Fred Durhal, Jr., a former state lawmaker from Detroit who was the first Black political director of the Michigan Democratic Party, died Wednesday, Nov. 19 after a lengthy illness, his family and confirmed. He was 73.

Durhal represented Detroit in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2009 through 2014 after earlier serving for close to three months in 2002. That early stint in the House, after winning a special election called after Kwame Kilpatrick was elected Detroit mayor and vacated his House seat, resulted in Durhal being dubbed the "dean" of the House during his final term, based on seniority, under term limits that at that time restricted members to three two-year terms.

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