AS ADOPTED BY
sENATE, APRIL 30, 2019
senate concurrent resolution no. 7
Senator Shirkey, Alexander, Ananich, Barrett, Bayer, Bizon, Brinks, Bullock, Bumstead, Chang, Daley, Geiss, Hertel, Hollier, Horn, Irwin, Johnson, LaSata, Lauwers, Lucido, MacDonald, MacGregor, McBroom, McCann, McMorrow, Moss, Nesbitt, Outman, Polehanki, Runestad, Santana, Schmidt, Stamas, Theis, VanderWall, Victory, Wojno and Zorn offered the following concurrent resolution:
Whereas, It was with great sorrow that the members of the Michigan Legislature learned about the passing of William Broomfield. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant by his constituents in southeast Michigan and the people of the state of Michigan; and
Whereas, Born and raised in Royal Oak, William Broomfield attended Michigan State College and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during the Second World War before starting his career in real estate and property management; and
Whereas, William Broomfield was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1948 to represent the Fourth House District of Oakland County. During his third term, he served as Speaker Pro Tempore in the House, the youngest to serve in that position at the time. In 1954, William Broomfield was elected to the Senate where he served one term. In his district he was known as "Bill," and his reputation was that of a decent, soft-spoken, behind-the-scenes legislator who worked hard to make his constituents proud; and
Whereas, William Broomfield had strong principles that guided his time as a public servant. As a fiscal conservative, he believed in an efficient government that represented the people while spending their tax dollars wisely. He introduced bills prohibiting a public service commissioner from gaining employment with a utility immediately following their time with the commission; he served as chairman of the special committee investigation into a children’s institution accused of fraud and neglect of children; and he called for and lead a special committee investigation on gasoline-price hikes in Michigan, among his myriad accomplishments while serving in the Michigan Legislature; and
Whereas, William Broomfield was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1956 where he served for 36 years. He spent 18 of those years as the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he shaped foreign policy during the Cold War through the fall of the Berlin Wall. Despite advancing many important policies relating to world affairs, William Broomfield believed his most important vote was for the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
Whereas, William Broomfield has left a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. His dedication to the people of Michigan and to the country is admirable and remains an example for those who have followed him into public service. May his family take some solace in his legacy and our fond memory of him; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of William Broomfield, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1949 to 1954, the Michigan Senate from 1955 to 1956, and the United States House of Representatives from 1957 to 1992; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Broomfield family as evidence of our lasting esteem for his memory.