Mayor Ken Siver presents a Joint Resolution to Donald Fracassi along with Council President Pro Tem Tawnya Morris

The Southfield City Council unanimously voted to rename the Southfield Municipal Campus to the Donald F. Fracassi Municipal Campus at the December 9 City Council Meeting. The Mayor and City Council made the announcement at a special reception and presentation in Mr. Fracassi’s honor as part of the December 16 City Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, 26000 Evergreen.

Mr. Fracassi’s political career spans over 50 years with the city of Southfield. He was first elected to the City Council in 1967 as one of the youngest ever; elected Council President and Acting Mayor in 1969-1972; elected Mayor 1973-2001; returned to City Council in 2003, as Acting Mayor in 2015 and again as a Councilman until 2019.

Mr. Fracassi’s tireless work to improve the quality of life for the residents of Southfield and Oakland County is still evident today. Through his almost 30 years of service as Southfield’s Mayor and over 15 years of service as Councilman, he successfully pioneered several positive initiatives that have secured Southfield as an economic hub in southeastern Michigan.

Some of his most impressive accomplishments include:

• Implementing the first 911 Emergency System in Michigan and one of the first Emergency Medical Service systems (EMS) and Paramedic programs in the United States in 1972;
• Curbside recycling;
• Mayors for United Negro College Fund;
• Founder of Eight Mile Boulevard Association;
• Established Southfield as a “Smart Zone;”
• Assisted in the first Senior Citizen developments (McDonnell Towers and Woodridge Apartments;)
• Assisted in the development of the Burgh Site in 1976;
• Negotiated the joint contract between Southfield, Japan and L.T.U. to build in Southfield the first composite bridge in the United States;
• Nominated in 2002 as “Michiganian of the Year;”
• Established the Downtown Development Authority;
• Established East-West route for I-696 and its sound walls;
• Awarded “White House Millennium Community” for Southfield in 2000;
• Diversity Award; National Black Caucus;
• Eccentric Newspaper’s “News Maker of the Year;”
• Jewish War Veteran’s “Man of the Year;”
• United Negro College Award;
• Governor of Kentucky designation “Kentucky Colonel;” and
• Jewish War Veteran’s “Brotherhood Award.”

New signage for the renamed Donald F. Fracassi Municipal Campus will be completed and installed in early 2020. For more information, call Administration at (248) 796-5110 or visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.