LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday in honor of Toledo native and former Congressman Dave Curson, who died at 75 years old.
Whitmer ordered the U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex to be lowered to coincide with the date of his funeral.
Curson was born Nov. 4, 1948, in Toledo and graduated from Whitmer High School. He worked at the Libbey-Owens-Ford-Glass Company while attending the University of Toledo.
Whitmer's office said Curson was drafted into the United States Marine Corps in 1968 to serve in the Vietnam War.
Curson made the move to Michigan where he worked as a die cast die maker journeyman at the Ford Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti. Whitmer's office said he was heavily involved in the United Automobile Workers, having served three union presidents during his career. Curson helped negotiate contracts for auto workers and "played a significant role to save the auto industry during the Great Recession."
Curson won a special election in 2012 to serve Michigan's 11th District as a United States congressman in the 112th U.S. House of Representatives.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughters and grandchildren.
“Dave was the kind of down-to-earth guy who was always looking out for his fellow neighbors,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Originally born in Ohio, we were proud to adopt him as a Michigander. He embodied the auto industry through and through, leading the fight for good jobs and good pay for his colleagues in the UAW. Our state is lucky to have had him on our team. My thoughts are with his family and those who were lucky to call him a friend.”
Whitmer's office said flags should be returned to full staff on Wednesday.
