Billie S. Farnum

Who was Billie S. Farnum?

Billie Sunday Farnum was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.

Farnum was born in Saginaw, Michigan and raised in a farm community at Watrousville. He graduated from Vassar High School, Vassar, Michigan, in 1933 and continued his education in the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1935. He took special educational courses and was employed in the motorcar industry in Pontiac, 1936-1952. He engaged in union activities ranging from shop steward to international representative for United Auto Workers-Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1942-1952. He was administrative aide to U.S. Senator Blair Moody, 1952–1954 and assistant Michigan Secretary of State, 1955–1957; deputy Michigan Secretary of State, 1957–1960; and Michigan Auditor General, 1961-1965. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1956, 1960, and 1964.

Farnum was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's Michigan's 19th congressional district to the 88th United States Congress, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1967. He was known as one of the Michigan Five Fluke Freshmen and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1966, losing in the general election to Republican Jack McDonald.