Cleary graduated from Cleary College, which had been founded by his father, and Owen Cleary eventually worked for the school. Owen Cleary served in the U.S. Army during World War I. In 1938 he became president of Cleary University when his father retired. During World War II, the Governor of Michigan asked him to raise troops to replace the Michigan National Guard which had been called up to serve in the War and Cleary served as a brigadier general. Cleary was also a lawyer and a candidate in the primary for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1946. Cleary served as chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 1949–1953. He was a delegate to 1952 Republican National Convention and an alternate to the 1956 convention. He was also member of Republican National Committee from 1952 to 1953. Cleary was Michigan Secretary of State from 1953–1954 and defeated in 1954. He was candidate in the primary for Governor of Michigan in 1954 and was the last Republican to serve as Secretary of State until Candice Miller took office in 1995. Cleary was a Congregationalist and a member of the American Bar Association, American Legion, Moose, Rotary, Delta Theta Phi, Phi Delta Phi and Phi Kappa Sigma. Cleary is interred at Highland Cemetery, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Robert A. Richardson  Robert A. Richardson (June 16, 1827 – October 16, 1895) was a Virginia soldier and lawyer who was a member of the Readjuster Party and served for twelve years on the Supreme Court of Virginia (then called the Supreme Court of Appeals). Richardson was a native of Charlotte County, Virginia. While still in his teens, he enlisted in the army and fought in the Mexican War. Following this, he returned to Virginia and taught in the school in Monroe County (now in West Virginia). He read law books extensively during his hours outside of school and in the early 1850s was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals at Lewisburg (now in West Virginia). He still pursued the study of law when he was not working. Being admitted to the bar shortly afterwards, he moved to Mercer County and began practice. This was interrupted by military service in the Civil War. After the war, he settled at Marion in Smyth County, where he had a large practice. He became a member of the Readjuster Party and, in February, 1882, was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals. After serving his twelve-year term, he retired in January 1895 and returned to Marion where he died in October 1895.