The Dick Posthumus papers (1972-2002) consist of materials related to his political career as state senator, Senate Majority Leader, and Lieutenant Governor and his campaign for governor. The collection includes correspondence, campaign literature, media advisories, newspaper clippings, speeches, radio and television appearances and photographs. The papers are organized into eight series: materials related to his political career as a state senator, Senate Majority Leader, and Lieutenant Governor and his campaign for governor: Campaigns, Correspondence, Media Advisories, News clips, Speeches, Topical Files, Other Media, and Photographs.
Dick Posthumus was born in 1950 and grew up on a dairy farm outside of Grand Rapids. He graduated from Caledonia High School in 1968 and continued his education at Michigan State University, where he majored in agricultural economics and public affairs management. While at Michigan State, he was chair of the College Republicans and served as chair of the Michigan State University Republican Party. After graduating from Michigan State University, Posthumus served in several key staff positions in the House of Representatives and management positions with the Michigan Beef Industry Commission and the Farmers' and Manufacturers' Beet Sugar Association, as well as established himself as a farmer. In 1971, Posthumus served as John Engler's campaign manager in Engler's successful campaign for state representative. This began a political partnership that lasted over 30 years.
In 1982, Posthumus was elected to the State Senate, representing the 31st Senatorial District, which includes Kent County. In 1990, he became the Senate Majority Leader and is noted for the longest leadership in Michigan history. Posthumus joined Governor Engler on the ticket as Lieutenant Governor in 1998 and went on to serve in that post for four years. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2002, having defeated State Senator Joe Schwarz in the Republican primary, but lost to Democrat Jennifer Granholm in the general election by approximately 4%.
Posthumus is most known for his 1994 initiative Proposal A, which cut state property taxes and reformulated the way Michigan funded public schools, sponsoring a bill that created charter schools in Michigan, and acting as chief sponsor of bills that created Renaissance Zones, which offered opportunities and revitalization for business owners and cities. As Lieutenant Governor, Posthumus chaired the Michigan Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Task Force that provided recommendations to eliminate homicides resulting from domestic violence.
Dick Posthumus resides on a family farm in Alto, Michigan with his wife Pam. They have four children and three grandchildren. In 2005 he joined Compatico, a Grand Rapids office furniture manufacturing firm, and became CEO in 2006.
