Looking Aft

LOOKING AFT Surprising people, places and events from our past. GPYC’s FOURTH COMMODORE JOHN H. FRENCH: INDUSTRIALIST & BANKER

By Dr. Larry Stephenson

John H. French, known as “JH” to his close friends, served as commodore of the GPYC during the challenging years of 1926 to 1931. He was born and raised in Detroit and graduated from Detroit Business University, as did a number of prominent Michigan citizens in that time. Early in his career he founded the family business, French Mortgage and Bond Co., and later co-founded the Michigan Stamping Co., which merged with Briggs Manufacturing Co. before Briggs itself became part of Chrysler Corp. He retired from industry in1924, but soon returned as Vice President and General Manager of the Briggs organization. Mr. French then went on to create the City National Bank of Detroit from his original mortgage and bond company and also founded Jennings Memorial Hospital.

In 1926, when Edsel Ford resigned his position as GPYC Commodore, John French took the reins and presided during the following years of the Clubhouse construction, culminating in its dedication on July 4, 1929. The highlight of the Grand Opening was a dinner dance, where Commodore French unveiled his personal gift to the Club, the massive 10- by 20-foot painting Sea Witch. Painted by well-known maritime artist Frank Vining Smith, Sea Witch remains today where she was originally hung, over the fireplace in the Ballroom, which in that time was called the Clubroom. The painting is now, as it has always been, the most valuable artwork owned by the Club. Learn more about it on page 14.

On the day of the Clubhouse opening, Commodore French’s 124-ft. yacht Siele was one of many impressive yachts belonging to GPYC members berthed in the Harbor. Just four months later, almost immediately following the October market crash, many of those members began resigning at an alarming rate, and Com. French took action. He brought in automotive leaders K.T. Keller, top executive at Chrysler Corp., and Charles Kettering, president of General Motors Research Laboratories, to serve on the Board of Directors, hoping this would create a sense of confidence that would stave off further resignations.

But of course, as we know now, this was not a temporary situation as was hoped back then, and the Club continued to lose members as the country slipped into the Great Depression. Commodore French stepped down from his leadership role at the Club in 1931, but remained a member until his resignation in 1934. He rejoined in 1940 after the Club reopened and remained a member until his death from a heart attack in 1952.

John H. French to this day remains arguably one of the best commodores this Club has ever been fortunate enough to have elected. He presided during some of the worst financial times this country has ever experienced and kept the Club together when it could have completely dissolved. And today, we are still in his debt for gifting us one of the finest maritime artworks of its time, the Sea Witch.

“JH” (left) at boathouse of his lodge in Georgian Bay Onterio