A man who helped launch a prominent local facility died last week.
John Milkovich Jr., helped found Detroit Dragway, located on the corner of Sibley and Dix roads in Brownstown Township, died at the age of 87 on Jan. 28. The raceway closed for good in 1998.
Mr. Milkovich, the longtime owner of Mt. Clemens Marine Center on South River Road, served on the Mount Clemens City Commission from 2004-2008, where he was involved in several squabbles involving his personal life that spilled over into his public role as a commissioner.
The Pennsylvania native found himself in the media spotlight in 2004 when he was overheard at a commission meeting describing a Black minister as that “colored fellow.” He later said he didn’t realize the term “colored” could be offensive to anyone.
Earlier in the year, while questioning a hefty lawyer applying for the city attorney job, Mr. Milkovich asked the lawyer if he intended to lose any weight should he get the position. The little “joke” resulted in a lawsuit.
In another episode, Mr. Milkovich said his insurance company threatened to cancel his coverage because the city placed a lock on a fire hydrant on the property of Mt. Clemens Marine Center. The lock was placed on the hydrant following allegations he may have been using municipal water from the fire hydrant to wash boats at his facility.
The marine center serviced millions of dollars’ worth of boating vessels every year and also had a large amount of flammable materials on the grounds in fuel and other chemicals.
“I never stole one drop of the city’s water,” he said at the time.
Barb Dempsey, a former Mount Clemens mayor and city commissioner who served with Malkovich, recalled him as a “good man, and he lived a colorful life.”
“During the time that John was on the city commission, he definitely kept us all on our toes,” she said. “He came across as a tough person who definitely didn’t have a filter and would say what he felt.
“But there was another side to him that many people may not have seen. He was kind and would give the shirt off his back to anyone who that needed it. There’s so many people that he helped, even his critics.”
In an obituary notice, family members said he lived “an extraordinary life defined by service, craftsmanship, competition, and unwavering patriotism.” They said he was a champion Corvette racer and made mention that he helped build the former Detroit Dragway in Brownstown Township.
In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, he helped deliver cargo to Ground Zero at the World Trade Center as part of the Mount Clemens Convoy, his family said.
He is survived by his two daughters, a grandson, and two brothers.
A funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. today at Kraatz Funeral Directors, 226 Crocker Boulevard, Mount Clemens. Visitors will be received 1-8 p.m. today.
