Dennis Archer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Archer
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| 67th Mayor of Detroit | |
| In office January 3, 1994 – January 1, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Coleman Young |
| Succeeded by | Kwame Kilpatrick |
| Associate Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court | |
| In office January 1, 1986 – December 27, 1990 |
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| Appointed by | James Blanchard |
| Preceded by | James L. Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Conrad L. Mallett Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dennis Wayne Archer
January 1, 1942 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Trudy DunCombe
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Wayne State University Detroit Institute of Technology Western Michigan University (BS) Detroit College of Law (JD) |
Dennis Wayne Archer, born on January 1, 1942, is an American lawyer and former politician from Michigan. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Mr. Archer served as a judge on the Michigan Supreme Court and later as the mayor of Detroit. He also became the first African-American president of the American Bar Association, a large group for lawyers. Before 1943, this organization did not allow African-American lawyers to join.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dennis Archer was born on January 1, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan. His family faced financial challenges because his father lost an arm in a car accident. It was hard to find jobs for disabled people in the city. So, when Dennis was five, his family moved to a more rural area called Cassopolis.
Dennis started working at just eight years old to help his family. He worked as a golf caddy, set pins at a bowling alley, and cleaned a bakery. After high school, he paid for his college by painting houses and working at a drug store. He also became the first African-American to work in the medical records department at Henry Ford Hospital.
Archer first went to Wayne State University to study pharmacy. He later transferred to the Detroit Institute of Technology and then to Western Michigan University. At Western Michigan University, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He planned to be a history teacher but then became a special education teacher. From 1965 to 1970, he taught children with disabilities in Detroit Public Schools. In 1970, he earned his law degree (J.D.) from the Detroit College of Law, which is now part of Michigan State University.
After becoming a lawyer, Archer also taught law. He was a professor at the Detroit College of Law from 1972 to 1978. He also taught at Wayne State University Law School from 1984 to 1985. He was involved in several lawyer groups, serving as president of the Wolverine Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the State Bar of Michigan.
Serving on the Michigan Supreme Court
After working as a successful lawyer for 15 years, Dennis Archer was chosen to be a judge on the Michigan Supreme Court. This court is the highest court in the state. Governor James Blanchard appointed him to this important role. He was only the second African-American man to serve on that court in Michigan's history.
Archer was a justice from 1986 to 1990. In his last year on the court, he was named "most respected judge in Michigan" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Mayor of Detroit
In 1993, Dennis Archer decided to run for mayor of Detroit. He ran against the popular Mayor Coleman Young, who was seeking his sixth term. When Mayor Young became ill and left the race, he supported Sharon McPhail.
Archer's campaign focused on bringing together people from Detroit and its surrounding areas. He also opposed casinos, which was a popular view among many city voters and religious leaders. Some people in the African-American community worried that Archer would favor the needs of white residents over their own. They thought he "was not black enough" for a city that was mostly African-American.
Archer worked to change this idea. He explained that he represented "the children who are more concerned about surviving the school day." He also spoke for "the homeless, the working poor who want affordable housing, and a clean and decent place to live." He stressed that he wanted to improve life for everyone in the city and suburbs, no matter their background.
In November 1993, Archer won the election against McPhail. He received 57 percent of the votes, while McPhail received 43 percent. Exit polls showed that Archer won most of the white vote and nearly half of the black vote.
Archer served as mayor of Detroit from 1994 to 2002. As mayor, he worked to improve relationships between Detroit and its suburbs. He also worked with business leaders to help redevelop the city. One of his big achievements was bringing the technology company Compuware to Detroit. During his time as mayor, the city's financial health improved. He also brought computers to many city departments, which had been tracking things on file cards. His team also started a program to help people find jobs.
In his first term, Detroit received federal funding that brought $100 million to the city. Unemployment also went down. Archer strongly supported new construction projects in downtown Detroit. These included two new sports stadiums: Ford Field for the Detroit Lions and Comerica Park for the Detroit Tigers. In his last year as mayor, Archer also became president of the National League of Cities.
Even though crime and unemployment decreased, Archer was sometimes criticized. Some people felt he did not listen enough to African-American community leaders. He faced strong opposition when three casinos opened in the city, and none of the licenses went to an African-American owner.
Archer was re-elected by a large number of votes in 1997. However, some of his original opponents tried to remove him from office during his second term. He decided not to run for re-election in 2001.
After Being Mayor
After leaving office in January 2002, Dennis Archer became chairman of the law firm Dickinson Wright in Detroit. He also joined the board of directors for Compuware. He is a respected member of the Litigation Counsel of America.
In 2004, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed him to the board of trustees for Western Michigan University. He served on this board until the end of 2012. In October 2004, he was appointed as the legal guardian for Rosa Parks, a famous civil rights leader.
In February 2008, Archer thought about running for governor of Michigan in 2010. However, he decided not to enter the race later that year.
Mr. Archer helps lead the National Transportation Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He is also a member of the Global Senior Advisory Board for the investment bank Jefferies.
Archer is a member of the Democratic National Committee, which is a key part of the Democratic Party. He also supported Hillary Clinton in her presidential campaign in 2016.
On December 1, 2017, Archer released his memoir, "Let the Future Begin." He wrote the book with Elizabeth Ann Atkins.
Personal Life
Dennis Archer is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, a fraternity, and Geometry Lodge #49, F&AM PHA, which is part of Prince Hall Freemasonry. He is Catholic and attended Gesu Catholic Church during his time as mayor.
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Archer para niños
