WELDAY, Donald F. Age 82.
Don was born March 18, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Anne N. and Donald F. Welday, Sr.
Donald F. Welday, prominent member of the Detroit area legal community, died Thursday in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He was 82.

Mr. Welday was a graduate of Albion College and the University of Michigan Law School who was appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit in 1954. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. Welday made his mark as an effective prosecutor having served as the attorney in charge of the narcotics law, food and drug law, wagering tax and internal revenue prosecutions. He successfully prosecuted what was called the "biggest fraud ever perpetrated against the Treasury Department" at the time and led the investigation into the controversial swamping of 12 people into the Detroit River by the S.S. Aquarama in 1957.

Upon departing the federal government, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan George E. Woods, Jr. said about Mr. Welday, "You have been a fine credit to the Department of Justice and have always borne a remarkable sense of fair play....it has always been with great confidence that the difficult matters of this office have been assigned to you."

In 1960, Mr. Welday joined his father, Donald F. Welday, Sr., James K. O'Leary and George H. Goldstone in the private practice of law in Detroit. The firm moved to Oakland County in the early 1960's pioneering a trend for many Detroit area businesses and professionals. Mr. Welday went on to serve a stint as President of the Southfield Bar Association.

A high point in Mr. Welday's legal career occurred in 1965 when Mr. Welday won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. In Linn v. United Plant Guard Workers of America, Mr. Welday successfully argued about the rights and responsibilities of the parties to a labor dispute that has set legal precedent for decades.

Mr. Welday went on to become General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Real Estate One based in Southeastern Michigan. He retired in 2000 spending considerable time in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"My Dad made the law come alive," said his son, Paul Welday of Farmington Hills, Michigan. "Whether he was talking to colleagues or clients, presenting to real estate agents or just debating over the kitchen table, Don Welday loved to argue and debate. His ability to make the law connect to real life situations was remarkable. He was very good at it because first and foremost he cared about people."

In addition he is survived by his wife Barbara. Dearest father to Paul (Valerie), Douglas (Cheryl), Mary Urick and Patricia (Wes) Graff. Loving grandfather to Julie (Jim) Welch, Jennifer (Nicholas) Blum, Matthew Urick, Nick Welday, Amanda Graff, Jacqueline Welday, Hannah Graff and Natalie Anne Welday. Great-grandfather to Zachary Blum.

Funeral Tuesday, April 17th 11 AM at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home, 33603 Grand River Ave., (1 block west of Farmington Road).

Visitation Sunday, April 15th 5-7 PM and Monday, April 16th 2-8 PM.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Autism Alliance of Michigan, 500 Griswold, Suite 1635, Detroit, MI 48226.
www.autismallianceofmichigan.org