Billie S. Farnum
Billie Sunday Farnum (April 11, 1916 – November 18, 1979) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.
Billie S. Farnum | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 19th district | |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | District established |
| Succeeded by | Jack H. McDonald |
| Michigan Auditor General | |
| In office 1961–1964 | |
| Preceded by | William A. Burgett |
| Succeeded by | Allison Green |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 11, 1916 Saginaw, Michigan |
| Died | November 18, 1979 (aged 63) Lansing, Michigan |
| Resting place | Deepdale Memorial Park, Eaton County, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Maxine Farnum |
| Children | Norman Farnum, Ron Farnum, Gene Farnum |
Farnum was born in Saginaw, Michigan and raised in a farm community at Watrousville. He graduated from Vassar High School, Vassar, Michigan, in 1933 and continued his education in the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1935. He took special educational courses and was employed in the motorcar industry in Pontiac, 1936-1952. He engaged in union activities ranging from shop steward to international representative for United Auto Workers-Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1942-1952. He was administrative aide to U.S. Senator Blair Moody, 1952–1954 and assistant Michigan Secretary of State, 1955–1957; deputy Michigan Secretary of State, 1957–1960; and Michigan Auditor General, 1961-1965. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1956, 1960, and 1964.
Farnum was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's Michigan's 19th congressional district to the 88th United States Congress, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1967. He was known as one of the Michigan Five Fluke Freshmen and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1966, losing in the general election to Republican Jack McDonald.
Farnum was deputy chairman, Democratic National Committee, 1967–1968; member, Waterford Board of Education, 1969–1970; owned a financial and management consulting firm; elected secretary of the Michigan Senate in 1975 and served in that capacity until his death in Lansing. He was entombed in mausoleum at Deepdale Memorial Park.
The Michigan Senate's previous office building in Lansing was named after Farnum. In 2016, the Michigan Senate's office building was moved to the Connie Binsfield Building.
References
- United States Congress. "Billie S. Farnum (id: F000025)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- The Political Graveyard
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by None |
United States Representative for the 19th Congressional District of Michigan 1965 – 1967 |
Succeeded by Jack H. McDonald |
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