Msgr. Stanley Milewski
Board of Directors
Msgr. Stanley Milewski was a Roman Catholic priest and Chancellor Emeritus of the Orchard Lake Schools. Msgr. Milewski served as the vice-chair of the Piast Institute's board for many years. He passed away on July 6, 2014 following complications from a series of blood infections.
Born Nov. 30, 1929, to Stanley and Jadwiga Milewski, the young Stanley Milewski grew up on Detroit’s near west side, attending grade school at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (West) Parish and St. Andrew School. He then attended St. Mary’s Prep and St. Mary’s College before moving on to St. John’s Provincial Seminary to finish his priestly formation. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1955, but later went back to earn a master’s degree from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, and a doctorate from Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pa. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Francis D’Assisi in Detroit (1955-57) before quickly becoming a Polish, religion and history teacher at Orchard Lake.
Born Nov. 30, 1929, to Stanley and Jadwiga Milewski, the young Stanley Milewski grew up on Detroit’s near west side, attending grade school at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (West) Parish and St. Andrew School. He then attended St. Mary’s Prep and St. Mary’s College before moving on to St. John’s Provincial Seminary to finish his priestly formation. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1955, but later went back to earn a master’s degree from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, and a doctorate from Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pa. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Francis D’Assisi in Detroit (1955-57) before quickly becoming a Polish, religion and history teacher at Orchard Lake.
Hon. Roman Gribbs
Board of Directors
The Honorable Roman Gribbs served as Mayor of Detroit from 1970 to 1974. After declining to seek re-election upon the end of his term, Judge Gribbs served on the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1982 until his retirement in 2000. Roman Gribbs passed away on April 5, 2016 after complications of esophageal cancer.
Born on December 29, 1925 in Michigan, Gribbs graduated from high school and went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1948. After returning to Detroit, Gribbs attended the University of Detroit where he received a degree in economics and accounting in 1952, and a law degree in 1954. From there, Gribbs was an instructor at the university from 1955 to 1957.
In 1957, Roman Gribbs became an assistant prosecutor, a position he held until 1964, after which he entered private practice. In 1968, Gribbs was appointed sheriff of Wayne County, winning a full four-year term. Subsequently, Gribbs was elected Mayor of Detroit in 1969, beating African-American candidate Richard Austin in a close race.
Born on December 29, 1925 in Michigan, Gribbs graduated from high school and went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1948. After returning to Detroit, Gribbs attended the University of Detroit where he received a degree in economics and accounting in 1952, and a law degree in 1954. From there, Gribbs was an instructor at the university from 1955 to 1957.
In 1957, Roman Gribbs became an assistant prosecutor, a position he held until 1964, after which he entered private practice. In 1968, Gribbs was appointed sheriff of Wayne County, winning a full four-year term. Subsequently, Gribbs was elected Mayor of Detroit in 1969, beating African-American candidate Richard Austin in a close race.
Thaddeus C. Radzilowski
Board of Directors
Dr. Thaddeus C. Radzilowski was the President/co-founder of the Piast Institute and President Emeritus Of Saint Mary’s College. He held a Ph.D. in History from the University of Michigan. He has taught at Madonna University, Heidelberg College and Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU). At SMSU, he served as Chair of the History Department, Director of the Regional History and Rural Studies Centers and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. From 2003 until 2018, he had been a Lecturer in History at the University of Michigan–Dearborn. From the university he received an award as Mentor of the Year for 2017 and 2010 for his work and guidance to interns and students.
Dr. Radzilowski was named to President William Clinton’s advisory transition team on U.S. policy in Eastern Europe (1991). He has been the recipient of numerous awards including Distinguished Faculty Award at SMSU and the Haiman Medal of the PAHA for distinguished contributions to the writing of Polish American history. In 2012, Dr. Radzilowski was awarded the Dr. Joseph Jachimczyk Award for his contributions to the Enhancement of American Polonia by the National Medical and Dental Society. On February 3, 2013, he was the recipient of the Lech Walesa Media Award for his life time achievement in the propagation of Polish Culture in the World presented by Former President Lech Walesa in Miami, Florida. Dr. Radzilowski was awarded "Outstanding Pole" in America on May 6, 2016 at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago in the category of Education ("Nauka").
Dr. Radzilowski was named to President William Clinton’s advisory transition team on U.S. policy in Eastern Europe (1991). He has been the recipient of numerous awards including Distinguished Faculty Award at SMSU and the Haiman Medal of the PAHA for distinguished contributions to the writing of Polish American history. In 2012, Dr. Radzilowski was awarded the Dr. Joseph Jachimczyk Award for his contributions to the Enhancement of American Polonia by the National Medical and Dental Society. On February 3, 2013, he was the recipient of the Lech Walesa Media Award for his life time achievement in the propagation of Polish Culture in the World presented by Former President Lech Walesa in Miami, Florida. Dr. Radzilowski was awarded "Outstanding Pole" in America on May 6, 2016 at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago in the category of Education ("Nauka").