Walter De Vries was born in 1929. After completing a one year business course at the Holland Business College he entered the armed forces in 1948. In 1949 he was discharged and enrolled in Hope College, but in 1951 he was recalled to active military duty. In 1954 De Vries received a bachelor's degree from Hope. In 1955 Michigan State University conferred upon him a master's degree, and in 1960 he obtained his doctorate, also from Michigan State.
While working on his doctorate De Vries taught at both Hope College and Calvin College and also served as a consultant regarding several public opinion surveys done within the state. Eventually he became a senior consultant for the Detroit-based Market Opinion Research firm.
In addition to his teaching and consultation, De Vries was very active in Republican politics. He first held party office in 1954, f when he was delegate from Holland's third ward to the Republican I County Convention. Throughout the 1950's he served in a number of party posts, including administrative assistant to the speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1957 until 1961.
In 1961 De Vries was elected a delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention. There he became associated with George Romney. In 1962 he agreed to work as director of research for the Romney gubernatorial campaign. With Romney's victory, De Vries was appointed a special assistant to the governor-elect, and from 1963 until 1967 he served Romney as executive assistant for Program Development and Agency Liaison. In 1967 De Vries shifted responsibilities, working with Romney Associates, part of the Romney presidential effort. Subsequently De Vries assisted in the William Milliken gubernatorial campaign.
From the guide to the Walter De Vries Papers, 1960-2012, 1960-1972, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
