time in which Detroit, Michigan was just starting to grow.[1][2] E. A. Brush, Alpheus S. Williams, S.H. was a major event. Dick Bruneau (right), manager of the Membership Department, reads the inscription on the scroll be receiving in 1966 marking his 43rd anniversary with the Board of Commerce. Richard D. Bruneau died on Feb. 1, 1977. This excerpt was provided by his daughter, Mary Lou Berg of Danville, Ill. See page 96 for another 44-year career. |
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