LANSING, Mich. — Following the death of former U.S. Representative Bob Carr, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all U.S. and Michigan flags to fly half-staff Thursday.
The former Congressman died in August after fighting multiple myeloma and esophageal cancer for more than a decade. He was 81.
In her proclamation Wednesday, Whitmer reflected on Carr’s legacy of service from his early days in Lansing to his years in Congress and beyond.
“Representative Bob Carr was a dedicated public servant who delivered for his constituents and moved Michigan forward,” she said in a statement. “Bob worked hard to make a real difference in people’s lives and fought passionately for what he believed in. He was a powerful advocate for civil rights and, later, cancer research. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who served and worked alongside him.”
The longtime Congressman earned both his Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving to Lansing, where he began his political career. He worked on the staff of the Senate minority leader and later served as an administrative assistant to Attorney General Frank Kelley.
During his nearly two decades in Congress, Carr represented various parts of Ingham, Livingston and Genesee counties. He entered the political arena in 1974, during the Vietnam War. He quickly established himself as a vocal figure in U.S. foreign policy, sponsoring a resolution opposing further military assistance to South Vietnam and Cambodia.
Carr's influence extended beyond his time in office. Even as he learned of his stage 3 multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2006, the former public servant worked to support further research into the disease. His involvement in public service continued through the mentorship of future policymakers through the Brookings Institute's Legis Congressional Fellowship.
Gov. Whitmer called on Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations to join the tribute by first hoisting flags to the peak before lowering them to half-staff position on Thursday.
Flags within the State Capitol Complex should return to full-staff position on Friday, Dec. 12.
