Conlin, Rollo G., 1903-1974.

Republican state representative from Tipton, Michigan, 1945-1967; member of the House Ways and Means Committee; chairman of the Committee on General Taxation; the State Tax Study Commission, 1957-1959; and the Joint House and Senate Committee on Constitutional Implementation.

Rollo Conlin, born on a farm in Tipton, Michigan (Lenawee County) to Thomas and Nettie (Camburn) Conlin, was educated in the Tipton public schools and Cleary Business College (Ypsilanti). From 1922 to 1928, he was employed as a toolmaker in Detroit and, in 1928, he married Pauline Snoddy of Milan, Michigan. Conlin returned to his home town to manage the family farm, eventually becoming involved in local politics. For eight years he represented Franklin Township on the Lenawee Board of Supervisors, was a member of the Tipton School Board for five years, and a director of the United Savings Bank of Tecumseh.

Running as a Republican in 1944, Conlin won a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, a position he held continuously until 1966 when he met defeat in the Republican primary. As a member of the House, his chief interest was in fiscal matters, especially taxes. In 1954, he authored the so-called "Conlin Plan" which revised the Sales Tax Diversion clause in the Constitution as it related to school allocation. He was also the author of legislation establishing diagnostic centers for mental health treatment. In the late 1950's, Conlin was chairman of the Michigan Tax Study, a joint legislative and citizen committee. He also chaired the Joint House and Senate Committee on Constitutional Implementation concerned with governmental reorganization. He was also a member of House committees on economic development, general taxation, liquor control and the Michigan Commission on Interstate Cooperation.