Debbie Dingell

TRENTON, MI — The late Michigan Congressman John Dingell would be turning 100 if he was still alive.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, will host a public celebration honoring what would have been the 100th birthday of her late husband on Wednesday, July 8, at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton.

The event runs from 1-4 p.m. at the John D. Dingell Jr. Visitor Center and Refuge Gateway, 5437 W. Jefferson Ave.

The celebration of the nation’s longest-serving Congress member will feature a tour of portions of Humbug Marsh, a speaking program beginning at about 2 p.m., the unveiling of a memorial wall and a birthday cake cutting.

The event is free and open to the public. Members of the public should RSVP here.

Debbie Dingell, who represents Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, is organizing the event in conjunction with the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge to recognize her late husband’s work in establishing the only international wildlife refuge in the U.S. and strengthening relations between the U.S. and Canada.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Nicole LaFleur, executive director of the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Dan Kennedy, refuge manager, Colin Bird, consul general of Canada in Detroit, and Dick Whitwam, a friend of John Dingell, are expected to attend.

John Dingell, who hailed from Dearborn, died in 2019 at the age of 92.

In a career spanning nearly 60 years, from 1955 until he retired in January 2015, the Michigan Democrat and World War II veteran helped shape landmark legislation in support of the environment, civil rights, the American auto industry and access to health care.

‘By the great horned spoon,’ John Dingell was loved for his words and ways

Generative AI was used to organize information for this story based on information provided by Debbie Dingell’s office. It was reviewed and edited by MLive.