Milliken, William

Milliken, William

(1922–  ) governor; born in Traverse City, Mich. An army veteran, he ran his family's department store (1946–60), then served in the Michigan senate. Republican lieutenant governor (1964–69), he succeeded George Romney as governor (1969–83), increasing state funding for education and social welfare programs; a supporter of women's rights, he backed the equal rights amendment. After leaving office he became a consultant in Traverse City.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.