Background
Engel, Albert Joseph was born on March 21, 1924 in Lake City, Michigan, United States. Son of Albert Joseph and Bertha (Bielby) Engel.
Engel, Albert Joseph was born on March 21, 1924 in Lake City, Michigan, United States. Son of Albert Joseph and Bertha (Bielby) Engel.
In September 1941, he attended the University of Maryland, but left in June of the next year and enrolled at the University of Michigan. He graduated at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and went on to command his own bomb disposal unit in the European Theatre of World World War II for two years, seeing action in England, France, Belgium, and Germany.
His early education was obtained in the public schools of Lake City, Muskegon, and Washington, District of Columbia Engel left the university in February 1943, and entered the United States Army as a private in the Infantry but was transferred to the Ordnance Department. After World World War II, Engel returned to the University of Michigan and received a bachelor"s degree in political science. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan on May 31, 1951, and to practice before the United States District Court in 1952.
After one year in Washington, District of Columbia, as Administrative Assistant to Congresswoman Ruth Thompson, Engel returned to Michigan to practice law in what became the law firm of Engle and Engel until his election as Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Michigan in 1966.
He and his father were active in the management of a Christmas tree farm known as Engelwood Plantations in Lake City, Michigan, from his return from the service until his appointment to the federal bench. On December 18, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon appointed Engel to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan to a seat vacated by West. Wallace Kent.
Engel entered duty on 21 January 1971. He was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit by President Nixon in December, 1973, taking the oath of office on 4 January 1974.
Judge Engel became Chief Judge on 1 April 1988, and served until 1 October 1989, when he assumed senior status.
He closed his office on 31 December 2002. The United States Courts Library in Grand Rapids was officially named the Albert J. Engel United States Courts Library on 19 December 2003.
Served with Army of the United States, 1943-1946, European Theatre of Operations. Fellow American Bar Foundation. Member American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Michigan Bar Association, Cincinnati Bar Association, Grand Rapids Bar Association, American Judicature Society, American Legion, Phi Sigma Kappa, Phi Delta Phi.
Married Eloise Ruth Bull, October 18, 1952. Children: Albert Joseph III, Katherine Ann, James Robert, Mary Elizabeth.