JOSEPH PATRICK SWALLOW

Joseph Patrick Swallow was born in Alpena, Michigan on Dec. 31, 1932, to a family overjoyed by his arrival. He was the fourth generation of the Swallow family in Northeast Michigan, the firstborn son of Mae (Busby) Swallow and Roy F. Swallow, first grandchild to both sets of grandparents — Joseph and Augusta (Powell/Paul) Swallow, and Patrick and Minnie (McLennan) Busby.

He was born in his parents’ apartment above the family store on North 2nd Avenue — Joseph Swallow Hardware. Baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church, the young “JoePat” grew up there and remained a member of the congregation into adulthood. He was proud to have been raised on the “Nort’ Side” of Alpena and maintained lifelong friendships and loyalties formed there. He attended the Avery School (K-3rd) and the Lincoln School (4th-8th), then graduated from the “old” Alpena High School with the Class of 1950. Throughout his youth, Joe worked at the family hardware store alongside his parents, aunts and paternal grandfather, also Joe Swallow.

Swallow next found a home away from home at Central Michigan College of Education (now Central Michigan University) and graduated in 1955 with a business degree in Accounting. While at CMU, he was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, where he made lifelong friends. He was also a member of CMU’s first graduating Army ROTC class (Chippewa Battalion — “Genny’s Own”), where he forged more lifelong friendships.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Swallow went on to Fort Benning, Georgia for Infantry Officer Training and Airborne School. He then served his country proudly for three years of overseas duty during the Korean War at Schofield Barracks, in the Territory of Hawaii, as a paratrooper in the 25th Airborne Infantry Division (“Tropic Lightning”). He was promoted to First Lieutenant and Company Commander. He earned many medals and accolades before leaving active duty at the rank of Captain. He returned to Michigan and continued serving as a Reserve Officer until his honorable discharge in 1965.

Next, Swallow moved to Detroit to work for the J.L. Hudson Co. Finding that working as an accountant did not suit him, he decided, at the urging of a friend, to apply to the Detroit College of Law. He walked down the street to DCL and was admitted on the spot! He attended law school at night while working full time as an adjustor for the Standard Accident Insurance Co. He quickly learned that he loved the law, its logic and history. He was inspired by his professors and quoted their advice and wisdom over the decades. Swallow also made lifelong friends at DCL. He distinguished himself while there. As one example, he and his roommate won DCL’s Moot Court competition; the plaque bearing their names still resides at the law school, now part of Michigan State University. While in law school, Swallow also clerked for federal District Judge, Hon. Fred Case, and served as his bailiff.

Swallow graduated law school in 1961 and returned home to Alpena. After a brief stint in private practice at an Alpena firm, he was elected to the office of Alpena County Prosecuting Attorney, where he served with distinction 1963-1964. Some of his interesting cases included prosecuting illegal salvagers of the well-known shipwreck Nordmeer and investigating a jewelry heist, tracking and finally nabbing the thieves in Duluth, Minnesota.

Swallow was elected to four consecutive terms to the Michigan House of Representatives for the 105th District (counties of Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle), serving 1965-1972. Part of a cadre of young, first-time State Reps on both sides of the aisle (bipartisan) who worked well together, Swallow helped pass legislation such as Michigan’s Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act. He maintained collegial relationships with many lawmakers, both during and after his time in Lansing. He told of bringing his Democratic colleague, Rep. George Montgomery to Alpena for deer season and others joking that maybe the two shouldn’t be armed in the woods together. But everyone knew it to be a joke. The parties were much less polarized then.

While in the Legislature, Swallow served proudly on a wide variety of committees, always looking out for the best interest of his constituents. He secured funding to build the Plaza Pool at Alpena High School and improvements to Mich-E-Ke-Was Park. He even filed a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens of Northeast Michigan (and won), halting legislation that would disproportionately benefit Michigan’s urban centers while excluding those in smaller communities like Northeast Michigan. He led a nearly successful campaign for Unicameralism — merging Michigan’s House and Senate into a one-house Legislature. This would have reduced size of State government, enabled more efficient lawmaking, and increased transparency for citizens.

In 1972, Swallow was elected to the nonpartisan position of Circuit Judge, where he became one of two judges for Michigan’s 26th Circuit, alongside the Hon. Phillip J. Glennie, who became his friend and mentor. Swallow served in that role for 32 years, the longest tenured judge in the Circuit’s history. While serving on the bench, Swallow worked collegially with the other Judges in the Circuit. Judge Swallow continually sought other ways to serve the community. He worked with the commissioners in the Circuit’s four counties to create a Joint Judicial Commission, allowing the counties to share resources and expenses, to make the court more efficient and affordable, and to offer more services. He helped create the Public Defender’s Office, and was instrumental in the creation of the Sunrise Center for substance abuse treatment, as an alternative to incarceration. Swallow was admired by his fellow attorneys and judges, he was nominated by his peers and selected by Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan’s Most Respected Judges. Swallow retired from the Court in 2004.

Judge Swallow also served the community in other capacities. He donated his time to many nonprofits, including working to create Luther Community Manor, which provides affordable senior living in Alpena. He served for several years on CMU’s Alumni Development Board, and he returned to campus for many, many Homecomings and other football Saturdays. The ROTC program at CMU named him to their Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career.

In his retirement, Judge Swallow continued to serve Northeast Michigan, including by researching and championing numerous causes, always with the aim to educate and help the community and/or preserve and improve the natural environment, especially Lake Huron and its shores. An avid and adventurous outdoorsman, Judge Swallow loved boating, hiking, biking, skiing. He was an avid reader with a seemingly insatiable thirst for knowledge. A wonderful, loving (and fun-loving) husband and father, he was quick to support his wife, children, and extended family in their varied education, interests, and careers.

Judge Swallow died peacefully at home, attended by his family, on April 20, 2024, after a brief hospitalization. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Jane; daughter Sarah (Adam) Beuker of Portage, Michigan; three sons, Dan (Michelle) Swallow of Tecumseh, Michigan, John (Carlita) Swallow of Corpus Christi, Texas, and J. Andrew Swallow of Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren, Meghan and Joseph Beuker; Lauren and Joshua Swallow; and Mateo and Anna Emilia Swallow; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Judge Swallow’s memorial service — a celebration of his life — will be held Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Alpena County Courthouse (720 W Chisholm St). The family will welcome visitors 1-3 p.m., followed by eulogies and remembrances 3-4 p.m., followed by military honors accorded by VFW Alpena Post 2496. Arrangements are being handled by the Bannan Funeral Home.

The Swallow family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in Judge Swallow’s memory be made to WCMU Public Media, 1999 East Campus Drive, Mt Pleasant, Michigan, 48859, https://www.wcmu.org/, or VFW Alpena Post 2496, 2900 Connon St., Alpena, MI 49707.