| Order | 3rd |
|---|---|
| Office | Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate |
| Term start | 1965 |
| Term end | 1966 |
| Predecessor | Stanley G. Thayer |
| Successor | Emil Lockwood |
| Office 2 | Member of the Michigan Senate |
| Term start 2 | January 1, 1959 |
| Term end 2 | December 31, 1970 |
| Predecessor 2 | John B. Swainson |
| Successor 2 | Jack Faxon |
| Prior term 2 | 18th District (1959-1964) |
| Constituency 2 | 18th district (1959–1964) 7th district (1865–1970) |
| State house 3 | Michigan |
| District 3 | Wayne County 12th |
| Term start 3 | January 1, 1955 |
| Term end 3 | December 31, 1958 |
| Birth date | July 29, 1921 |
| Birth place | Port Clinton, Ohio |
| Death date | May 1, 2018 (aged 96) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Eleanor |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Battles | World War II |
Raymond D. Dzendzel (July 29, 1921 – May 1, 2018) was an American politician who was a Democratic member of both houses of the Michigan Legislature between 1955 and 1970.[1]
A native of Ohio, Dzendzel's family moved to Southfield, Michigan, in the early 1930s and he graduated from Redford High School and the Detroit Institute of Technology. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served on the USS Peoria during World War II. Dzendzel was business representative with Carpenters Local 982.[2]
In 1954, he sought and won election to the Michigan House of Representatives, serving two terms. He won election to the Michigan Senate in 1958, serving five terms. Dzendzel was Majority Leader in 1965-1966, but became Minority Leader when the Democrats lost control of the Senate in the 1966 election. Endorsed by the AFL–CIO, he lost to then-Representative Jack Faxon, who had been endorsed by the UAW, in the Democratic primary in 1970.[3]
After leaving the Legislature, Dzendzel was a member of the board of Botsford Hospital for 30 years.
Dzendzel died on May 1, 2018, at the age of 96.[4]
References
- ^ The Political Graveyard: Dzendzel, Raymond D.
- ^ 1969-1970 Michigan Manual, p. 180
- ^ "Services Saturday For Former Senate Majority Leader Dzendzel, 96". Gongwer News Service. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ Turowski Funeral Home: Raymond Dzendzel