Class of 1921

Owen C. Perkins

Served 43 years as employee of the City of Royal Oak

Served thirty-six years as Chief Inspector for Royal Oak

Historian and president of the Royal Oak Historical Society

Inducted into Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame, 1998

Owen C. Perkins graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1921. He lettered in football and baseball and was captain of the basketball team.He attended Albion College where he excelled in baseball and football and received his bachelor's degree in 1926. He became a charter member of the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.

Mr. Perkins was employed by the city of Royal Oak for 43 years serving the last 36 years as its Chief Inspector. His tenure coincided with the building boom of the 1940's and 50's when the population increased from less than 6,000 to more than 80,000. He also served 15 years as deputy city clerk and even assumed the temporary role of city manager on occasion.

Owen Perkins was well known in the community serving leadership roles with the First Methodist Church and the Royal Oak Historical Society. His memory and wit made him a popular speaker on local history. The Greater Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce named him it citizen of the year in 1983. He was inducted in the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1998.