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John Hoult Logie (August 11, 1939 – August 4, 2021) was an American attorney and politician who served as mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1992 to 2003,[1][2][3] one of the longest-serving in the city's history.[4]
John H. Logie | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Grand Rapids | |
| In office 1992–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Gerald R. Helmholdt |
| Succeeded by | George Heartwell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Hoult Logie August 11, 1939 Ann Arbor, Michigan, US |
| Died | August 4, 2021 (aged 81) Grand Rapids, Michigan, US |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan (BA, JD) George Washington University (MA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
Early life and education
editLogie was born on August 11, 1939, in Ann Arbor, Michigan and raised in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he attended East Grand Rapids High School.[5] He began college at Williams College before earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. He then attended the Officer Candidate School and served in the United States Navy. After five years active duty, he returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. He also earned a Master of Arts degree from George Washington University.[6]
Career
editLogie joined the Grand Rapids law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd in 1969, where he became a partner until retiring in 2011.[7] During this time he wrote an analysis for Congressman Hal Sawyer validating the legality of president Gerald Ford's pardon of former president Richard Nixon.[7]
He was involved in creating the Heritage Hill Historic District in the area just east of downtown Grand Rapids, where he and his family lived.[5]
Logie ran for mayor in 1991, defeating Robert Vanderson and Sharon Worst.[8] One of his focuses was revitalizing the downtown area, with a new museum and Van Andel Arena among the public-private ventures undertaken.[5] He was involved in state legislation to rewrite and fund environmental cleanups and create reduced-tax "Renaissance Zones" to encourage investment in targeted urban areas. He established an Urban Core Mayors group in Michigan.[5] In 1994 he played a leading role enacting an ordinance protecting the civil rights of LGBT people.[9] In 1997 he began an initiative to address drug use and addiction as public health problems, which included the Mayor's Drug Task Force on Drug Policy Reform and a needle exchange program.[5] He was a supporter of decriminalizing marijuana.[4]
Logie was re-elected twice. During his third term, he backed a city charter amendment that would increase the power of the mayorship, and promised not to run for a fourth term, to avoid the appearance of self-interest.[10] The amendment was not successful, but he stepped down nonetheless. The office was later limited to three terms.[11]
He chaired the board of the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.[12] He served as president of the Michigan Society of Hospital Attorneys, and the Historical Society of Michigan. He served on the boards of Goodwill Industries, the Grand Rapids PTA Council and the American Cancer Society.[7]
He received the Slykhouse Lifetime Achievement Award from the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Distinguished Community Trustee Award from Leadership Grand Rapids, the Neighborhood Business Champion Award from the Grand Rapids Neighborhood Alliance, and the Frank J. Kelley Public Service Award from the State Bar of Michigan.[7] He was awarded honorary degrees from Central Michigan University and Ferris State University.
The John Logie Fellows Program is an internship facilitated by Grand Valley State University that allows students to work within the Grand Rapids city government.[13][14]
Personal life
editLogie met his wife, Susan Duerr, in San Diego, California, when he was stationed there by the Navy and she was in a teaching program. They have three children, including an adopted daughter from Korea.
In June 2016, he announced that he had Alzheimer's disease.[10] He died from complications of the condition on August 4, 2021, at the age of 81.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Former long-time mayor has Alzheimer's Disease". mlive. June 17, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ "Former mayor Logie honored for his life in public service". Grand Rapids Legal News. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Tunison, John (August 6, 2021). "John Logie, longtime Grand Rapids mayor who led downtown revitalization, dies at 81". MLive. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Rylah, J. Bennett (July 12, 2012). "A Conversation with Former Mayor Logie". Rapid Growth. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary for John Hoult Logie". Memorial Alternatives. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ "John Logie". Gerald R. Ford Foundation. September 8, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "John H. Logie Receives State Bar Award for Distinguished Public Service". Warner, Norcross, & Judd. September 15, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ^ Vande Bunte, Matt (July 15, 2015). "57 men who preceded George Heartwell as Grand Rapids mayor". mlive. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Me, Meanwhile + You = Until Equal: Behind The Music Moment with Former Mayor Logie". Rapid Growth. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Harger, Jim (June 18, 2016). "Former long-time mayor has Alzheimer's Disease". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ^ Vande Bunte, Matt (November 5, 2014). "Term limits pass in Grand Rapids: Mayor, 4 commissioners suddenly lame ducks". mlive. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Library Board of Governors | Central Michigan University". www.cmich.edu. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "The John H. Logie Fellows Program". Grand Valley State University. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- ^ "John H. Logie Fellows Program - Office of the Provost - Grand Valley State University". www.gvsu.edu. Retrieved February 16, 2020.