Roman Gribbs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roman Gribbs
Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals
In office January 1, 1983 – January 1, 2001
65th Mayor of Detroit
In office January 6, 1970 – January 1, 1974
Preceded by	Jerome Cavanagh
Succeeded by	Coleman Young
Wayne County Sheriff
In office 1968–1969
Preceded by	Peter L. Buback
Succeeded by	William Lucas
Personal details
Born	Roman Stanley Gribbs (1925-12-29)December 29, 1925 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	April 5, 2016(2016-04-05) (aged 90) Northville, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Katherine Stratis ​ (m. 1954⁠–⁠1982)​ Leola Young Barr ​ (m. 1990⁠–⁠2016)​
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Detroit
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1944–1948
Battles/wars	World War II

Roman Stanley Gribbs (born December 29, 1925 – died April 5, 2016) was an important American politician. He was the Mayor of Detroit from 1970 to 1974. After his time as mayor, Gribbs became a judge. He served on the Michigan Court of Appeals. He was the last white mayor of Detroit for many years. The city was changing to have more African-American residents.

Early Life and Education

Roman Gribbs was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 29, 1925. He grew up on a farm near Capac, Michigan. His parents were immigrants from Poland. They were farmers, and his father also worked at the Ford car factory.

After finishing high school in 1944, Gribbs joined the Army. He served there until 1948. He then went to the University of Detroit. In 1952, he earned a degree in economics and accounting. He continued his studies and received a law degree from the same university in 1954.

Career Beginnings

From 1955 to 1957, Gribbs taught at the University of Detroit. In 1957, he became an assistant prosecutor. This job involves helping the government in legal cases. He held this position until 1964.

After that, he worked in a private law firm. In 1966, Gribbs tried to become a judge for the Recorder's Court but was not elected.

In 1968, Gribbs was chosen to be the sheriff of Wayne County, Michigan. He later won an election to keep this job for a full four-year term.

Time as Mayor of Detroit

In 1969, Roman Gribbs was elected mayor of Detroit. He won against Richard H. Austin. Instead of living in the official mayor's home, the Manoogian Mansion, Gribbs stayed in his own home in Rosedale Park.

STRESS Unit Controversy

In 1969, Mayor Gribbs created a special police unit. It was called "Stop the Robberies, Enjoy Safe Streets" (STRESS). This unit used a tactic called "decoy operation." Police officers would pretend to be potential victims to catch criminals.

However, the STRESS unit faced many accusations. People said it focused too much on black communities. This led to more conflicts between the police and the black community. The unit was accused of conducting many raids without proper search warrants. It was also linked to a high number of civilian deaths. Many people felt the unit was unfair and caused more tension in the city.

In 1973, Gribbs decided not to run for re-election. Coleman Young was then elected as Detroit's first African-American mayor.

Later Career and Retirement

After leaving the mayor's office, Gribbs went back to working as a lawyer. In 1975, he became a circuit court judge.

In 1982, he was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals. He served as a judge there until he retired in 2001. After retiring, Gribbs moved to Northville, Michigan. He continued to work privately, helping people solve problems through mediation. He also led the Board of Directors for the Piast Institute. This center focuses on Polish and Polish American history and culture.

Family Life

Roman Gribbs was married twice. His first wife was Katherine Stratis. They were married from 1954 to 1982. They had five children together: four daughters (Paula, Carla, Rebecca, Elizabeth) and one son (Christopher). In 1990, he married Leola Young Barr.

Roman Gribbs passed away on April 5, 2016, at his home in Northville. He was 90 years old.