Traverse City resident Robert P. Griffin, past Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for Michigan, died Thurs., Apr. 16 at the age of 91. He also served on the Michigan Supreme Court for eight years.

Sen. Griffin's long life of public service was highlighted In an article prepared by the Griffin family and provided to The Ticker. It is excerpted below:

Born in Detroit, Robert and wife Marjorie moved to Traverse City in 1947 after college and his service in World War II. In Traverse City he was a defense litigator for five years with the biggest firm in town (which at that time consisted of four lawyers).

After winning his first election to Congress in 1955, he and his family moved to Washington, D.C. to join the second term of the Eisenhower administration. He is perhaps best known during his 10-year House tenure for the bi-partisan Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959, a law that regulates labor unions' internal affairs and their officials' relationships with employers.

Other highlights of his public service career include: service as Minority Whip for eight years; made the Republican Party's short list for vice president, a slot that ultimately went to Spiro Agnew; his decision as Minority Whip to vote for President Nixon's impeachment purportedly was the last straw prompting Nixon to resign; lost his Senate seat to recently retired Senator Carl Levin in 1978; in 2006, the Traverse City courthouse was renamed the Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice.

Senator Griffin leaves his wife of nearly 68 years, Marjorie; children Paul, Richard, James and Jill; 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. A public visitation with the Griffin family will be held Mon., Apr. 20, 5-7pm at the Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice on Washington Street in Traverse City. Services will take place on Tues., Apr. 21, at Noon at the First Congregational Church (6105 Center Road) in Traverse City. The public is welcome to attend.