Rubin, Lawrence A., 1912-

Radio director of the gubernatorial campaign of Frank Murphy.

From the description of Lawrence Rubin papers, 1936. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 154302187

Lawrence A. Rubin was born December 7, 1912 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan sometime around 1927-28. He went to the University of Michigan in 1930, graduating with an A.B. degree in 1934. Upon graduation, Rubin open his own advertising agency. In 1936, he served as radio director for Frank Murphy's winning campaign for governor; and following, in April 1937 he accepted the position of assistant director of the Public Relations Division of the Michigan State Highway Department where he served under Murray D. Van Wagoner and G. Donald Kennedy. Much of his work here was political in nature, writing copy used in Van Wagoner's re-election campaign for highway commission and his later successful campaign for governor in 1940. Rubin's other responsibilities were to publicize the work of the Highway Department.

After Pearl Harbor, from December 1941 to May 1942, Rubin was given temporary release to perform public relations duties for the Detroit Ordnance District of the War Department. On May 6, 1942, he was inducted into the Army. Throughout his career, Rubin wrote short stories, poetry, personal and historical essays. Some of his energy after the war went into his effort to become a writer. To develop his skills, from 1946 to 1947 he attended the Magazine Institute where he learned the skills of writing fiction. In 1947 he was appointed executive director of the Michigan Good Roads Federation where with others he participated in a highway needs study that eventually led to the passage in 1951 of important highway legislation. He served with the Federation until 1952.

In 1950, Rubin moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula when he was appointed executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority where he would remain until his retirement in 1983. Rubin figured importantly in the financing and construction of the bridge. After its opening in 1957, Rubin continued to supervise the operation and maintenance of the Bridge. Always a promoter of the Bridge and the importance of the Upper Peninsula as a tourist destination, Rubin also served as president of the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association and he was selected by Governor Milliken as Ambassador of Michigan Tourism. From 1954 to 1960, he also served as secretary-treasurer of the International Bridge Authority where bonds were sold to obtain funds for a bridge between the United States and Canada at Sault Ste. Marie.

Rubin remained active in his retirement writing a history of the Mackinac Bridge, giving speeches and talks, and continuing as spokesperson for the Upper Peninsula. He died May 11, 2010.

From the guide to the Lawrence A. Rubin papers, 1934-2011, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)