Detroit News, Wednesday, September 20, 2000
Royal Oak --Donald Lance knew what made suburban politics tick.
The retired businessman and antique clock collector helped Troy Township become a city in 1955 and was one of its first City Commission members.
Mr. Lance and his friends, Norman Barnard and Cliff Truesdell, found out that Birmingham was looking to annex a chunk of land that sits near what is now 15 Mile and Crooks.
The trio collected enough signatures on petitions in just one weekend to put the issue of Troy becoming a city on the ballot. Residents approved, blocking Birmingham's annexation plans, said Lois Ann Jamieson Lance, Mr. Lance's wife.
"Don became a City Commission member, Norm, the city manager and Cliff the city clerk", she said. "They were good buddies. They were three Republican buddies. Birmingham lost out."
Mr. Lance, 85, of Royal Oak died of dysrhythmia on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000, in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Mr. Lance worked for the Detroit Trust Co. and the Proctor Homer Warren, Inc. real estate and banking companies, retiring in 1969. He then operated a summer antique shop for 16 years in Bayfield, Ontario.
In addition to serving as a City Commission member in Troy, Mr. Lance was a member of the city's board of review, zoning board, and several other boards and commissions.
In 1976, he moved back to Royal Oak, where he was immediately appointed to the city's board of review. He held the spot for 10 years.
One of the things Mr. Lance was proud of was blocking a plan to put a race track in Troy. The project eventually wound up in Hazel Park.
"He had a lot to do with what Troy is now," said his wife. "They (Mr. Lance, Barnard and Truesdell) had no ulterior motive except they were all involved in township politics."
In his spare time, Mr. Lance would collect and repair antique clocks. He was a past president of the Great Lakes chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
"He could take a clock apart and put it back together blindfolded," said his wife. "He was exceedingly skilled."
Other survivors include a son, William C. and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church, 309 N. Main, in Royal Oak.
Burial will be in Oakview Cemetery, in Royal Oak.
Royal Oak --Donald Lance knew what made suburban politics tick.
The retired businessman and antique clock collector helped Troy Township become a city in 1955 and was one of its first City Commission members.
Mr. Lance and his friends, Norman Barnard and Cliff Truesdell, found out that Birmingham was looking to annex a chunk of land that sits near what is now 15 Mile and Crooks.
The trio collected enough signatures on petitions in just one weekend to put the issue of Troy becoming a city on the ballot. Residents approved, blocking Birmingham's annexation plans, said Lois Ann Jamieson Lance, Mr. Lance's wife.
"Don became a City Commission member, Norm, the city manager and Cliff the city clerk", she said. "They were good buddies. They were three Republican buddies. Birmingham lost out."
Mr. Lance, 85, of Royal Oak died of dysrhythmia on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000, in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Mr. Lance worked for the Detroit Trust Co. and the Proctor Homer Warren, Inc. real estate and banking companies, retiring in 1969. He then operated a summer antique shop for 16 years in Bayfield, Ontario.
In addition to serving as a City Commission member in Troy, Mr. Lance was a member of the city's board of review, zoning board, and several other boards and commissions.
In 1976, he moved back to Royal Oak, where he was immediately appointed to the city's board of review. He held the spot for 10 years.
One of the things Mr. Lance was proud of was blocking a plan to put a race track in Troy. The project eventually wound up in Hazel Park.
"He had a lot to do with what Troy is now," said his wife. "They (Mr. Lance, Barnard and Truesdell) had no ulterior motive except they were all involved in township politics."
In his spare time, Mr. Lance would collect and repair antique clocks. He was a past president of the Great Lakes chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
"He could take a clock apart and put it back together blindfolded," said his wife. "He was exceedingly skilled."
Other survivors include a son, William C. and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church, 309 N. Main, in Royal Oak.
Burial will be in Oakview Cemetery, in Royal Oak.
Detroit News, Wednesday, September 20, 2000
Royal Oak --Donald Lance knew what made suburban politics tick.
The retired businessman and antique clock collector helped Troy Township become a city in 1955 and was one of its first City Commission members.
Mr. Lance and his friends, Norman Barnard and Cliff Truesdell, found out that Birmingham was looking to annex a chunk of land that sits near what is now 15 Mile and Crooks.
The trio collected enough signatures on petitions in just one weekend to put the issue of Troy becoming a city on the ballot. Residents approved, blocking Birmingham's annexation plans, said Lois Ann Jamieson Lance, Mr. Lance's wife.
"Don became a City Commission member, Norm, the city manager and Cliff the city clerk", she said. "They were good buddies. They were three Republican buddies. Birmingham lost out."
Mr. Lance, 85, of Royal Oak died of dysrhythmia on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000, in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Mr. Lance worked for the Detroit Trust Co. and the Proctor Homer Warren, Inc. real estate and banking companies, retiring in 1969. He then operated a summer antique shop for 16 years in Bayfield, Ontario.
In addition to serving as a City Commission member in Troy, Mr. Lance was a member of the city's board of review, zoning board, and several other boards and commissions.
In 1976, he moved back to Royal Oak, where he was immediately appointed to the city's board of review. He held the spot for 10 years.
One of the things Mr. Lance was proud of was blocking a plan to put a race track in Troy. The project eventually wound up in Hazel Park.
"He had a lot to do with what Troy is now," said his wife. "They (Mr. Lance, Barnard and Truesdell) had no ulterior motive except they were all involved in township politics."
In his spare time, Mr. Lance would collect and repair antique clocks. He was a past president of the Great Lakes chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
"He could take a clock apart and put it back together blindfolded," said his wife. "He was exceedingly skilled."
Other survivors include a son, William C. and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church, 309 N. Main, in Royal Oak.
Burial will be in Oakview Cemetery, in Royal Oak.
Royal Oak --Donald Lance knew what made suburban politics tick.
The retired businessman and antique clock collector helped Troy Township become a city in 1955 and was one of its first City Commission members.
Mr. Lance and his friends, Norman Barnard and Cliff Truesdell, found out that Birmingham was looking to annex a chunk of land that sits near what is now 15 Mile and Crooks.
The trio collected enough signatures on petitions in just one weekend to put the issue of Troy becoming a city on the ballot. Residents approved, blocking Birmingham's annexation plans, said Lois Ann Jamieson Lance, Mr. Lance's wife.
"Don became a City Commission member, Norm, the city manager and Cliff the city clerk", she said. "They were good buddies. They were three Republican buddies. Birmingham lost out."
Mr. Lance, 85, of Royal Oak died of dysrhythmia on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000, in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Mr. Lance worked for the Detroit Trust Co. and the Proctor Homer Warren, Inc. real estate and banking companies, retiring in 1969. He then operated a summer antique shop for 16 years in Bayfield, Ontario.
In addition to serving as a City Commission member in Troy, Mr. Lance was a member of the city's board of review, zoning board, and several other boards and commissions.
In 1976, he moved back to Royal Oak, where he was immediately appointed to the city's board of review. He held the spot for 10 years.
One of the things Mr. Lance was proud of was blocking a plan to put a race track in Troy. The project eventually wound up in Hazel Park.
"He had a lot to do with what Troy is now," said his wife. "They (Mr. Lance, Barnard and Truesdell) had no ulterior motive except they were all involved in township politics."
In his spare time, Mr. Lance would collect and repair antique clocks. He was a past president of the Great Lakes chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
"He could take a clock apart and put it back together blindfolded," said his wife. "He was exceedingly skilled."
Other survivors include a son, William C. and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church, 309 N. Main, in Royal Oak.
Burial will be in Oakview Cemetery, in Royal Oak.
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