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Richard H. Austin
Richard Henry Austin (May 6, 1913 – April 20, 2001) was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the Michigan secretary of state from 1971 to 1995, the longest-serving secretary of state in the state, the first African American elected to the position, the first Black person to win election to any statewide office in Michigan except the Supreme Court. Also the first Black certified public accountant in Michigan, he previously served from 1967 to 1971 as the first Black Wayne County auditor, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Detroit in 1969.
Austin was born in Stouts Mountain, Cullman County, Alabama. His father, a coal miner, died when Austin was 11, after which his mother moved with her three sons to Detroit; as a child he worked as a bootblack.
After graduating first in his class from Cass Technical High School, he was awarded an athletics scholarship to Wayne University, but had to leave for financial reasons; working in a shoe store and taking night classes, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the Detroit Institute of Technology in 1937, and in 1941 became the first Black certified public accountant in Michigan.
In 1941, Austin founded the accounting firm of Richard H Austin & Co, which later became Austin, Washington & Davenport. After becoming Secretary of State in 1970, he sold the firm, which in 1971 became George Johnson & Company and now operates as GJC CPAs & Advisors.
Austin served as an elected delegate for the Wayne County 6th District to the constitutional convention that produced the 1962 Michigan Constitution. In 1962 he also served on the Michigan State Board of Equalization and was elected to the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. He was co-chairman of the Michigan Commission on Legislative Apportionment from 1963 to 1965.
In 1964, he ran for Congress in Michigan's 1st congressional district, but lost to John Conyers in the Democratic Party primary election by 38 votes.
He was elected the first Black Wayne County auditor in 1966.
In 1969 he ran for mayor of Detroit, leading in the nonpartisan primary but lost to fellow Democrat Roman Gribbs, 49% to 51%.
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Richard H. Austin
Richard Henry Austin (May 6, 1913 – April 20, 2001) was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the Michigan secretary of state from 1971 to 1995, the longest-serving secretary of state in the state, the first African American elected to the position, the first Black person to win election to any statewide office in Michigan except the Supreme Court. Also the first Black certified public accountant in Michigan, he previously served from 1967 to 1971 as the first Black Wayne County auditor, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Detroit in 1969.
Austin was born in Stouts Mountain, Cullman County, Alabama. His father, a coal miner, died when Austin was 11, after which his mother moved with her three sons to Detroit; as a child he worked as a bootblack.
After graduating first in his class from Cass Technical High School, he was awarded an athletics scholarship to Wayne University, but had to leave for financial reasons; working in a shoe store and taking night classes, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the Detroit Institute of Technology in 1937, and in 1941 became the first Black certified public accountant in Michigan.
In 1941, Austin founded the accounting firm of Richard H Austin & Co, which later became Austin, Washington & Davenport. After becoming Secretary of State in 1970, he sold the firm, which in 1971 became George Johnson & Company and now operates as GJC CPAs & Advisors.
Austin served as an elected delegate for the Wayne County 6th District to the constitutional convention that produced the 1962 Michigan Constitution. In 1962 he also served on the Michigan State Board of Equalization and was elected to the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. He was co-chairman of the Michigan Commission on Legislative Apportionment from 1963 to 1965.
In 1964, he ran for Congress in Michigan's 1st congressional district, but lost to John Conyers in the Democratic Party primary election by 38 votes.
He was elected the first Black Wayne County auditor in 1966.
In 1969 he ran for mayor of Detroit, leading in the nonpartisan primary but lost to fellow Democrat Roman Gribbs, 49% to 51%.