Produced by Michigan History Magazine
Gerhard Mennen “Soapy” Williams, a liberal reformer, served for 12 years as Michigan’s 41st governor, from 1949 to 1960. Born into an affluent family on February 23, 1911 in Detroit, Michigan, Williams earned the nickname “Soapy” because his maternal grandfather was the founder of Mennen, a brand of men’s personal care products.
