Kenneth Graham McIntyre

So much can be said about Red McIntyre’s accomplishments as a caring and prominent civil rights and criminal defense attorney, a loving and committed father and husband, and a master of golf. But Red made it clear that he wanted his final legacy to be that he “gave a damn.” He tirelessly fought against injustice with tenacity and fervor. In his words, “I always hated bullies, cheats, bigots, and persons without any measure of empathy for others.”

Kenneth Graham McIntyre was born in 1938. He and his three brothers were raised by their parents, Herbert L McIntyre and Dorothy (Selby) McIntyre in Livonia, Michigan. He called himself “a skinny redhead with a zillion freckles.” He was a high school athlete and made his way to college at Michigan State University with an Evans Scholarship for golf caddies.

He married Sandy McIntyre in 1962 and raised four boys before losing her in 1992 after 30 years of marriage. He married Eileen McIntyre in 1997, and they spent 28 years together. 

After receiving his undergraduate degree from MSU and law degree from the University of Kansas, he started his dream job working as a trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama during the early 1960s. Red participated in historic cases involving voter rights, desegregation, and abuse of police power. Notably, he helped facilitate and participated in the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965.

After returning to Michigan, he became an assistant United States attorney assigned to handle federal civil rights cases, including those concerning the Algiers Motel incident that sparked the Detroit race riots. Red went on to serve as the Chief Investigator for the President’s Commission on Campus Unrest, where he played an important role investigating the shooting deaths of four students at Kent State University in 1970. After joining the Sinas Dramis Law Firm in 1969, Red was lead counsel in the historic PBB litigation involving the accidental contamination of cattle feed, which resulted in numerous claims of environmental and human health injury. He never truly retired because he continued to represent people whose civil rights were under threat. His legal fee after “retiring” was generally a sleeve of golf balls.

More details of his life and work can be found here:

https://www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/kenneth-g-red-mcintyre-witness-to-history,21750

https://sinasdramis.com/past-partners/

When interviewed for a feature about his life and career in the City Pulse, he gave this advice: “Don’t let time slip away without honestly assessing your parents and family members and telling them how you feel.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sandra Kay Gaston McIntyre, his brothers, Neil and Duncan McIntyre, and his stepdaughter, Cindy Lepard. 

He is survived by his wife, Eileen (Speas, Lepard) McIntyre, children Jim, Patrick, Steve and Terry McIntyre, stepchildren, Debra Zynda, John Lepard, and Lisa Rose, his brother Scott McIntyre, and his beloved grandchildren.  

Memorial service to be announced. Instead of flowers, please donate to The Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation. https://wgaesf.org/you-make-the-difference.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.GREastLansing.com