The University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit was founded in Detroit on October 31, 1895 as the "University of Michigan Association of Detroit" with 170 members; its stated objectives were:

1. The promotion of the best interests of the University of Michigan;
2. The cultivation of friendly relations among members of the Association;
3. An annual banquet.

Except for expanding the "annual banquet" into a rather wide scale of social events, the three stated objectives of 1895 could still be considered the cornerstone of our Club activity today. We most certainly have "promotion of the best interests of the University" as our primary objective, be it in the area of fund raising, providing scholarships, supporting University activities, providing assistance and counsel to our University administration on occasion, or by contributing in whatever other way we can to maintain and enhance the prestige of our great University. The second objective stated above, "cultivation of friendly relations among members," is hardly an "objective" since it is a natural out-growth of the pride and good-fellowship that all supporters of the big "U" feel whenever they get together. Our social calendar today, however, goes well beyond the "annual banquet" of early years. The Football Bust, Kick-Off Party, Winter Sports Day, Golf and Tennis Outing and out-of-town football trips are annual Club functions. Other "non-sports-oriented" events over the years have included theater nights, concerts featuring the U of M Band and Glee Club, Bob-Lo excursions, skating parties, picnics and other family outings.

The leadership of the Club over the years has included some outstanding individuals, and our early leaders certainly fit this description. The Association's first president in 1895, was Don M. Dickinson, Class of 1865, a Detroit lawyer who had served as Postmaster General of the U.S. under President Cleveland. The second was Levi L. Barbour, Class of 1863, a regent and early benefactor of the University. Following Barbour was William E. Quinby, Class of 1858, who also had served the Cleveland administration as Minister to the Netherlands. These men and a group of dedicated successors served the Association until 1911, when it was reorganized as the "University of Michigan Club of Detroit" - a name it carried for 58 years. In 1969, the "Detroit" part of the Club name was expanded to "Greater Detroit" to reflect the significant Detroit population shift from the city proper to its expanding suburbs - and to encourage members who no longer lived in the city to continue their Club memberships. The name change probably helped since the Club membership has held quite steady since 1969. Also, the Club for some years, has had a significant number of "Associate Members" (non-alumni) among its most enthusiastic supporters - many of whom attended other schools, but have now joined our Club to support the University of Michigan and its varied activities.

Since the reorganization in 1911, the leadership of the Club has included men of diverse occupations and varying financial standing, but always men with one thing in common - their love for the University of a desire to remain close to it. Past presidents of this era include William A. Comstock, '99 former Governor of the State of Michigan, as well as former Regents Harry C. Bulkley, '92; Ralph Stone, '92 Law; Frederick C. Matthaei, '14; and Frederick C. Matthaei, Jr., '47 (Both Matthaies', incidentally, along with past president Douglas Roby, '23, led a long though unsuccessful fight in the 1960s, to bring the Olympic Games to Detroit - a boost the Motor City could have used.)

Prominent athletes to lead the Club include former NFL stars John Greene,'44 Eng. and Roger Zatkoff,'53. Past governors of the Club include former U.S. Senator Homer Ferguson and former Detroit Mayor Edward J. Jeffries, Jr., along with members of the judiciary and a number of other prominent citizens.

To some outsiders, the University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit may appear to be a sports-minded group of men who live and die with the fortunes of Michigan's athletic teams and care about little else. No real Michigan man feels this way - and no group of men anywhere takes greater pride in Michigan's long record of academic excellence than the "Old Blues" from Detroit. To a man, they feel privileged to have attended the University of Michigan and cherish the years they spent in Ann Arbor. Many have made substantial gifts to the University over the years. In addition, the Club itself maintains a large scholarship program that is administered through the University. A portion of Club funds plus a special scholarship solicitation made at the Football Bust each year, are allocated to Club Scholarship monies to be expended annually. Frequent reports are made on the progress of the young recipients of these awards, which are a source of pride to all Club members.

Like any successful organization, the University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit continues to seek new members from among the thousands of unaffiliated alumni living in the Detroit area. Some of these people attend Club events as outsiders without bothering to join. Others probably are just plain apathetic about participating in alumni activities or giving the University any tangible support. But there has to be a large group of potential Club members in this area who would be more than willing to join us, if they knew of our program. We know that such people exist because they join our ranks all the time - albeit in smaller numbers than we would like. So we would urge all Club members to contact their U of M friends and, if possible, enroll them as new members. Our Club and the University in Ann Arbor, both, can use their support. Contact the office of the University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit at 23230 Industrial Park Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48335 to obtain membership applications. It's your Club - help it grow!

John T Campbell
'48, '59 MBA