One of Michigan's most successful chief executives, Alexander Groesbeck is credited with reorganizing state government. Although he was "called aloof as a politician and dictatorial as governor," Groesbeck was elected governor three times (1920, 1922 and 1924). He also lost his party's nomination on three other occasions (1926, 1930 and 1934). A Republican, Groesbeck was born in Macomb County and worked in his father's sawmill before attending the University of Michigan where he graduated with a law degree. Groesbeck was buried in Detroit.