Burton 1. Gordin
Memorial Scholarship Fund

COMMITTEE

William T. Gossett, Chairman
Nathan Agran
Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander
Raymond Pace Alexander, Judge
Robert Alpern
Frank Angelo
Richard FL Austin
Edward L. Barrera
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Bledsoe
John R. Bowker
Ernest L. Brown, Jr.
M. Hector Cisneros
/own Cohn
Dr. George E. Cole
Julian Abele Cook, Jr.
Francis J. Coomes
Alfred E. Cowles
Richard E. Cross
John T. Dempsey
Congressman Charles C. Diggs, Jr.
Lawrence P. Doss
Albert J. Dunmore
George C. Edwards
Representative Daisy Elliott
Maurice. B. Fagan
Joell.Feegusoo
Representative Rosetta Ferguson
Douglas A. Fraser
Dr. Murray Friedman
Joyce F. Garrett
Dr. Irving Goldaber
Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Greene
Mrs. R. Louise Grooms
Lary Groth
George E. Cullen, Jr.
Philip A. Hart
Enna L. Henderson
Rabbi Richard C. Hertz
Edward N. Hodges III
Representative David S. Holmes
Edward Bowden
Mildred M. Jeffrey

Arthur L. Johnson
Rabbi Morton M. Kanter
Frank C. Kent
Walter E. Klein
Francis A. Kornegay
Rev. T. E. LaMarre
Carl Levin
Sander Levin
Denise J. Lewis
Frank S. Loescher
Ernest Maxey
James M. McNeely
Marjorie Peebles-Meyers, M.D.
Bruce A. Miller
Marilynn Mittleman
Douglas H. Mueller
William H. Oliver
Thomas J. Peloso, Jr.
William H. Penn, Sr.
Vivian Pope
Longworth M. Quinn
Mel Ravitz
Kenneth W. Robinson
Milton J. Robinson
William A. Ryan
George Schermer
Horace L. Sheffield
Mrs. Sidney M. Shevitz
Otis M. Smith
Arthur D. Stine
Mry. Everes Straus
Rosalie Sullivan
Andronike A. Tsagaris
Toni Turner
James Wan§
Dr. Albert Wheeler
Stanley J. Winkelman
Martha R. Wylie
Joseph X. Yaffe, Esq.
State Senator Coleman A. Young
Charles G. Younglove

IN MEMORY OF

BURTON I. GORDIN

The
raig Fahle
Show

A scholarship fund was started in Gordin's memory.

Gordin, now 54 and still residing in
Metro Detroit. "I remember that as time
was passing, the anxiety level was rising.
I didn't have a sense that his work was
dangerous; I knew his work in the civil
rights movement pre-dated its popular-
ity ,and he said the FBI had a dossier
on him because of his activities. He had
strong ideological convictions that moti-
vated him regarding social justice, but I
did not associate it with physical danger."
While not privy to all of the details,
Gordin feels his father's death was never
thoroughly investigated. The robbery-
gone-bad theory didn't make sense then
and still doesn't now
"Justice was not done, due diligence
was not performed, and it was quickly
and easily dismissed:' he said.
Gordin said he doesn't recollect hear-
ing about a potential suspect in his
father's murder being a member of the
department staff. Rather, he recalled that
some suspicions were focused on a dis-
pute between his father and Flint Police
Chief James Rutherford.
Rutherford had just complained to
then-Attorney General John N. Mitchell
that one of Burton Gordin's employees
was involved with violent Students for
a Democratic Society (SDS) activities.
Earlier that fateful Friday, Gordin had
publicly criticized Rutherford and the
Flint police for their allegation.

Commission Today
The mood was celebratory, the audi-
ence diverse and the panelists engag-
ing. Launching an informational tour
of 50 Michigan cities on March 13,
2013, in Detroit to commemorate its
50th anniversary year, the Civil Rights
Commission and the Department of
Civil Rights were celebrating their past
while reminding listeners that there
is still much work to be done to attain
equal rights for all of the state's residents.
Dr. Daniel Krichbaum has been execu-

tive director of the commission and
its civil rights department since July of
2010, with a resume steeped in experi-
ence working with multicultural, mul-
tiracial and multireligious groups. His
position prior to being hired by the Civil
Rights Commission (the state constitu-
tion reserves this role for the commis-
sion) was chief operating officer for Gov.
Jennifer Granholm.
"Fifty years ago, Michigan set a new
standard for civil rights protections,
becoming the first state to create a Civil
Rights Commission in its constitution:'
Krichbaum said. "The commission and
the department work each day to live
up to that legacy and ensure that every
person can live, work and play free from
discrimination."
While Krichbaum and his staff con-
tinue to identify opportunities to com-
memorate the anniversary, special rec-
ognition for Gordin had not been part of
the initial plan. Many staff members had
not heard of him.
"Those executive directors of the
Department of Civil Rights who have
followed Burton Gordin will always mar-
vel at his courage and express gratitude
for his leadership:' Krichbaum said last
week.
While the person who murdered
Burton Gordin may never be identified,
for both Eric Gordin and Miller, the vet-
eran civil rights and labor attorney, it is
also about remembrance.
"My dad was more than a foot-
note in the history of the Civil Rights
Commission:' Eric Gordin said.
"Burt was a terrific guy; all business,
conscientious, smart and bright:' Miller
said. "People should get their time in
history. Burt has earned his time in his-
tory."

❑

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Weekdays at 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Arthur M. Horwitz was appointed by Gov.

Rick Snyder to a four-year term on the

Michigan Civil Rights Commission in January.

WDET is a
service of

WAYNE STATE
UNIVERSITY

JN

April 4 • 2013 11

