Richard H. Austin

For other people named Richard Austin, see Richard Austin (disambiguation).
Richard H. Austin
Richard H. Austin, 1975
39th Secretary of State of Michigan
In office
January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1995
GovernorWilliam Milliken
James Blanchard
John Engler
Preceded byJames M. Hare
Succeeded byCandice Miller
Wayne County Auditor
In office
1967–1971
Personal details
BornRichard Henry Austin
(1913-05-06)May 6, 1913
Stouts Mountain, Alabama, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 2001(2001-04-20) (aged 87)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseIda Austin
Children1

Richard Henry Austin (May 6, 1913 – April 20, 2001) was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the Michigan secretary of state from 1971 to 1995, the longest-serving secretary of state in the state, the first African American elected to the position, the first Black person to win election to any statewide office in Michigan except the Supreme Court. Also the first Black certified public accountant in Michigan, he previously served from 1967 to 1971 as the first Black Wayne County auditor, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Detroit in 1969.

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