Cleary was born in Ypsilanti , Washtenaw County , Michigan to Patrick Roger Cleary and Helen ( Jenks ) Cleary , and was married to Marie DeWaele . Cleary graduated from Cleary College , which had been founded by his father , and Owen Cleary eventually worked for the school . Owen Cleary served in the U.S. Army during World War I . In 1938 he became president of Cleary University when his father retired . During World War II , the Governor of Michigan asked him to raise troops to replace the Michigan National Guard which had been called up to serve in the War and Cleary served as a brigadier general . Cleary was also a lawyer and a candidate in the primary for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1946 . Cleary served as chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 1949-1953 . He was a delegate to 1952 Republican National Convention and an alternate to the 1956 convention . He was also member of Republican National Committee from 1952 to 1953 . Cleary was Michigan Secretary of State from 1953 – 1954 and defeated in 1954 . He was candidate in the primary for Governor of Michigan in 1954 and was the last Republican to serve as Secretary of State until Candice Miller took office in 1995 . Cleary was a Congregationalist and a member of the American Bar Association , American Legion , Moose , Rotary , Delta Theta Phi , Phi Delta Phi and Phi Kappa Sigma . Cleary is interred at Highland Cemetery , Ypsilanti , Michigan
1956 convention
1956 Republican National Convention
Owen Cleary