In 1971, Richard H. Austin became the first African American to serve as Michigan’s secretary of state. Austin remained in this position until 1995, being reelected a total of four times. His extensive duties as secretary of state included administrating elections within the Wolverine State; maintaining both the Great Seal of Michigan and records of statues; and regulating notaries public.
Since the Michigan Department of State also serves as the state’s motor vehicles agency, Austin was likewise responsible for overseeing motor vehicle registration and the licensing of automobile drivers. (The secretary of state also grants boating licenses.) It was in these transportation roles that Austin firmly established himself as a staunch safety advocate.
Austin was born on May 6, 1913, in Cullman County, Alabama. His father died when he was only 11, and shortly thereafter Richard H. Austin moved with his mother and two brothers to Detroit in Michigan’s Wayne County. He graduated first in his class from Cass Technical High School in midtown Detroit.
While working in a shoe store during the day, Austin took night classes at the Detroit Institute of Technology. He graduated in 1937 with a B.A. in business administration. Austin achieved a major milestone in 1941 when he became the first certified public accountant in Michigan. That same year, he founded an accounting firm.
Austin went on to become significantly involved in civil rights and political activities. In 1966, he assumed yet another trailblazing role when he became the first black person to serve as Wayne County auditor. He achieved statewide office only five years later.
Austin holds the record as Michigan’s longest-serving secretary of state. During his tenure, he was also chairman of the Governor’s Safety Advisory Commission. One of Austin’s major accomplishments involved leading a 14-year campaign for a motor vehicle seat belt law that finally passed in 1985. Austin also strongly championed laws mandating child safety seats in automobiles and imposing stiffer penalties for drunk drivers. In addition, Austin led the successful effort to maintain the state law requiring the use of motorcycle helmets. He lobbied as well for improvements to driver education in Michigan.
Austin’s other contributions included helping to streamline the process for the renewal of drivers’ licenses and motor vehicle registrations. He was also an early proponent nationwide for the adoption of “motor voter” legislation that allows individuals to register to vote while obtaining or renewing their driver’s license.
In 1996, Austin was inducted into the Michigan Transportation Hall of Honor. He died in Detroit on April 20, 2001, at the age of 87.
Photo Credit: Public Domain
For more information on Richard H. Austin, please check out https://archives.wayne.edu/repositories/2/resources/1748 and https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/austin-richard-henry-1913-2001/
Transportation History 
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