Billie S. Farnum

Billie S. Farnum
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	Billie Sunday Farnum (1916-04-11)April 11, 1916 Saginaw, Michigan
Died	November 18, 1979(1979-11-18) (aged 63) Lansing, Michigan
Resting place	Deepdale Memorial Park, Eaton County, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Maxine Farnum
Children	Norman Farnum, Ron Farnum, Gene Farnum

Billie Sunday Farnum (April 11, 1916 – November 18, 1979) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967.

Biography

Farnum was born in Saginaw, Michigan and raised in a farm community at Watrousville. He was named after evangelist Billy Sunday.^[1]

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 automobile 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 from 1942 to 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.

Congress

Farnum was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 19th congressional district to the 88th United States Congress, serving from January 3, 1965, to January 3, 1967. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1966, losing in the general election to Republican Jack McDonald. As a result, he was described as one of the Michigan Five Fluke Freshmen, a group of first term Michigan Democrats in Congress who were defeated in 1966.^[1]

Later career and death

Farnum was a deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1967 to 1968 and a member of the Waterford Board of Education from 1969 to 1970. He owned a financial and management consulting firm. He was elected secretary of the Michigan Senate in 1975 and served in that capacity until his death in Lansing. He was entombed in a mausoleum at Deepdale Memorial Park.

Legacy

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

1. Daniel, Dominique (March 1, 2015). "Billie S. Farnum Papers(1957-1967)". OU Libraries. Oakland University. Retrieved August 28, 2022.

• United States Congress. "Billie S. Farnum (id: F000025)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard

Party political offices
Preceded by Otis M. Smith	Democratic nominee for Michigan Auditor General 1962	Succeeded by None
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by None	United States Representative for the 19th Congressional District of Michigan 1965 – 1967	Succeeded by Jack H. McDonald